What oils should you use for cast iron cooking and seasoning?
Oil is a key component in what creates the natural, easy-release cooking surface of cast iron.
What oil should I use for cast iron cooking?
Before you cook with cast iron, always add a little oil to the cooking surface to prevent food from sticking. Reach for whatever your recipe calls for, but keep in mind that the cooking temperature should be below the smoke point of the oil. As you cook, the oil will help build layers of seasoning on your pan!
What oil should I use for cast iron seasoning?
We season all of our cast iron cookware in our foundry. We spray a thin layer of soy-based vegetable oil onto the cookware and then bake it in a large oven. That means your cookware is seasoned and ready to use, straight from the foundry!
Throughout the lifetime of your skillet, you may choose to reseason your cookware at home. We recommend choosing a neutral oil with a high smoke point. In the Lodge Test Kitchen, we often reach for vegetable or canola oil. Both are affordable and work great for at-home seasoning.
Tips for picking an oil
- Make sure you’re choosing an oil with the right smoke point
- Pick an oil with a flavor profile that fits your recipe
Oil FAQs
Is the oil that Lodge uses to season cookware kosher?
The oil that we use to season our cookware is Kosher-certified, soy-based vegetable oil. Although the oil is Kosher, Lodge's manufacturing process is not certified Kosher.
You can view the Kosher certification on our supplier's website, here.
Do I have to season my cast iron skillet when I buy it?
No, we do that for you. When we make cast iron in our foundries in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, we spray a thin layer of vegetable oil onto the surface and bake it at a high temperature in a large oven. This provides a protective layer of seasoning on your cast iron, giving it an easy-release finish that's 100% natural. All you have to do after you purchase your cast iron is rinse, hand dry, and start cooking!
Can I use beef tallow, lard, or ghee to season my cast iron cookware?
We don’t recommend using beef tallow, lard, or ghee to season your skillet because it can go rancid. However, it’s perfectly fine to cook with any of these fats, just be sure to wash, dry, and oil after you’re done cooking.
Still have questions?
No worries! Chat with, call, or email our friendly Customer Care Associates.