Southside jimmy K here, PLEASE WATCH AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAST IRON COOKWARE LIKE THIS GUY DOES !!!!! This the best and comprehensive video you will ever need to care for your cookware. Watched these vids back in 2018 after stripping some old inherited pans using the oven clean cycle method , after 5 yrs, my pans still cook eggs without sticking , thank you Wayne.
I think this video is one of the more comprehensive, insightful videos I’ve seen. You said it’s just one guy’s opinion, but you did your homework and pulled your knowledge from many people and then put it all into practice to provide a good tutorial video. Not JUST one guy’s opinion. This is good!
Yup. This is the best video for the Stargazer Cast iron I've seen on YT. Had my 12 inch Stargazer fully seasoned 6 times at 450F just to make sure its polymerized. I use Crisco and It starting to have that dark bronze hue
I have Wagner straight Sydney logo pans which means they were made between 1910 and 1925. They are as beautifully seasoned as yours and I regularly cook in them. I love them. I have really looked hard at all of the new American made cast iron cookware companies and if I were to purchase a new pan it would be a Stargazer for sure. The design and finish do it for me.
I got a new stargazer for Christmas. Seasoned it three times then cooked three eggs on it this morning. Did not have to use my spatula at all! Shook the pan and the eggs immediately started moving around. I was so impressed with how well it worked!! Thanks for your video. Keep up the good work.
Several videos later, I come across your videos for skillet seasoning & finally I can connect with your method & want to thank you. I served my time as a welder in heavy industry, involved attending college to get the whole science, chemistry & physics in my head - metallurgy was something I had to know. It has been over 30 years since I have used any of that knowledge. Then, it all came back about tempering, cooling etc.. Thanks to your method. Many folk say heat up your pan, rub oil then allow to cool, but yours opened doors in my brain long shut I thought. I can understand now the whys and how? Of doing what you do. Want to say thank you & anyone reading this - this is the one to watch, if you are seasoning cast iron pans / skillets. Cheers fella.
Text spacing 3D. Alright this might not mean much but this is probably the best cast iron cleaning video I’ve found. Some others have been “THE” cast iron video to some people but for me this was the best one I could find. Love this video! Great job!
I have two Stargazer skillets. Bought the 10.5 a few years ago, and the 12 more recent. Couldn’t be happier with both. I do have 75 pcs of vintage cast iron which I do use many of them. But, I find myself using the Stargazers more. Great video.
Same here, I have about 17 vintage skillets, 7 over 100 years old but my 12" Stargazer is my favorite. I have the 10.5" too. Both with their 2nd version of surface they hold the seasoning great.
@Servants_Heart People use it, it has a very high smoke point. Some people won't use it they say it's not a neutral oil. I use it sometimes after cooking.
Now that I watched this, I want one. The handle doesn't get so hot all the time. They are beautiful, lightweight, Made in the USA. I learned a great deal from this video. The blue shop towel is a great idea! Wrote down Crisbee Puck. Wipe it like you don't want it on there then bake--great advice. At the time you made an egg, it looked like enamel, you know your stuff. Thank you.
You don't want "light" cast iron! These boutique companies use "lighter" as a selling point...but they just don't have the iron mass to hold heat well for searing. Heavy is good, heavy means more of a heat sink for even heating and for searing meats. Get the heaviest Lodge you can find, grind it with 40 grit for like 10-15 minutes, reseason 3 times with grapeseed or flax oil...and you'll have a cast iron piece that outperforms just about anything.
The different "special" seasoning pucks and oils are again unnecessary. None of these have ever been needed before when our grandparents were using this stuff. I've used just about all of them when I was learning (Crisbee, buzzywax, etc). and just good old grapeseed oil works the best and is WAAAAY cheaper. People need to realize CI cooking is really simple and you don't need boutique skillets and special oils. Iron is iron and you want it HEAVY to retain and even the heat....This isn't rocket science...simple stuff and don't let them steal you money.
I don’t recommend light skillets but if you want a cheaper one and you don’t mind the coarse bottom get the lodge black lock skillet it’s 1/3 the price of the stargazer skillet.
@@moocow6350 Totally Agree...and if people really want to they can run some 120 grit on a sander mouse for 10 minutes. In a month or two with use cast iron surfaces will be smooth regardless once seasoning builds up with polymerized oil. I tend to give away my cast iron to people once they see how easy and good it cooks. Lodge is great as it is so affordable and easy to get seasoned. I hate the long handles of these new expensive skillets...always in the way. And I don't grab CI with my bare hand anyway...always have a kitchen towel over my shoulder to use.
I have some skillets and dutch ovens from both Lodge, and Stargazer and love their cookware and use the technique recommend by both companies and the cookware looks great and they are easy to season after being used. After many years of using so called non stick cookware and having to replace them every two years of use I tried Cast iron and won't go back and to that junk again. My grandmother used a cast iron skillet to cook with and I still have it too and I need to check the finish since I used the skillets I purchased most of the time.
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I have a Stargazer, which for the life of me, doesn't fry eggs well. It does great with steaks, stir fry, scrambled eggs, omelets, but not fried eggs. Your technique with the olive oil, butter and low heat worked.. First time I got a fried egg to slide around.
I was reading up on how to properly season cast iron and ran into using the flax seed. I gave that a good go on a few of my pans. In the beginning I liked it. But within a two week span I noticed it started to flake off and was disruptive to my seasoning coat. I no longer use and don't have that problem anymore. My two favs for seasoning are crisco shortening (thanks to the culinary fanatic) and coconut oil. I never thought about coconut oil until I bought high carbon steel pans from Blanc Creatives and they give theirs an initial coat with coconut oil. It works great and smells great when seasoning it. I have cast iron pans from Finex and they do their initial coating with flaxseed oil. I did not continue that practice. I use the two former mentioned oils for both initial seasoning/reseasoning and maintenance.
waynefamilyvideos -Try Rendering Cold, Sliced Bacon in the Oven (Slow and Low) and Pour Out and Heat again and Turn off Oven and let Pan ‘Cool Down’ in There. (No ONE Ever said to Eat the Bacon)
Thank you for this well organized informative video,I have been interested in the stargazer skillet for some time it seems to be well thought out design
Great video. I've been wanting a cast iron but was reluctant to buy lodge because of all the pitting. I didn't know about Stargazer or the chain maille cleaner. Thanks
get yourself a fish spatula for flipping anything, especially those egg sandwiches you make. I recently got a 3 by 11 inch MIU and it's perfect. My favorite part is having a flat metal end for scraping on cast iron. The ergonomics of standard turners just doesn't seem to work well with most foods IMO but it's something I didn't realize until I used a metal fish turner for the first time. Just a thought
It's great to hear you say that you had the pooling oil and the sticky finish before you came to this method. I had that too and got so frustrated. I had all lodge pans with that bumpy finish. I got frustrated enough that I finally just took my angle grinder to them and made them smooth myself. (35 grit - 40 - 60 -80 -120 grit) I thought I was going to ruin them and was going to give up on cast iron but it end up turning a cheap pan into a wonderfully performing pan to my surprise. It was A Lot of grinding and I needed goggles and a respirator but if you had the tools and time it turned a lodge into a stargazer which is a good transformation. Thanks for your video. So nice to hear someone else say they were having the trouble I was. I will be recommending this video to all the people that want to learn.
I just asked a question here about this "pooling oil and the sticky finish" from my failed attempt to season a Stargazer pan - any ideas how to clean the pan of this ruined finish before re seasoning according to this method in this video?
