Sticky cast iron after seasoning

I had issues with stickiness when I was seasoning my new De Buyer B carbon steel pan on the stovetop. The De Buyer B carbon steel pans can’t be put in the oven at high temperatures due to the coating on the handle, so I used the stovetop method.

After researching for weeks before I even got the pan, and having come across a lot of bad information, I stumbled upon two articles that helped me to realize my mistakes:

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-technique-for-seasoning-cast-iron/

https://www.cooksillustrated.com/how_tos/9588-how-to-season-a-carbon-steel-pan

The first article by SherylCanter.com gives three main reasons for sticky seasoning:

1. You put the oil on too thick
2. Your oven (or stove) temperature was too low
3. Your baking time was too short

In addition to this, the directions at cooksillustrated.com include a very important step: If you notice the oil beading, wipe away beaded oil with a paper towel and tongs until oil starts to smoke.

I then let the pan continue to cook/smoke for about two minutes until the smoking has stopped. While doing so, I tilt and rotate the pan to ensure that all of the side surfaces are getting sufficient heat. Most of my previous sticky seasoning had been on the sides, most likely from the oil beading and not allowing the oil to “bake on” until hardened.

I then let my pan cool for about an hour before doing the next seasoning treatment.

Some articles had said to heat the pan just up to the point it starts smoking, then remove it from the heat. This will NOT work. The oil will smoke while it is polymerizing but will stop once the process is complete. The sticky oil should have become dark and hard. It’s crucial not to remove the pan too early.

I’m on the third coating now with no sticky residue.

Like the other posters suggest, probably too much oil. Usually the instructions (some pans have seasoning instructions molded into the bottom) say to wipe the excess oil out of the pan as it's cooling (between cool enough to touch but still quite warm). You can warm the pan back up and wipe out the oil before your next cooking.

I'm not a big fan of seasoning at such a high temperature. This is mostly because I season with oils that have a low smoke temperature (like olive or grapeseed). I usually season between 250 to 300 for 1 hour, wipe out the excess oil, leave the pan in the warm but off oven overnight to cool. If I'm using lard or other animal fat, I might go to 400, depending on the fat. Personally, I'm not a fan of CANOLA and other more modern oils and try to cook with oils that can grow in my local climate (even if we don't grow olives here commercially, they do grow quite well in my garden)

But I'm going from personal experience, there are a lot of 'proper ways' to season cast iron, but then again, there are also a lot of 'proper ways' to bake bread. Many of these proper ways have wonderful scientific analysis (which personally I adore) but when it comes down to it, it's your kitchen and your pan. Find something that works for you and stick with it.

Of course, if you have a pan that needs just a quick fix on it's seasoning, you can do my favourite thing which is to fry a bunch of bacon, then fry onions in the remaining fat. Or onions slow fried in excess of olive oil for a more vegetarian approach.

Charlotte and Stephanie are right on. The link to the Canter method is my bible of seasoning. Once your seasoning is polymerized, your pan will be heavenly and the "don't use soap or water on CI" won't apply. Kenji from Serious Eats writes about the wives tales of CI as well as Canter.

Just a thought...you didn't use spray on oil did you?

Sounds like it may have just been a bit too much oil. You can try putting it back in the oven for an hour but the stickiness should lessen by washing it in hot water.

The seasoning is the result of the oil polymerizing and becoming hard. If the oil is sticky, the polymerization isn't complete. That is caused by one or more of the following:

1. Using too much oil (thin layers are best).
2. Too low a temperature.
3. Not enough time.

Warm the pan and and wipe off the sticky residue (it may just wipe off when the pan is heated; if not, scour it off with salt and a paper towel). Season again, using just enough oil to lightly coat the pan. You might try a higher oven temperature and longer time in the oven than your first attempt.

Here's a useful site on the science of cast-iron seasoning.

http://sherylcanter.com/wordpress/2010/01/a-science-based-technique-for-seasoning-cast-iron/

Amanda recommends using organic flaxseed oil (expensive!) but the method works with canola and other oils as well.