Beyond ordering from our menu, there are several ways to approach acquiring the perfect steak. One of the most popular tools Dallas steakhouses and home chefs alike utilize in the process is a cast-iron skillet.
These are cooking tools that are so sturdy and useful that they often get passed down from generation to generation. However, the longevity of a cast-iron skillet is only as good as the upkeep put into it!
The best thing an owner can do is properly clean and season their skillet. Seasoning is the process of re-oiling your cast-iron and creating a natural cooking surface that mitigates rusting. If you start to notice food sticking to your skillet or a dull look showing on your cast-iron, it’s time to season!
This process keeps your pan in pristine condition and always prepped for use. Ready to get cooking with a cast-iron skillet that perfectly browns your steak? Follow these steps to start off on the right foot!
What Do You Need to Season a Cast-Iron Skillet?
If you’re going in for a full cleaning and seasoning, the ingredients you’ll need are easy to find.
- Kosher Salt
- A Sponge
- Cloths
- Vegetable Oil
- Aluminum Foil
Let’s Get Seasoning!
Now that you’ve got all of your seasoning materials on-hand, the real fun begins! Follow these step-by-step tips as given by our chef who knows how to keep his kitchen tools in line!
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Simple enough! Get your materials ready and set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: Scrub, Rinse, And Dry
If you are cleaning your skillet, sprinkle your kosher salt on the pan’s surface. Now you just have to turn on the warm water and scrub it down with your sponge. No soap necessary, and this step gets off all of the stuck-on food or grime that accumulated from the skillet’s last use.
After, you’ve scrubbed down and rinsed, dry your skillet and get ready for the next step.
Step 3: Oil Up Your Skillet
Gather up your oil and pour one or two tablespoons onto your skillet’s surface. Although we said to use vegetable oil, you can really use any cooking oil that you have in the kitchen.
Step 4: Rub Down the Entire Skillet
Use your clean cloth to rub a coat of your oil around the entire skillet. Yes, even the outside and handle of your cast-iron skillet need the TLC!
Step 5: Bake It!
You read that right! Toss your skillet upside down onto your oven’s center rack. Now is where your aluminum foil comes into play! Tear off a healthy piece and place the sheet beneath the rack to catch any of the drippings that will inevitably occur.
Bake your skillet for an hour.
Step 6: Cool Off and Put Away!
After the hour’s passed, turn off your oven and let the skillet completely cool down. After that, remove it and put it away until your next steak craving!
Experience Our Tips in Action at Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse
At Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse, we really care about the process of creating the perfect steak experience for our guests. We practice what we preach, so if you want a taste of what could be going on in your own kitchen, stop in for a bite from ours!
Make your reservation today and find out why we are the West End’s premier steakhouse.