I to have done load of research on seasoning cast iron. After purchasing a cheap pans set off eBay I sanded them down with 40 grit sandpaper, washed and dried them. Seasoning took 15 minutes each on the hob by poring a small amount of olive oil in the pan and rubbing around with a cloth then repeating when it stopped smoking until it turned black. After I added a bit of butter and cooked egg and bacon with no sticking. Your seasoning took 18 hours with the same results.
I still love the pan. It is one of my go to pans for cooking. Especially eggs over easy. I haven’t re-seasoned it since this video. I just let it build seasoning as I cook with it. It’s a great pan in my opinion.
Your techniques are very much like mine with a few variances, but if it works for you, that's all that counts. I do agree that flaxseed oil is NOT the way to go in that it flakes off with use and if it flakes off you are ingesting that in your food. Flaxseed oil is the counterpart of linseed oil which is used in oil paints and breaks down all on its own without the repeated heating of cast iron time and again. I do like the chain mail to clean skillets with lukewarm to hot water or with a non abrasive Scotch Brite pad which works extremely well. I have seasoned probably between 30-40 skillets over the last year and have made videos on restoration of vintage cast iron, so I am very experienced. I didn't happen to catch the seasoning step of baking your skillets at the 300 degree mark (after the warming phase at 200 degrees when you add the initial seasoning) for 15 minutes before removing and wiping off more excess as it can pool on the surface at that point, before the final step at 400 degrees for an hour or so. That will help the layer stay very smooth and uniform in appearance. If you do it this way, then you should need only 3-4 layers on your initial seasoning. You also shouldn't need foil when seasoning if you are putting on and wiping off the correct amount as none will drip off. These tips might help you if you reason more skillets in the future.
If your flaxseed oil seasoning is flaking, its because you did it wrong. Stuff goes bad really easily, you have to shake it A LOT before use. But its worth it, I cant even put a dent in mine with a metal spatula or even using strong dish soap. Also polymerization, the process that the oil goes through, is much different than what they do to paintings. You cant bake a painting at 450°+ to reach the oils smoke point. Flaxseed oil is just fine for cast iron 👌
@Ghengis Swanson If it works for you, go with it. I happen to prefer Crisco as it is uniform in application and has a great consistency over time. The Wagner-Griswold Society for collectors also recommends it along with Castironcollector.com.
"wipe it all off like you never wanted it on" is the key. Seasoning is nano-technology. Build up nano layers. This is so good I shared it on Facebook. My longtime cleaning method is similar: 1) scrape as much as possible with a metal spatula that has a straight - sharp edge. 2) remove excess cooking oil. 3) run scalding hot water in your sink over the pan. Hot hot hot. Use a nylon brush to scour out the pan as much as possible. 4) wipe it down and put it back on the stove, medium low heat. 5) use the spatula to scrape out any excess built up carbon (as needed) 6) after the pan is warm and dry, apply olive oil all over the pan including the bottom (as needed). Then wipe it all off like you want it all off. This creates a nano oil coating that will burn on slowly over time to create a nano carbon seasoning. Not too thick. Thick black layers of carbon are bad. Scrape it all off if you find it.
Great video and an even better shirt!! lol. I would suggest that when u reseason after every use that u apply the oil with the skillet hot though. Also I’ve been reading and seeing a lot about how bad flaxseed is for your health and it also tends to flake off after a little while. It breaks down and becomes carcinogenic and becomes toxic. I use grape seed oil and it leaves a layer on it that u can almost see!! I love it!! That and crisco. May the cast iron be with you!!
Great information on the use of cast iron skillet and ways to maintain it... thank you for sharing your video here!.. It's kind of hard to get Stargazer brand in Malaysia but will keep looking. I also like the colour of the pan..
Ghost Cob thanks. I also use a wooden spatula for some types of food. The instructions for the Stargazer pan recommended a metal spatula so I use that also.
New subscriber just started watching your video and really liked it a lot I really love my cast-iron skillet but I wanted to know if a metal scrubby is OK to use also to clean it??
When using a low smoke point oil like the puck to do your seasoning....Would it not just all burn off when searing steaks at 450 to 500f? I've always used avacado oil to season for this reason (500f smoke point)
Thanks so much for your informative video. Total rookie here and I'm planning on buying a Stargazer. I'm planning on using your method as soon as I get my skillet, but I just want to make 100% sure I understood you correctly. When I pull my Stargazer out of the box and even though they say it's preseasoned should I season it twice like you did and throw it in oven two times? Or do you suggest seasoning it 3 or 4 times & throwing it in the oven when it's brand new?
I would say to just start cooking with it. I use butter or tallow to cook in almost exclusively now and my pan looks beautiful. If I ever need a bit more seasoning I use avocado oil. But the other oils will still work. The main thing is by cooking with it regularly it will build up seasoning so I almost never have to "Season" it manually. I still cook with mine every day! I have a few cast iron pans now and my Stargazer is now my egg cooking pan since the eggs never stick to it. I can just wipe it with a paper towel after cooking and it is like new!
Just found this video. Great info and I ordered the Crisbee Puck. Just acquired some Griswold, Wagner, & Piqua pans from my mother in-law but lacked a 12" skillet. Ordered a 12" inch from Stargazer. Did you receive a pre-seasoned or unseasoned from Stargazer? I ordered pre-seasoned . Should I go throught the process of seasoning it again? Great presentation and that egg cooked beautifully!!
Maverick 500 Thanks! I bought the pre-seasoned pan. It only had two layers though. I used the puck to help add some seasoning. Now I just use olive oil for everyday cooking and it’s holding up great!
@@waynefamilyvideos Received Stargazer Saturday 8/29, seasoned just as your video. Cooked 8 eggs for the week for ham, egg, & cheese for lunches for the week. I'm telling you, this pan is my new best friend!! Fried the eggs in silicone egg rings for the English Muffins and they just flipped over perfectly for "Over Easy". Dude, I'm addicted to your site. Every time i handle cast iron, I'm reminded of our Forefathers.Thank you for your great instructions.
If you buy something like a cheapo lodge just take a wire brush on an electric grinder to the bottom. Mine is smooth as glass after doing that and seasoning it.
I beg to differ my most esteemed commenter I've been collecting cast for 20 yrs . Lodge is still quality cast iron . Best results for me has always been to render real lard and save the cracklings. 😀
@@jimweaver2453 I returned my Lodge. Beautiful pan and these pre-seasoned are smooth as smooth. I had no idea so much fat was used to make food with cast iron. I just don't find it healthy--went with stainless steel, if you know what you are doing, you don't stick at all. I loved learning about cast iron though. And let's be honest, all that fat you have to use sure makes it beyond tasty. But I don't want to be overweight and have heart problems.
I also use those blue paper towels ( Scott shop towels ) . They're as close to lint free as any I've found . When I have it I use grape seed oil to season My pans with , after I use them ( I always let the pan smoke a little then turn off the stove and leave the pan to get cold before I put it away ) .
@12:00 Interesting. I've seen another claim that olive oil is a bad choice for cooking with in seasoned pans, but it sounds like it's working well for you.
@@waynefamilyvideos Nice. I use a fair bit of left over bacon grease along with butter for my eggs, and it works well on my carbon steel. (I don't use cast iron for my eggs though I could if I wanted. Maybe I will just for variety)
Nice video. I have old CI. Funny not a fan of the chain mil but I can never be without my lodge scrapper/cleaners. Lol I have never had one melt....yet! Beautiful egg btw!!
