I love cooking with cast iron! Whether I’m perfectly searing a juicy filet mignon or whipping up my cozy, Southern-inspired cast iron cornbread, my cast iron skillet is an absolute must-have in my kitchen. And, to make sure you get the most out of your versatile pan, you’ll need some of the best oils for seasoning cast iron.
Table of Contents
Seasoning your cast iron pans is essential for ensuring your food cooks fast, is well seasoned, and doesn’t stick. The best cast iron seasoning oil is your number one tool in making sure cast iron-made meals taste amazing. My top favorite is the Lancaster Cast Iron Seasoning, but other options double as cooking oils, too, helping you save kitchen space and money.
Ahead, check out the best oils to season cast iron from top-tier kitchen brands like Lancaster, Lodge, and Barlean’s.
My Top Picks:
- In My Kitchen: Lancaster Cast Iron Seasoning — $12 at Amazon
- Best Spray: Lodge Seasoning Spray — $12.69 at Amazon
- Best Splurge: Barlean’s Organic Lignan Flax Oil — $35.99 at Amazon
- Best Grapeseed Oil: Pompeian Grapeseed Oil — $5.37 at Walmart
- Best Wax: Made In Cookware Carbon Steel Seasoning Wax — $25 at Amazon
- Best Scrub: Caron & Doucet Cast Iron Scrub — $12.99 at Amazon
- Best for Griddles: Blackstone Griddle Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner — $9.97 at Amazon
- Best Set: Culina Cast Iron Seasoning Stick, Oil, Soap and Scrub — $69.99 at Amazon
- Best for Large Surfaces: Foodieville Cast Iron Seasoning Oil — $18.95 at Amazon
- Best Budget: Good & Gather Nonstick Olive Oil Cooking Spray — $2.89 at Target
Reviews of the Best Oils for Seasoning Cast Iron
1. In My Kitchen: Lancaster Cast Iron Seasoning
I love this 2-ounce blend of locally sourced beeswax, grapeseed oil, and safflower oil from Lancaster. It is truly one of the best oils to season cast iron. After using this product for the past few years, I’ve found myself constantly reaching for it. It adds a perfect layer of seasoning to my cast iron skillet to seal and protect it without making it feel sticky. Don’t just take my word for it, though: This oil and wax blend has a 4.6-star rating on Amazon.
2. Best Spray: Lodge Seasoning Spray
As a brand best known for its array of U.S.-made, cast iron pans (and the maker of my favorite cast iron skillet for cornbread), it’s no surprise that Lodge also sells a line of top-tier tools to keep pans seasoned. That includes this canola oil spray — it’s non-aerosol, has adjustable spray settings, and protects your cookware while also enhancing the finish. Amazon shoppers love it, giving this spray a 4.7-star average rating from more than 10,200 buyers, which makes it one of the best oils to season cast iron.
3. Best Splurge: Barlean’s Organic Lignan Flax Oil
While this pick is on the pricier side, the large 32-ounce capacity and organic, cold-pressed formula make it worth the cost. It contains pure, unfiltered lignan flax oil which has a low smoke point of 225 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that it’s quick to melt into seasoning, so you only have to use a little bit at a time. The Kitchn ranked it as its third-best cast iron seasoning and it has a 4.6-star rating from more than 3,300 Amazon shoppers.
4. Best Grapeseed Oil: Pompeian Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is another one of the best oils to season cast iron because it’s a pretty versatile option to have in your kitchen. At an affordable price point, I like that it can not only be used as cast iron seasoning but for cooking, too (think yummy salad dressings or in baked goods). I especially like this brand because it has a high smoke point of 510 degrees and you get a solid 24-ounces of product.
5. Best Wax: Made In Cookware Carbon Steel Seasoning Wax
As an alternative to my go-to Lancaster Cast Iron Seasoning that I always use, this wax is fairly close. The blend of two good-for-you oils—canola and grapeseed—is thickened up with beeswax, another natural additive. It has a solid 4.6-star rating on Amazon, while the Wall Street Journal provided high ranks for its functionality.
6. Best Scrub: Caron & Doucet Cast Iron Scrub
Coconut oil is the base of this cast iron scrub, a plant-based product made by family-based company Caron & Doucet. They’re so sure you’ll love the natural and food-safe formula that there’s even a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t. It contains solvent-less, refined coconut oil that works to get rid of lingering odors and clean and restore your cast iron skillet. They also note that, when using a soft cloth with this scrub, it won’t scratch the surface of your pan, either.
7. Best for Griddles: Blackstone Griddle Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner
I absolutely love using my griddle for meat, veggies, and even desserts! In fact, I have a few recommendations for cast iron griddles, my favorite being from the beloved French brand, Le Creuset. But, when cooking my comforting Country Chicken and Biscuits, seasoning and cleaning your griddle can be a challenge. Enter: This two-in-one griddle seasoning and cast iron conditioner, which is designed to condition and protect your pan.
