{"id":532,"date":"2015-01-02T13:08:27","date_gmt":"2015-01-02T13:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?p=532"},"modified":"2015-01-02T13:16:32","modified_gmt":"2015-01-02T13:16:32","slug":"seasoning-cast-iron-in-the-wood-stove","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?p=532","title":{"rendered":"Seasoning Cast Iron in the Wood Stove"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 20%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-532 gallery-columns-5 gallery-size-thumbnail'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=548'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0401-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-548\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-548'>\n\t\t\t\tAfter burning off the gunk in a hot fire, I soaked the skillets .\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=547'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0400-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-547\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-547'>\n\t\t\t\tYou can see rust floating to the surface.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=549'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0402-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-549\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-549'>\n\t\t\t\tI rinsed it clean and dried it off with a towel, then threw it back in the fire to dry completely and warm up.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=550'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0403-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-550\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-550'>\n\t\t\t\tI used the tool on the right to hook and pull the skillets out to the door so I could reach  the handle without catching the glove on fire.  \n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=551'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0405-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-551\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-551'>\n\t\t\t\tI put it in a hot fire again to completely dry, then dampered the fire down\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=554'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0410-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-554\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-554'>\n\t\t\t\tI applied tallow to the hot skillet once it cooled down for a few minutes &#8211; if yours isn&#8217;t too hot you can coat it right away.  Inside and out.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=555'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0411-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-555\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-555'>\n\t\t\t\tSet it in upside down in a low fire so the lard doesn&#8217;t pool on the bottom and create a sticky residue\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=552'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_0408-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-552\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-552'>\n\t\t\t\tA few more coats and she will be beautiful\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl>\n\t\t\t<br style='clear: both' \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Tonight I am cleaning and seasoning some cast iron skillets in my wood stove. \u00a0The stove is already up and running because it&#8217;s winter time in Michigan and we keep a fire going 24\/7 as it&#8217;s our only source of heat. \u00a0And it works splendidly. \u00a0You can run your oven for hours to properly season your cast iron, or you can make sure of the fire that can serve dual purpose &#8211; heat your home and season your skillets. \u00a0You could also do a triple-whamy and cook dinner up top as well. \u00a0Speaking of cooking dinner on your wood stove &#8211; during the month that I was cooking exclusively on my wood stove (still doing it, but occasionally have to use my \u00a0oven), between that and not using the streetlight on our property our electric bill dropped 75%. \u00a0That&#8217;s actual reading, too. \u00a0I was shocked.<\/p>\n<p>I like to fry bacon in my cast iron because the hot grease from bacon does a very nice job of sealing in the pores while it&#8217;s on the job. \u00a0However,\u00a0sometimes you have an oopsie and accidentally let your cast iron soak overnight, or you left moisture in the skillet and it starts to rust, or you buy a new piece of cast iron that needs care. \u00a0That is when you call for a re-do and start from the beginning. \u00a0Luckily you can do that with cast iron. \u00a0Properly taken care of, you may never have to do this with your cast iron.<\/p>\n<p>Anyway, I throw my cast iron on a hot fire to burn any build up gunk off there. You don&#8217;t want your cast iron to start glowing &#8211; you risk cracking or warping your skillet. Pull it out and let it cool off. \u00a0You do want it to be a fairly hot fire though &#8211; some people will put their skillet in their ovens and do an oven cleaning on it. \u00a0The idea is to get it hotter than it will ever be when using it for general cooking because you want to clean off the current coating that is on there. \u00a0Get it down to bare metal, and start over. \u00a0When it&#8217;s heated hot and long enough, pull it out and let it cool. \u00a0It may look rustier after the fire than it did before it went in. \u00a0That&#8217;s ok.<\/p>\n<p>Using a scouring pad, steel wool, whatever you have to, remove any rust, gunk and whatever coating is left that you can scrub off. \u00a0Then, submerge it in a mixture of half vinegar, half water with a couple drops of dish soap. \u00a0Let it soak for an hour up to a few. \u00a0Not too long. \u00a0Definitely not overnight. \u00a0I know dish soap and soaking are huge no-no&#8217;s in the care and maintenance of your cast iron, but this isn&#8217;t general maintenance. \u00a0We are trying to remove the current seasoning, or whatever might be left of it.<\/p>\n<p>Dry the obvious wet with a towel, then throw the skillet back in the fire for a little bit to get completely dry and heated up. \u00a0Once it&#8217;s hot, pull it out (CAREFULLY do you don&#8217;t get burnt &#8211; I used a tool my husband used to use on flatbeds when he drove big trucks) and begin wiping lard on it. \u00a0CAUTION: If your skillet is too hot, it will burn your oven glove too unless you have fireproof ones (Always recommended for working in the fire&#8230; however, we recently purchased a pair that burned anyway! Need to find a better brand for handling these really hot things). \u00a0I use the cookie sheet so I can take it directly form the fire and set it down with minimal handling. Then I carry the cookie sheet where it needs to go.I coated with lard\u00a0over a cookie sheet outside because it steamed and stunk a little. \u00a0Use a thick towel or paper towel. Get a light coating over the whole thing, inside and out. \u00a0Then, put it over a low fire, upside down so excess lard drips out and doesn&#8217;t cause a sticky residue on the bottom of the skillet. \u00a0Keep it in there for an hour, then remove. \u00a0Let it cool a little, then rub it down with lard again. \u00a0Throw it back in, again, upside down. \u00a0Do this as many times as you want, a minimum of 3. \u00a0Then, try to cook bacon in it on \u00a0fairly regular basis to keep a nice seasoning on it.<\/p>\n<p>It is fairly important to keep a close eye on your fire and damper it down if needed. \u00a0Too hot a fire will burn off the coating you worked so hard to set in, just like the original fire I put the cast iron in to burn off any gunk and whatever seasoning I could to bring the skillet back to bare metal.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMAG1177.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-541\" src=\"http:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMAG1177-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"IMAG1177\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMAG1177-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMAG1177-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMAG1177-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMAG1177-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Proper care of cast iron:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Never soak it<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t scrub it (burn stuck on grime off)<\/li>\n<li>Avoid cleaners and dish soap in it &#8211; usually a rinse with water is all you need.<\/li>\n<li>Dry thoroughly after washing it.<\/li>\n<li>Cook bacon in it regularly (like we need an excuse?)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> #gallery-2 { margin: auto; } #gallery-2 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 20%; } #gallery-2 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-2 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } \/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/ After burning off the gunk in a hot fire, I soaked the skillets . You can see [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[29,3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=532"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":566,"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/532\/revisions\/566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=532"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=532"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.k7farm.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=532"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}