The real test is to brown Italian sausages or pan fry a steak over high heat to get a crust on the meat. Both sides, no cheating. On the Lodge polycarbonate scrapers: they work very well at normal temperature with water in the sink.
thank you for this video - I just bought a Stargazer and tried seasoning it - splotchy, streaks and gummy - heartbroken. My question: how do I remove or clean off the uneven seasoning marks on the pan in order to season properly (using your method) ? Any advice appreciated.
I have taken a mild steel wool and in water I scrub off the gummed up seasoning and then start over once clean. There probably is a better way but that is what I have done. Just make sure you dry it really well after you are done and re-season it right away.
I found out the hard way that flax seed oil goes bad really easily, and when it does it does not bond well at all letting you know its bad. You also have to shake it up well. Once I figured this out, I did like 8 coats of flaxseed oil on my pans and its like glass. I have mostly lodge pans due to cost so they're a bit of a pain in the butt, not really smooth but a few extra coats over whats recommended has fixed that. I will also say flaxseed bonds so well I can wash my pan with some soap and it has no effect
@@mystuff1405 Why would the soap bond to the already hardened seasoning (which is not oil)? Soap will remove residual oil, which you may or may not want, but won't harm the seasoning unless you are soaking the pan
Hello Wayne, I'm a veteran at seasoning cast iron and your video is very accurate, great job! I see you have an insta pot and I was wondering how do you get an insta pot lid out of the kitchen ceiling. Wife's not to happy with me🤔
Do it this way? 200°F (93°C) 20 Mins (Pan Preheat) 400°F (200°C) 1 Hour (Oil Burn-in) Why do you use two types of stuff for the pan (Chrisbee and Lodge Seasoning Spray)?
No. Only do that if your seasoning gets messed up and you want to add a new layer to it. I haven’t done it since I made this video. Just cooking with it regularly is the best thing to do.
DoctorSppock That was a lodge 10” Chef skillet. The Chef skillet is differnt from a regular 10” with the more rounded bottom edge. Great for scramble eggs & omlets. I kept getting the black specks so I grinded it down with the electric drill with metal brush/cup attachment. I heated up the skillet then it took about 15 min to grind down with some seasoning left. If metal brush couldn’t get it off it probably won’t flake off. From that point on it took me about 6 rounds of seasoning to get a decent coating. Good enough for fried eggs with extra oil but not good enough for scramble nor omlet. And after another week of daily use for fry eggs and maybe steak & bacon it had a very strong coating of seasoning. And from that point on I fried eggs with very little oil (half tea spoon or less) without sticking. Eggs still taste better with more oil or butter but got to have some limits.
The sliced turkey deli meat ruined the cooking demo. LOL Just kidding! really excellent video and great info for seasoning cast iron. Thank you for sharing this!
inResearchers from the University of Arizona Medical School found that the effects of iron absorption from cookware depends on your age, the size of the pot, the type of food you cook, how long you cook, and even the age of the cookware. Increases were most common in children. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that iron benefits from iron cookware are not highly significant, require more research, and would probably be most effective if combined with food-based strategies.
One of the cast iron advantage is minimum heavy metal poison like alluminium, lead, copper or nickel. But i saw that the product have paint in it. Is it save?
Those Stargazer pans are tops . I love lodge but to get them close to the stargazer I gently sand them first then season them a bunch of times . The lodge are much less expensive but can be very very nice if you do what I do .
After i sanded my cast iron VERY smooth, I had a heck of a time getting seasoning to stick. I did the first three layers the "normal" way mentioned here with grapeseed oil. Then I add more layers by putting a light wipe of grapeseed oil on a cold pan. I don't wipe off excess, but I do put on a thin coat. I can use any paper towel because on the smooth pan they are always lint free. I then put it into the cold oven. I turn the oven up to 500 degrees, let the pan in the oven warm up to that temp, then I shut it off and let the oven cool down to cold slowly. Of all the ways I have tried, this leaves the most durable and thickest seasoning layer that is very slick. I know if I left the oven on at 500 degrees for an hour with the oil on it, the seasoning would "spot". By turning the oven off at 500 degrees to cool, you don't get the spotting or pooling even with a heavier coating of oil vs. "Wipe everything off" cleanije everyone advises. If the pan is tacky, just heat it to 500 degrees again, and shutboff the oven and let it cool. It will be perfect. Another thing you can do if the pan is slightly tacky, heat it up for 10 minutes to 300 degres and just cook with it. ALWAYS wipe oil in the pan before cooking (even meat, bacon, pork, etc.) and you almost never have a problem with sticking. I never knew that oil in the pan first helps a lot with not having anything stick. When the recipe calls for oil to fry, just wipe the pan with this oil before frying.
Since you use the crisbee, do you do the whole adding a small layer of oil and letting it smoke a little after every single thing you cook ? Or is it not necessary since you used the crisbee a few times ?
I’ve done seasoning with flax seed oil already. At first it looks like working well, but few weeks later I noticed that the seasoning is getting removed gradually. I’ll try your way this time.
Yeah, I have not used Flax anymore. I also found it to flake. I pretty much just use Olive Oil for day to day cooking and the pans are maintaining great.
Preheat, add oil, wipe off, let cool down a bit, add butter, then fry the egg, scrap off, wipe off, scrub with chainmail, wipe off again, etc. This was just way too much work to cook an egg on an elite brand of cast iron. I could have cooked a dozen eggs on my trusty Lodge well seasoned skillet. Oh, by the way bake the slightly oiled pan in the oven at 500 degree using high smoke point oil produces more desirable seasoning than 400 degree. I use my cast iron pan at very high temperature (much higher than 400 degree) to sears steak. Of course YMMV.
Cool. I tried flaxseed oil and thought it was too expensive and stunk, lol. I have been using shortening, but you brought out some different options which I may look into.
Yep, wash it really well with a very mild soap. Dry it really good and then season it. After that just using it day to day will maintain a good seasoning.
If you want to make sure you have a non stick experience then heat your pan with oil until it just starts to smoke then turn the fire down and let It cool down to desired temperature.
I haven’t done it since this video. I think it’s mainly for pans that have lost their seasoning or if you want to start from scratch. My pan was new and had barely any seasoning on it so I was adding a few layers. It works great ever since!
My favorite method is preheat in oven take out and when cooled slightly apply the flax oil then back in the oven for 2hr between 450-500 the. Let it cool off in the oven (takes another 2hrs)
I wouldn’t say mines ugly but it’s not a shiny even black. It’s a darker version of what it looked like new and kind of varying in color here and there. The bottom is darker. It still cooks great! I use it almost daily.
Arman Analouei When I get a new pan I like to build up a few layers of seasoning just so it works better. Then every time you cook with it it should build up more seasoning as you use it. But if you see some seasoning flaking off or getting thin then yes you can add additional layers of seasoning. I haven’t added more to mine since I made this video. Still working great. 👍
I have an old skillet which belonged to my grandparents, a Lodge #12 skillet, and the Stargazer 10.5" skillet and love them all, but the Stargazer is the best of the new skillets I have and is my favorite too, other than my grandparent's skillet.
It’s a good idea to be very gentle when you use metal utensils, and then only occasionally. Wood, silicone, and plastic-type implements work best for protecting the finish. The Lodge plastic scrubbers work great, but you can’t use them in a hot pan. 😀
I only use stainless steel or on occasion wood cooking utensils in my cast iron. It's one of my favorite parts about using cast iron in fact, being able to use a spatula that will last almost as long as my pan will is great. But different strokes for different folks as the saying goes.
I am always gentle with the metal spatulas. The instructions that came with the pan said that metal was great to use so I have been trying it out. So far it's fine as long as you are gentle.