It’s made with ingredients like shortening, palm oil, beeswax, canola oil, and soy oil, and can even be used on carbon steel pots, Dutch ovens, woks, grill grates, and more. I especially love that you don’t need a ton of product to get the job done, either — a thin, evenly spread layer is perfect, equivalent to one or two small scoops.
8. Best Set: Culina Cast Iron Seasoning Stick, Oil, Soap, and Scrub
If you’re just getting your kitchen set up or want to gift this to a loved one who just moved into their first apartment or home, this set has everything you need. It comes with seasoning oil, a seasoning stick, soap, and a handy scrub. All of the materials used for the stick and oil are organic and natural, along with being free from sulfates, phosphates, parabens, and petrochemicals.
9. Best for Large Surfaces: Foodieville Cast Iron Seasoning Oil
If I’ve just made steak for the entire family, chances are, I used a large cast iron pan. And, despite the bigger surface area, a quick and easy seasoning process is ideal. I love this seasoning oil for larger pans and skillets because of the handy spray bottle and 12-fluid-ounce capacity. It’s made by Creation Farm, a Michigan farm-based company that grows, processes, and manufactures its own products, using locally grown and sourced ingredients whenever possible. This seasoning oil contains fractionated coconut oil, which is a type of coconut oil that has a different fat makeup.
10. Best Budget: Good & Gather Nonstick Olive Oil Cooking Spray
In a pinch, I like to grab a neutral oil such as vegetable or canola to season a pan. It works just fine. However, I find that it’s easy to add too much oil to a pan, which can create a dripping or sticky skillet later, so rounding out my list of the best oils for seasoning cast iron is this simple and affordable option.
Since this is an olive oil spray, you can more easily control how much comes out and evenly coat the pan. (Just note that it’s exclusive to Target, under one of their store brands.) As a bonus, olive oil can handle high heat, which you’re going to achieve any time you use a cast-iron pan.
What to Know About Oils for Seasoning Cast Iron
Things to Consider When Choosing a Cast Iron Seasoning
When you’re shopping for the best oil for seasoning cast iron, there are a few things to keep an eye out for:
- Made from Natural Ingredients: Some examples are oils made from, coconut, olives, grapeseed, and flax.
- Isn’t Sticky or Greasy: Is there anything worse than when you just can’t get grime out of a pan? We don’t want that when you are doing something as simple as seasoning your cast iron pan.
- Contains Highly Unsaturated Fats: The reason you look for a product containing these fats is so the oil will oxidize easily and is reactive.
What’s the Best Way to Season Cast Iron?
You’ll want to season your skillet with cast iron seasoning about once a month. Using an even coat of your seasoning of choice, make sure it covers the entire surface of the pan. (You can use a paper towel to gently spread the oil.) Next, place the skillet upside down (on top of a baking sheet, so the oil doesn’t drip) in a preheated oven of 350°F for about an hour.
If you’re seasoning a griddle or grill, I recommend the same process, but with a griddle-specific option, like the Blackstone Griddle Seasoning & Cast Iron Conditioner.
What’s the Best Temperature to Season Cast Iron?
The sweet spot, according to The Kitchn, is between 350°F to 500°F. You want to generate just enough heat, but not too much.
How to Season Cast Iron Without an Oven
Say you’re camping or working with only a stovetop or grill. The good news is that you can still season your cast iron pan! Start with a clean and dry pan, then add a thin layer of oil or your choice of seasoning (a paper towel helps to spread evenly if you don’t have a flat surface). Then place the pan on medium heat for about 10 minutes. Of course, make sure the pan has cooled down before you put it away, and wipe away any remaining oil since it can stick.
How to Season a Rusty Cast Iron Skillet
If you’ve been gifted a rusty cast iron skillet or made a few accidents with your existing one, you don’t need to donate or throw it out. There is an easy technique to remove that rust so it looks good as new! I like the process vlogger “A Chef and His Spoon” outlines in this video, using a 50-year-old pan once owned by his grandmother. You can use vinegar and baking soda paste to scrub the interior, then wash it with warm, soapy water, and season with canola oil as normal. Good as new!
How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet
Before you start scrubbing, take a step back to review the product’s specifications. Many enameled cast iron skillets are now dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing can often preserve the enamel finish. If there is an enamel coating and you’re hand-washing it, you want to be careful not to scrub so hard that the enamel comes off. Warm water and dish soap will do the trick. Metal utensils should also never be used with enameled skillets.
When it comes to traditional cast iron, it’s a pretty standard hand-cleaning process with some elbow grease. I typically wash them with hot water, using a little bit of dish soap when necessary, and dry them over a low flame on the stovetop.
Some of My Favorite Recipes for Cast Iron Pans
- No-Knead Cast Iron Foccacia
- Skillet Lasagna
- Cast Iron Chicken Breast
- Cast Iron Deep Dish Pizza
- No-Knead Dutch Oven Bread
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
