First step: heat the pan! Heating the pan for a few minutes over low to medium heat will help prevent food from sticking to the cooking surface. In the first uses of the pan, it is recommended to use a little more oil or fat, especially if you intend to cook proteins (steak, eyes, fish, etc.).
Sauteed, roasted or baked vegetables are a great place to start; they don't stick to the cooking surface like proteins and spread easily over the entire surface, helping to form an even layer of seasoning.
Start with the vegetables
Any roasted, sauteed, or pan-fried vegetable recipe is great to start your pan "nibbling on." Vegetables don't stick to the surface like proteins, and by spreading them over the entire cooking surface, they help form an even non-stick coating.
Caramelized onions will help you familiarize yourself with your new pan: you'll quickly understand how it holds and distributes heat, while the onions and oil give the pan the basics of seasoning for many meals to come. Plus, a serving of caramelized onions can be used in many recipes, from soups and roasts to toppings for burgers, pizzas and tarts.
Pan-fried mushrooms are equally simple and versatile, fitting perfectly into a variety of dishes in the kitchen. In the summer months, you can prepare some zucchini meatballs, they cook in a lot of oil and are delicious.
Of course, everyone's favorites, deep fried potatoes or fried fluffy donuts are suitable recipes for the first uses of cast iron pans.
Bake and season
Breads and pastries baked in a cast iron skillet or pan are also great for forming a natural non-stick coating , as many of them require a generous amount of fat. A classic bread recipe will fill the cast iron pan, ensuring an even layer of butter on the cooking surface and pan walls (And it's extremely satisfying to see the bread slide easily out of a well-greased pan!).
Just as simple, focaccia is baked in a bath of olive oil and can be enriched with numerous toppings, including herbs, spices, cherry tomatoes, olives and cheese. Use it to prepare delicious sandwiches.
Baking mayo bread is a great way to season your cast iron skillet because it heats up in the oven for about an hour before baking. This is the perfect time to apply one or two coats of oil for seasoning. If you are new to baking sourdough bread, you can start with a no-knead recipe.
Fry, cook
After a few beneficial recipes for creating the natural non-stick coating, you're ready to cook protein in your Oti cast iron cookware. We recommend starting with pan-fried or deep-fried dishes, including chicken schnitzel, which is cooked in generous amounts of oil. Or, you can fill a pan with oil and fry a portion of wings with salt and pepper or donuts.
Whatever you choose to cook the first time (and second, and so on) in your Oti cast iron cookware, the best strategy for building and maintaining great seasoning is to KEEP COOKING .
Do you have questions about the Oti cast iron pan , wok or saucepan ? Send us an e-mail at comenzi@oti.ro