You said the Stargazer isn't as good as the griswold , why ? I'm looking to start using cat iron pans. Would you buy vintage or new ?, and what brand would you recommend? Thanks, Great video.
David Parker I’m still learning. But the general consensus is that the antique cast iron pans are just better made and they have years of seasoning already built up on them which makes them great to cook on. I have a couple of old pans and I like them a lot. But I tend to use the new Stargazer pan the most. Especially for eggs. It’s just so smooth and nice to cook with. The problem with older pans is it’s hard to find them in great shape (not warped). So if you do find a good one it is really expensive. So money is better spent on a new Stargazer or Field brand skillet.
Thanks for the fast reply I think I'm going to get a STARGAZER they seem well made and good price for the quality. Like the very smooth surface of the interior.@@waynefamilyvideos
waynefamilyvideos If you check garage sales, estate sales, and thrift shops regularly, one can find some affordable, excellent condition antique pieces that just need a bit of TLC. I picked up a #8 Griswold Large block logo skillet for and an unmarked Wagner 17” griddle (both in excellent condition) and paid less that $40 for both. I stripped them, and they are in the oven getting their first coat of seasoning. Of course, if one doesn’t have the time or the desire to haunt such places, or the work involved in restoring them (it’s really not that hard) it is great that there some nicer, new manufacturers to choose from.
Great informative video, this is indeed the right way to season cast iron. Don't bother with the aluminium foil, oil won't drip off if you wipe it like so. The problem with the Stargazer (in my opinion) is that the initial seasoning(original or yours) is really thin due to the fact that the interior is machined. The seasoning won't build up in time. It rather flakes off. I noticed grey spots at 16:52. Same thing happened to me. I seared pork shoulder and it destroyed the initial seasoning. After cooking, the seasoning was gone (some parts of it). I spoke with Luke (the co-founder of the company) about this and he advised me to use extra oil during first cooks to help build up the seasoning. I tend to disagree with him. I've used cast iron for quite some time and my old griswold holds the seasoning pretty well and I don't need to use extra oil. I really wanted to like the stargazer, I like the shape, the finish, the fork handle, everything, but the seasoning problem was a deal breaker for me and I ended up returning it. Now I am back to my old griswold. I won't buy any new skillet cast iron or carbon steel any time soon.
Ionut Manolache Very good comment and from my research so far it does seem to me like a rough surface might in fact be better! I didn’t think so at first but have come to this conclusion now.
Probably steel wool, or a wire wheel on an electric grinder if you can get ahold of one. I have heard that running the pan through a self-cleaning oven cycle will also remove any crud or seasoning leaving bare metal.
My problem is I’m doing the same steps you and everyone has said before, same temp and everything, and once I open it up it’s very dry like I never put oil ? to the point I must sand it down and redo again? Please help!
Puertoropelu225 hmmm... try and use it every day for a while if you can. Cook bacon, eggs, potatoes, etc. Other than I don’t know. I’m still learning myself.
@@waynefamilyvideos thanks. They emailed me and said they were backed up from a lot of July 4 orders. They said it should ship out by end of the week and would email when it ships. Order was placed 10 days ago, no email yet. It’s a relatively small company so I’ll be patient. Just looking forward to trying it.
This is good video with some helpful preparation and cleaning techniques, thanks for sharing. I have the same Stargazer. Did your Stargazer purchase include seasoning?
Tardis Thank you for saying. I ordered the “pre seasoned” pan from Stargazer. It did not include any additional seasoning products in the box. While it was already pre seasoned, I felt it could use much more to work its best. I love it now.
@@waynefamilyvideos Mine is also pre seasoned. I have used it one time, wasn't too happy with the results. I sensed that something was a little off. I believe the results will improve once I apply your prep techniques.
Southside jimmy K here, PLEASE WATCH AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR CAST IRON COOKWARE LIKE THIS GUY DOES !!!!! This the best and comprehensive video you will ever need to care for your cookware. Watched these vids back in 2018 after stripping some old inherited pans using the oven clean cycle method , after 5 yrs, my pans still cook eggs without sticking , thank you Wayne.
Thank you Jimmy!!
Very nice of you to say.
My pan is still going strong and eggs slide around very easily!!
I think this video is one of the more comprehensive, insightful videos I’ve seen. You said it’s just one guy’s opinion, but you did your homework and pulled your knowledge from many people and then put it all into practice to provide a good tutorial video. Not JUST one guy’s opinion. This is good!
Thank you very much! 🙏
Yup. This is the best video for the Stargazer Cast iron I've seen on YT. Had my 12 inch Stargazer fully seasoned 6 times at 450F just to make sure its polymerized. I use Crisco and It starting to have that dark bronze hue
I have Wagner straight Sydney logo pans which means they were made between 1910 and 1925. They are as beautifully seasoned as yours and I regularly cook in them. I love them. I have really looked hard at all of the new American made cast iron cookware companies and if I were to purchase a new pan it would be a Stargazer for sure. The design and finish do it for me.
I got a new stargazer for Christmas. Seasoned it three times then cooked three eggs on it this morning. Did not have to use my spatula at all! Shook the pan and the eggs immediately started moving around. I was so impressed with how well it worked!! Thanks for your video. Keep up the good work.
This is maybe the best, most useful, cast iron video I've seen - and I've seen many. Great job. Congrats!
Thank you so much!
Thank you for sharing. I am going to use your method for cleaning/seasoning my cast iron skillets.
Several videos later, I come across your videos for skillet seasoning & finally I can connect with your method & want to thank you.
I served my time as a welder in heavy industry, involved attending college to get the whole science, chemistry & physics in my head - metallurgy was something I had to know.
It has been over 30 years since I have used any of that knowledge.
Then, it all came back about tempering, cooling etc..
Thanks to your method.
Many folk say heat up your pan, rub oil then allow to cool, but yours opened doors in my brain long shut I thought.
I can understand now the whys and how? Of doing what you do.
Want to say thank you & anyone reading this - this is the one to watch, if you are seasoning cast iron pans / skillets.
Cheers fella.
i davo thank you so much! 🙏
Text spacing 3D.
Alright this might not mean much but this is probably the best cast iron cleaning video I’ve found. Some others have been “THE” cast iron video to some people but for me this was the best one I could find. Love this video! Great job!
Wow, thanks!
I have two Stargazer skillets. Bought the 10.5 a few years ago, and the 12 more recent. Couldn’t be happier with both. I do have 75 pcs of vintage cast iron which I do use many of them. But, I find myself using the Stargazers more. Great video.
That's it, I am getting one. Thanks for your comment, friend. What a collection you have.
75! geeze, hoard much! Lol
I have a few vintage pieces but this stargazer might be my next/last ci pan.
Same here, I have about 17 vintage skillets, 7 over 100 years old but my 12" Stargazer is my favorite. I have the 10.5" too. Both with their 2nd version of surface they hold the seasoning great.
Does avocado oil work well for seasoning?
@Servants_Heart
People use it, it has a very high smoke point. Some people won't use it they say it's not a neutral oil. I use it sometimes after cooking.
Now that I watched this, I want one. The handle doesn't get so hot all the time. They are beautiful, lightweight, Made in the USA. I learned a great deal from this video. The blue shop towel is a great idea! Wrote down Crisbee Puck. Wipe it like you don't want it on there then bake--great advice. At the time you made an egg, it looked like enamel, you know your stuff. Thank you.
