Quick Tips for Cooking in Seasoned Carbon Steel
You can use carbon steel over any heat source: stovetop (including induction!), oven, grill, campfire. In fact, we love carbon steel for outdoor cooking because it’s lightweight and heats up quickly.
Always preheat your cookware! Let your pan slowly preheat before you start cooking. This helps to prevent hot spots and warping.
Add oil to the pan before cooking. Carbon steel comes seasoned and ready to use, but you’ll want to coat the bottom of the pan before cooking. This helps to build up your seasoning and prevents food from sticking.
Cleaning Carbon Steel
When it comes to cleanup, “wash, dry, oil” are the three magic words. If you’re familiar with cast iron, you know this routine well. Just like cast iron, you don’t want to soak carbon steel or wash it in a dishwasher. Simply allow your carbon steel pan to cool, then hand wash in warm, soapy water and give it a scrub. After, dry your cookware completely and add a thin layer of oil to protect the cooking surface from rust.
If you run into a stuck-on mess, reach for a pan scraper. Or, bring the pan to a simmer for 3-5 minutes, using a spatula to release any stuck-on bits. Then wash your cookware as you normally do.
What’s the difference between Seasoned Carbon Steel and Seasoned Cast Iron?
While Lodge cast iron cookware is cast in sand molds, Lodge Seasoned Carbon Steel products are formed by spinning and stamping carbon steel, allowing them to be lighter and thinner than cast iron. This allows seasoned steel to heat up and cool down faster. The steel cookware also has riveted handles, while the cast iron cookware typically has integrated handles. Both seasoned steel and cast iron products are seasoned at our foundry with the same 100% natural vegetable oil and, as always, they are both made in the USA.
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Seasoned Carbon Steel FAQs
What is Carbon Steel?
Seasoned Carbon Steel cookware is the modern, lightweight cousin to our classic Seasoned Cast Iron. Featuring long, riveted handles, carbon steel pans are ideal for cooking over a grill or open flame. But that's not all! Just like cast iron, carbon steel cookware can also be used on any kitchen cooktop and in the oven.
Can I soak my Carbon Steel?
No, soaking carbon steel in water will likely cause rust. If you need to remove sticky or stubborn stuck-on food, use a nylon scrubbing brush or a pan scraper and rinse under warm water. Be sure to thoroughly dry your pan.
Can I use soap to wash my Carbon Steel?
Yes! We recommend washing carbon steel with warm, soapy water. After, dry completely and add a very thin layer of oil, just like you'd do with a cast iron skillet.
Can I put my Carbon Steel pan in the dishwasher?
No, carbon steel is hand wash only. A dishwasher will remove the seasoning and likely cause rust.