Cast iron maintenance

Cast iron pans and grates often add more flavour to your dish. Cast iron cookware does require proper maintenance, but then you will enjoy it for a lifetime. We recommend that you season these, as this will keep cast iron accessories in great condition. 

The top cap is also made of cast iron. This not only looks nice and robust, but is also a solid precision instrument. Provided you pay a little attention to it.  

Maintaining cast iron is also known as “seasoning”. The seasoning creates a kind of non-stick coating and also prevents rusting. 

Seasoning is a process that is often repeated as maintenance, after use or after cast iron has come into contact with moisture, e.g. through cleaning. 

The best oil for seasoning is raw linseed oil (also called flaxseed oil). Other oils and fats do not work as well. You can also use The Bastard Cast Iron Spray. In any case, do not use olive oil, as this may cause the cast iron to turn green.  

Use: 

  • Use our cast iron products on the gas cooker, induction hob, open fire or barbecue
  • The cast iron is not suitable for the microwave 

Be careful with soap. This may affect the non-stick coating. Always wash by hand and do not use scouring sponges, abrasives or aggressive detergents. 

Maintenance: 

  • Always clean cast iron immediately after use with water and a dishwashing brush
  • Coat the metal with vegetable oil that can withstand high temperatures (e.g. linseed oil)
  • How much? Enough for a shiny coat, but not so much that it sticks
  • Why? This is how you protect the cast iron from moisture and apply a natural non-stick coating
  • The more often you do this, the better this layer will form 

Rust:
Without a natural coating, cast iron can easily rust. Don't panic, this is easy to solve. Carefully sand the rust spots, rinse with water, dry and lubricate with some oil. 

Apply a new coating: 
Our cast iron products come with a coating (unless otherwise stated). However, you may want to re-coat a cast iron product yourself, for example if the metal becomes greyish and dull or if food starts to stick to it. To do so, take the following steps: 

  • Brush the pan completely clean with hot water, a stiff brush and dish soap. You are going to apply a new coating, so this time
  • you may use soap (if you want)
  • Dry it and make sure the product is completely dry
  • Apply a thin and even layer of vegetable oil to both the inside and outside of the product
  • Place aluminium foil at the bottom of the oven to catch leaking oil
  • Set the oven to 180-200 degrees Celsius
  • Place the cast iron pan upside down on an oven rack
  • Applying a new coating takes about an hour. Then turn off the oven and let the cast iron cool in the oven
  • When it has cooled down, you can store the product in a dry place Repeat these steps if necessary  

 Lightly rub the cast iron with some oil after each use or cleaning.