C_ Farther -Yes, it was Well Done 👍
You don't want "light" cast iron! These boutique companies use "lighter" as a selling point...but they just don't have the iron mass to hold heat well for searing. Heavy is good, heavy means more of a heat sink for even heating and for searing meats. Get the heaviest Lodge you can find, grind it with 40 grit for like 10-15 minutes, reseason 3 times with grapeseed or flax oil...and you'll have a cast iron piece that outperforms just about anything.
The different "special" seasoning pucks and oils are again unnecessary. None of these have ever been needed before when our grandparents were using this stuff. I've used just about all of them when I was learning (Crisbee, buzzywax, etc). and just good old grapeseed oil works the best and is WAAAAY cheaper. People need to realize CI cooking is really simple and you don't need boutique skillets and special oils. Iron is iron and you want it HEAVY to retain and even the heat....This isn't rocket science...simple stuff and don't let them steal you money.
I don’t recommend light skillets but if you want a cheaper one and you don’t mind the coarse bottom get the lodge black lock skillet it’s 1/3 the price of the stargazer skillet.
@@moocow6350 Totally Agree...and if people really want to they can run some 120 grit on a sander mouse for 10 minutes. In a month or two with use cast iron surfaces will be smooth regardless once seasoning builds up with polymerized oil. I tend to give away my cast iron to people once they see how easy and good it cooks. Lodge is great as it is so affordable and easy to get seasoned. I hate the long handles of these new expensive skillets...always in the way. And I don't grab CI with my bare hand anyway...always have a kitchen towel over my shoulder to use.
I have some skillets and dutch ovens from both Lodge, and Stargazer and love their cookware and use the technique recommend by both companies and the cookware looks great and they are easy to season after being used. After many years of using so called non stick cookware and having to replace them every two years of use I tried Cast iron and won't go back and to that junk again. My grandmother used a cast iron skillet to cook with and I still have it too and I need to check the finish since I used the skillets I purchased most of the time.
One of the best videos I've seen on not only how to season, but also maintain your cast iron pans. Thanks for the advice.
donald williams thank you!!
Thank you so much for the detailed explanation. I have a Stargazer, which for the life of me, doesn't fry eggs well. It does great with steaks, stir fry, scrambled eggs, omelets, but not fried eggs. Your technique with the olive oil, butter and low heat worked.. First time I got a fried egg to slide around.
So happy to hear!!
I was reading up on how to properly season cast iron and ran into using the flax seed. I gave that a good go on a few of my pans. In the beginning I liked it. But within a two week span I noticed it started to flake off and was disruptive to my seasoning coat. I no longer use and don't have that problem anymore. My two favs for seasoning are crisco shortening (thanks to the culinary fanatic) and coconut oil. I never thought about coconut oil until I bought high carbon steel pans from Blanc Creatives and they give theirs an initial coat with coconut oil. It works great and smells great when seasoning it. I have cast iron pans from Finex and they do their initial coating with flaxseed oil. I did not continue that practice. I use the two former mentioned oils for both initial seasoning/reseasoning and maintenance.
Great information. I also use avocado oil. Seems okay so far.
Coconut oil is fantastic; heart smart, too.
waynefamilyvideos -Try Rendering Cold, Sliced Bacon in the Oven (Slow and Low) and Pour Out and Heat again and Turn off Oven and let Pan ‘Cool Down’ in There. (No ONE Ever said to Eat the Bacon)
Never knew about the olive oil and butter. So good to know. Great video! Pans look great
Thank you for this well organized informative video,I have been interested in the stargazer skillet for some time it seems to be well thought out design
Great video. I've been wanting a cast iron but was reluctant to buy lodge because of all the pitting. I didn't know about Stargazer or the chain maille cleaner. Thanks
Wow!! AWESOME video!! Info is PURE GOLD!! I wonder if youvREALLY know how many people/how grateful people REALLY are!! How about a 2 yr review?
get yourself a fish spatula for flipping anything, especially those egg sandwiches you make. I recently got a 3 by 11 inch MIU and it's perfect. My favorite part is having a flat metal end for scraping on cast iron. The ergonomics of standard turners just doesn't seem to work well with most foods IMO but it's something I didn't realize until I used a metal fish turner for the first time. Just a thought
Thanks!!
It's great to hear you say that you had the pooling oil and the sticky finish before you came to this method. I had that too and got so frustrated. I had all lodge pans with that bumpy finish. I got frustrated enough that I finally just took my angle grinder to them and made them smooth myself. (35 grit - 40 - 60 -80 -120 grit) I thought I was going to ruin them and was going to give up on cast iron but it end up turning a cheap pan into a wonderfully performing pan to my surprise. It was A Lot of grinding and I needed goggles and a respirator but if you had the tools and time it turned a lodge into a stargazer which is a good transformation.
Thanks for your video. So nice to hear someone else say they were having the trouble I was. I will be recommending this video to all the people that want to learn.
Thank you! I am still learning but have come a long way. You make me want to get a lodge and do that myself! :-)
I just asked a question here about this "pooling oil and the sticky finish" from my failed attempt to season a Stargazer pan - any ideas how to clean the pan of this ruined finish before re seasoning according to this method in this video?
I to have done load of research on seasoning cast iron. After purchasing a cheap pans set off eBay I sanded them down with 40 grit sandpaper, washed and dried them. Seasoning took 15 minutes each on the hob by poring a small amount of olive oil in the pan and rubbing around with a cloth then repeating when it stopped smoking until it turned black. After I added a bit of butter and cooked egg and bacon with no sticking. Your seasoning took 18 hours with the same results.
crisbee rules cant say enough about how good it is
Did you just use it for initial seasoning or do you use it all the time. How do you use it?
Thanks!!❤
Do you have updated thoughts on the stargazer pans?
I still love the pan. It is one of my go to pans for cooking. Especially eggs over easy. I haven’t re-seasoned it since this video. I just let it build seasoning as I cook with it. It’s a great pan in my opinion.
@@waynefamilyvideos thanks.
Your techniques are very much like mine with a few variances, but if it works for you, that's all that counts. I do agree that flaxseed oil is NOT the way to go in that it flakes off with use and if it flakes off you are ingesting that in your food. Flaxseed oil is the counterpart of linseed oil which is used in oil paints and breaks down all on its own without the repeated heating of cast iron time and again. I do like the chain mail to clean skillets with lukewarm to hot water or with a non abrasive Scotch Brite pad which works extremely well. I have seasoned probably between 30-40 skillets over the last year and have made videos on restoration of vintage cast iron, so I am very experienced. I didn't happen to catch the seasoning step of baking your skillets at the 300 degree mark (after the warming phase at 200 degrees when you add the initial seasoning) for 15 minutes before removing and wiping off more excess as it can pool on the surface at that point, before the final step at 400 degrees for an hour or so. That will help the layer stay very smooth and uniform in appearance. If you do it this way, then you should need only 3-4 layers on your initial seasoning. You also shouldn't need foil when seasoning if you are putting on and wiping off the correct amount as none will drip off. These tips might help you if you reason more skillets in the future.
If your flaxseed oil seasoning is flaking, its because you did it wrong. Stuff goes bad really easily, you have to shake it A LOT before use. But its worth it, I cant even put a dent in mine with a metal spatula or even using strong dish soap. Also polymerization, the process that the oil goes through, is much different than what they do to paintings. You cant bake a painting at 450°+ to reach the oils smoke point. Flaxseed oil is just fine for cast iron 👌
i do like that crisbee puck
@Ghengis Swanson If it works for you, go with it. I happen to prefer Crisco as it is uniform in application and has a great consistency over time. The Wagner-Griswold Society for collectors also recommends it along with Castironcollector.com.
@steve forney Yes I have heard similar things myself about the crisbee puck although I have never used one myself.
www.slothstradamus.com/post/stargazer-cast-iron-product-review
I noticed the President of Crisbee Puck made a comment about the video, that is very impressive. Definitely going to buy some now.
Thanks!😁
"wipe it all off like you never wanted it on" is the key. Seasoning is nano-technology. Build up nano layers. This is so good I shared it on Facebook. My longtime cleaning method is similar: 1) scrape as much as possible with a metal spatula that has a straight - sharp edge. 2) remove excess cooking oil. 3) run scalding hot water in your sink over the pan. Hot hot hot. Use a nylon brush to scour out the pan as much as possible. 4) wipe it down and put it back on the stove, medium low heat. 5) use the spatula to scrape out any excess built up carbon (as needed) 6) after the pan is warm and dry, apply olive oil all over the pan including the bottom (as needed). Then wipe it all off like you want it all off. This creates a nano oil coating that will burn on slowly over time to create a nano carbon seasoning. Not too thick. Thick black layers of carbon are bad. Scrape it all off if you find it.
Great video and an even better shirt!! lol. I would suggest that when u reseason after every use that u apply the oil with the skillet hot though. Also I’ve been reading and seeing a lot about how bad flaxseed is for your health and it also tends to flake off after a little while. It breaks down and becomes carcinogenic and becomes toxic. I use grape seed oil and it leaves a layer on it that u can almost see!! I love it!! That and crisco. May the cast iron be with you!!
Great information on the use of cast iron skillet and ways to maintain it... thank you for sharing your video here!.. It's kind of hard to get Stargazer brand in Malaysia but will keep looking. I also like the colour of the pan..
Hope to see more videos of your cast iron. More power to you!
Your pans look really nice bro, I'll have to try your tips.
Learn some new stuff. Thank you. I use wooden utensils so I don’t scratch the seasoning off. Good video
Ghost Cob thanks. I also use a wooden spatula for some types of food. The instructions for the Stargazer pan recommended a metal spatula so I use that also.
I cringe hearing that metal on metal sound. I am sure you take care but when unknown house guest may use it, i threw out all the steel spatulas
New subscriber just started watching your video and really liked it a lot I really love my cast-iron skillet but I wanted to know if a metal scrubby is OK to use also to clean it??
I use my chain mail metal scrubber if I have a tough spot to clean. But if you scrub too rough then you can scratch off your seasoning. So go lightly.
When using a low smoke point oil like the puck to do your seasoning....Would it not just all burn off when searing steaks at 450 to 500f? I've always used avacado oil to season for this reason (500f smoke point)
watching this is more satisfying then everything else
Recommended videos Kent Rawlings cowboy cooking.
Thanks so much for your informative video. Total rookie here and I'm planning on buying a Stargazer. I'm planning on using your method as soon as I get my skillet, but I just want to make 100% sure I understood you correctly. When I pull my Stargazer out of the box and even though they say it's preseasoned should I season it twice like you did and throw it in oven two times? Or do you suggest seasoning it 3 or 4 times & throwing it in the oven when it's brand new?
I would say to just start cooking with it. I use butter or tallow to cook in almost exclusively now and my pan looks beautiful. If I ever need a bit more seasoning I use avocado oil. But the other oils will still work. The main thing is by cooking with it regularly it will build up seasoning so I almost never have to "Season" it manually. I still cook with mine every day! I have a few cast iron pans now and my Stargazer is now my egg cooking pan since the eggs never stick to it. I can just wipe it with a paper towel after cooking and it is like new!
Just found this video. Great info and I ordered the Crisbee Puck. Just acquired some Griswold, Wagner, & Piqua pans from my mother in-law but lacked a 12" skillet. Ordered a 12" inch from Stargazer. Did you receive a pre-seasoned or unseasoned from Stargazer? I ordered pre-seasoned . Should I go throught the process of seasoning it again? Great presentation and that egg cooked beautifully!!
Maverick 500 Thanks! I bought the pre-seasoned pan. It only had two layers though. I used the puck to help add some seasoning. Now I just use olive oil for everyday cooking and it’s holding up great!
@@waynefamilyvideos Received Stargazer Saturday 8/29, seasoned just as your video. Cooked 8 eggs for the week for ham, egg, & cheese for lunches for the week. I'm telling you, this pan is my new best friend!! Fried the eggs in silicone egg rings for the English Muffins and they just flipped over perfectly for "Over Easy". Dude, I'm addicted to your site. Every time i handle cast iron, I'm reminded of our Forefathers.Thank you for your great instructions.
Maverick 500 happy to hear you like it! I love mine still! Thanks for liking my videos! Have fun cooking in your new pan! 😀👍
If you buy something like a cheapo lodge just take a wire brush on an electric grinder to the bottom. Mine is smooth as glass after doing that and seasoning it.
Really not at all necessary. I strongly considered doing this but as you cook with it and season it it smooths out
Jon Boone i agree. Sandpapers use aluminum grit and i dont want to eat aluminum. May not be necessary but sure looks better.
I just bought mine last week and it is smooth as silk, it was the pre-seasoned.
I beg to differ my most esteemed commenter
I've been collecting cast for 20 yrs .
Lodge is still quality cast iron .
Best results for me has always been to render real lard and save the cracklings. 😀
@@jimweaver2453 I returned my Lodge. Beautiful pan and these pre-seasoned are smooth as smooth. I had no idea so much fat was used to make food with cast iron. I just don't find it healthy--went with stainless steel, if you know what you are doing, you don't stick at all. I loved learning about cast iron though. And let's be honest, all that fat you have to use sure makes it beyond tasty. But I don't want to be overweight and have heart problems.
I also use those blue paper towels ( Scott shop towels ) . They're as close to lint free as any I've found .
When I have it I use grape seed oil
to season My pans with , after I use them ( I always let the pan smoke a little then turn off the stove and leave the pan to get cold before I put it away ) .
Text spacing 3D right back at you, brother.
I'm so glad I stuck it out with this video for that. LOL
@12:00 Interesting. I've seen another claim that olive oil is a bad choice for cooking with in seasoned pans, but it sounds like it's working well for you.
I’ve never had a problem with it. I have since changed my diet and now strictly use butter for pretty much everything.
@@waynefamilyvideos Nice. I use a fair bit of left over bacon grease along with butter for my eggs, and it works well on my carbon steel. (I don't use cast iron for my eggs though I could if I wanted. Maybe I will just for variety)
Nice video. I have old CI. Funny not a fan of the chain mil but I can never be without my lodge scrapper/cleaners. Lol I have never had one melt....yet! Beautiful egg btw!!
Great very instructional video. Thanks, Troy
Thanks Troy.
No need to cool between layers of Seasoning. Pull out hot apply next layer. Cooling wastes time and energy.
Yes thank you. It has to be reheated anyways so why let it cool off? Just don’t singe off your eyebrows! 😂
Yes, most people just wait and there's no need.
The real test is to brown Italian sausages or pan fry a steak over high heat to get a crust on the meat. Both sides, no cheating. On the Lodge polycarbonate scrapers: they work very well at normal temperature with water in the sink.
thank you for this video - I just bought a Stargazer and tried seasoning it - splotchy, streaks and gummy - heartbroken. My question: how do I remove or clean off the uneven seasoning marks on the pan in order to season properly (using your method) ? Any advice appreciated.
I have taken a mild steel wool and in water I scrub off the gummed up seasoning and then start over once clean. There probably is a better way but that is what I have done. Just make sure you dry it really well after you are done and re-season it right away.
Thank you for this! Did you order a seasoned or bare skillet??
I ordered it pre seasoned. It only comes with two coats though. So I added more.
I found out the hard way that flax seed oil goes bad really easily, and when it does it does not bond well at all letting you know its bad. You also have to shake it up well. Once I figured this out, I did like 8 coats of flaxseed oil on my pans and its like glass. I have mostly lodge pans due to cost so they're a bit of a pain in the butt, not really smooth but a few extra coats over whats recommended has fixed that. I will also say flaxseed bonds so well I can wash my pan with some soap and it has no effect
Ghengis Swanson Ooooo. No soap. Hot pan. Hot water and steam. The soap binds to the seasoned oil and you get to eat the soap. No soap.
@@mystuff1405 I agree. Don't ever use soap on cast iron after it has been seasoned!
@@mystuff1405 Why would the soap bond to the already hardened seasoning (which is not oil)? Soap will remove residual oil, which you may or may not want, but won't harm the seasoning unless you are soaking the pan
I season my cast iron outside on a portable NuWave induction cook top. Works pretty good.
I've done the same thing with a 8" BSR pan and it worked well. I also like the NuWave and cast iron outside on the patio for deep fat frying
I'm using induction also. Did you just get it dried on the NuWave then oiled it and let it sit until cool? I'd sure love to get your tips on this.
@@c_farther5208 I oil the pan and then heat on the induction cooktop until it smokes and then turn off the power and lightly oil again.
@@oldcyclist5880 I just did it. Gosh, thanks for your time and sharing the information. I really appreciate it.
Hello Wayne, I'm a veteran at seasoning cast iron and your video is very accurate, great job! I see you have an insta pot and I was wondering how do you get an insta pot lid out of the kitchen ceiling. Wife's not to happy with me🤔
Oh my!! I bet that is a great story! I have yet to have that happen.
Do it this way?
200°F (93°C) 20 Mins (Pan Preheat)
400°F (200°C) 1 Hour (Oil Burn-in)
Why do you use two types of stuff for the pan (Chrisbee and Lodge Seasoning Spray)?
Should you season in the oven for an hour after every use?
No. Only do that if your seasoning gets messed up and you want to add a new layer to it. I haven’t done it since I made this video. Just cooking with it regularly is the best thing to do.
DoctorSppock
That was a lodge 10” Chef skillet. The Chef skillet is differnt from a regular 10” with the more rounded bottom edge. Great for scramble eggs & omlets. I kept getting the black specks so I grinded it down with the electric drill with metal brush/cup attachment. I heated up the skillet then it took about 15 min to grind down with some seasoning left. If metal brush couldn’t get it off it probably won’t flake off. From that point on it took me about 6 rounds of seasoning to get a decent coating. Good enough for fried eggs with extra oil but not good enough for scramble nor omlet. And after another week of daily use for fry eggs and maybe steak & bacon it had a very strong coating of seasoning. And from that point on I fried eggs with very little oil (half tea spoon or less) without sticking. Eggs still taste better with more oil or butter but got to have some limits.
Loved the video. Love the shirt. I have one of those. Thanks.
The sliced turkey deli meat ruined the cooking demo. LOL Just kidding! really excellent video and great info for seasoning cast iron. Thank you for sharing this!
inResearchers from the University of Arizona Medical School found that the effects of iron absorption from cookware depends on your age, the size of the pot, the type of food you cook, how long you cook, and even the age of the cookware.
Increases were most common in children. Ultimately, the researchers concluded that iron benefits from iron cookware are not highly significant, require more research, and would probably be most effective if combined with food-based strategies.
One of the cast iron advantage is minimum heavy metal poison like alluminium, lead, copper or nickel. But i saw that the product have paint in it. Is it save?
Thanks for your sharing and I come from Hong Kong
Have you tried walnut oil for seasoning?
Never tried it.
Those Stargazer pans are tops . I love lodge but to get them close to the stargazer I gently sand them first then season them a bunch of times . The lodge are much less expensive but can be very very nice if you do what I do .
Oh thanks for your excellent vid ! I’m gonna try your method .
After i sanded my cast iron VERY smooth, I had a heck of a time getting seasoning to stick. I did the first three layers the "normal" way mentioned here with grapeseed oil. Then I add more layers by putting a light wipe of grapeseed oil on a cold pan. I don't wipe off excess, but I do put on a thin coat. I can use any paper towel because on the smooth pan they are always lint free. I then put it into the cold oven. I turn the oven up to 500 degrees, let the pan in the oven warm up to that temp, then I shut it off and let the oven cool down to cold slowly. Of all the ways I have tried, this leaves the most durable and thickest seasoning layer that is very slick. I know if I left the oven on at 500 degrees for an hour with the oil on it, the seasoning would "spot". By turning the oven off at 500 degrees to cool, you don't get the spotting or pooling even with a heavier coating of oil vs. "Wipe everything off" cleanije everyone advises.
If the pan is tacky, just heat it to 500 degrees again, and shutboff the oven and let it cool. It will be perfect. Another thing you can do if the pan is slightly tacky, heat it up for 10 minutes to 300 degres and just cook with it.
ALWAYS wipe oil in the pan before cooking (even meat, bacon, pork, etc.) and you almost never have a problem with sticking. I never knew that oil in the pan first helps a lot with not having anything stick. When the recipe calls for oil to fry, just wipe the pan with this oil before frying.
Grapeseed oil is the problem
Is the seasoning puck the same one that Stargazer provides with the skillet?
My Stargazer didn’t come with anything when I bought it so I can’t say.
May the force be with you
I love your kitchen
Since you use the crisbee, do you do the whole adding a small layer of oil and letting it smoke a little after every single thing you cook ? Or is it not necessary since you used the crisbee a few times ?
I’ve done seasoning with flax seed oil already. At first it looks like working well, but few weeks later I noticed that the seasoning is getting removed gradually. I’ll try your way this time.
Yeah, I have not used Flax anymore. I also found it to flake. I pretty much just use Olive Oil for day to day cooking and the pans are maintaining great.
Very useful and helpful video, thanks!
Preheat, add oil, wipe off, let cool down a bit, add butter, then fry the egg, scrap off, wipe off, scrub with chainmail, wipe off again, etc. This was just way too much work to cook an egg on an elite brand of cast iron. I could have cooked a dozen eggs on my trusty Lodge well seasoned skillet. Oh, by the way bake the slightly oiled pan in the oven at 500 degree using high smoke point oil produces more desirable seasoning than 400 degree. I use my cast iron pan at very high temperature (much higher than 400 degree) to sears steak. Of course YMMV.
Cool. I tried flaxseed oil and thought it was too expensive and stunk, lol. I have been using shortening, but you brought out some different options which I may look into.
Wisdom's Peace (BWood) yeah I wasn’t a fan of Flaxseed oil either. Glad the video gave you some ideas to try.
Out of all the crap seasoning videos on youtube, finally a guy who knows what they are doing!
Jonas Aikin thank you very much!
200 degrees F you mean. Do u wash it for the first time with soap water
Yes
Yep, wash it really well with a very mild soap. Dry it really good and then season it. After that just using it day to day will maintain a good seasoning.
Great video!!
If you want to make sure you have a non stick experience then heat your pan with oil until it just starts to smoke then turn the fire down and let It cool down to desired temperature.
How often do you have to do a full seasoning ? Is that just a one time ?
I haven’t done it since this video. I think it’s mainly for pans that have lost their seasoning or if you want to start from scratch. My pan was new and had barely any seasoning on it so I was adding a few layers. It works great ever since!
@@waynefamilyvideos awesome, thanks !
My favorite method is preheat in oven take out and when cooled slightly apply the flax oil then back in the oven for 2hr between 450-500 the. Let it cool off in the oven (takes another 2hrs)
"You don't wanna go crazy and scratch off your seasoning ... "
* Goes crazy *
How has the seasoning on your stargazer holding up?Mine is ugly but a great user
I wouldn’t say mines ugly but it’s not a shiny even black. It’s a darker version of what it looked like new and kind of varying in color here and there. The bottom is darker. It still cooks great! I use it almost daily.
After cooking once is it appropriate to go back and reseason a few times to build a strong coating?
Arman Analouei When I get a new pan I like to build up a few layers of seasoning just so it works better. Then every time you cook with it it should build up more seasoning as you use it. But if you see some seasoning flaking off or getting thin then yes you can add additional layers of seasoning. I haven’t added more to mine since I made this video. Still working great. 👍
I have an old skillet which belonged to my grandparents, a Lodge #12 skillet, and the Stargazer 10.5" skillet and love them all, but the Stargazer is the best of the new skillets I have and is my favorite too, other than my grandparent's skillet.
For me, Flax resulted in a dry finish on the pan that looked coated but still made food stick to it.
It’s a good idea to be very gentle when you use metal utensils, and then only occasionally. Wood, silicone, and plastic-type implements work best for protecting the finish. The Lodge plastic scrubbers work great, but you can’t use them in a hot pan. 😀
I only use stainless steel or on occasion wood cooking utensils in my cast iron. It's one of my favorite parts about using cast iron in fact, being able to use a spatula that will last almost as long as my pan will is great. But different strokes for different folks as the saying goes.
I am always gentle with the metal spatulas. The instructions that came with the pan said that metal was great to use so I have been trying it out. So far it's fine as long as you are gentle.
You said the Stargazer isn't as good as the griswold , why ?
I'm looking to start using cat iron pans. Would you buy vintage or new ?, and what brand would you recommend?
Thanks, Great video.
David Parker I’m still learning. But the general consensus is that the antique cast iron pans are just better made and they have years of seasoning already built up on them which makes them great to cook on. I have a couple of old pans and I like them a lot. But I tend to use the new Stargazer pan the most. Especially for eggs. It’s just so smooth and nice to cook with. The problem with older pans is it’s hard to find them in great shape (not warped). So if you do find a good one it is really expensive. So money is better spent on a new Stargazer or Field brand skillet.
Thanks for the fast reply
I think I'm going to get a STARGAZER they seem well made and good price for the quality. Like the very smooth surface of the interior.@@waynefamilyvideos
waynefamilyvideos If you check garage sales, estate sales, and thrift shops regularly, one can find some affordable, excellent condition antique pieces that just need a bit of TLC.
I picked up a #8 Griswold Large block logo skillet for and an unmarked Wagner 17” griddle (both in excellent condition) and paid less that $40 for both. I stripped them, and they are in the oven getting their first coat of seasoning.
Of course, if one doesn’t have the time or the desire to haunt such places, or the work involved in restoring them (it’s really not that hard) it is great that there some nicer, new manufacturers to choose from.
That's the nice thing about the chain mail scrubber. It doesn't have any sharp edges that will cut into your seasoning.
My pan gets sticky to the touch while cold sometimes depending on what I cooked last but I’ve never noticed that effect the performance any
Typically that is a just a sign of too much oil while seasoning.
@@waynefamilyvideos I don’t usually season my pan intentionally I just clean it oil it and put it away
@@williamriordan1071 I would just wipe it down more before putting it away so the oil won’t get sticky. You only need a small amount.
Great informative video, this is indeed the right way to season cast iron. Don't bother with the aluminium foil, oil won't drip off if you wipe it like so.
The problem with the Stargazer (in my opinion) is that the initial seasoning(original or yours) is really thin due to the fact that the interior is machined. The seasoning won't build up in time. It rather flakes off. I noticed grey spots at 16:52. Same thing happened to me. I seared pork shoulder and it destroyed the initial seasoning. After cooking, the seasoning was gone (some parts of it). I spoke with Luke (the co-founder of the company) about this and he advised me to use extra oil during first cooks to help build up the seasoning. I tend to disagree with him. I've used cast iron for quite some time and my old griswold holds the seasoning pretty well and I don't need to use extra oil. I really wanted to like the stargazer, I like the shape, the finish, the fork handle, everything, but the seasoning problem was a deal breaker for me and I ended up returning it. Now I am back to my old griswold. I won't buy any new skillet cast iron or carbon steel any time soon.
Ionut Manolache Very good comment and from my research so far it does seem to me like a rough surface might in fact be better! I didn’t think so at first but have come to this conclusion now.
Anyone know why you coat the outside and underside of the skillet?
General HowTo To keep it from rusting. Iron rusts very easily. If you keep it coated and take care of it it will last forever.
Why do you have to scrub a non-stick pan?
Is this about seasoning or wiping off oil?
Not at $155.00 a pan. I'll take my lodge, which I've had for ten years at less than $40.00.
I have my grandmother's cast iron pan and it has a lot of crusted build-up inside and out on the sides. Can you tell me the best way to remove it?
Probably steel wool, or a wire wheel on an electric grinder if you can get ahold of one. I have heard that running the pan through a self-cleaning oven cycle will also remove any crud or seasoning leaving bare metal.
My problem is I’m doing the same steps you and everyone has said before, same temp and everything, and once I open it up it’s very dry like I never put oil ? to the point I must sand it down and redo again? Please help!
Puertoropelu225 hmmm... try and use it every day for a while if you can. Cook bacon, eggs, potatoes, etc. Other than I don’t know. I’m still learning myself.
Love your dedication to a pan. Just too much for me.
How long does it usually take for stargazer to ship out? I bought a 12” last week and haven’t received the email saying it was shipped.
No idea. I bought mine a couple of years ago and it seemed to ship fine. I don’t remember waiting long for it.
@@waynefamilyvideos thanks. They emailed me and said they were backed up from a lot of July 4 orders. They said it should ship out by end of the week and would email when it ships. Order was placed 10 days ago, no email yet. It’s a relatively small company so I’ll be patient. Just looking forward to trying it.
This is good video with some helpful preparation and cleaning techniques, thanks for sharing. I have the same Stargazer. Did your Stargazer purchase include seasoning?
Tardis Thank you for saying. I ordered the “pre seasoned” pan from Stargazer. It did not include any additional seasoning products in the box. While it was already pre seasoned, I felt it could use much more to work its best. I love it now.
@@waynefamilyvideos Mine is also pre seasoned. I have used it one time, wasn't too happy with the results. I sensed that something was a little off. I believe the results will improve once I apply your prep techniques.
@@tardis9905 .
Very good advice...you are a good teacher...happy eating😀
Interesting, I looked up the Crisbee Rub to possibly purchase, it says it's now Grapeseed oil and Beeswax, I guess they changed the formula.
Thanks for the update. I had no idea they changed the formula.
So this is a 6 hour job..is this all in on day or can I break this up over some days
You can do it over days. It’s just a method to add seasoning manually. You can also just cook in it every day. That will add seasoning as well.
Is this the 10 or 12 inch pan?
Sorry, I can't remember at the moment. It was the first pan that Stargazer made.
@@waynefamilyvideos that would be the 10 inch.
exactly what i was looking for, an amsr cast iron skillet video