Skillet texture on cooking surface

[radio]

Stopped at a flea market today and found a set of 3 Lodge cast iron skillets barely used for $12.50  I didn't really want the two smaller ones, but couldn't pass up the deal!

I noticed the surface in the bigger one was kind of textured, almost pebbely.  Not rough at all, just a pattern of barely raised bumps all over the bottom.  Not sure if that is a Lodge trait or what.  Only other skillets I've seen have been perfectly smooth.

Any input on the textured surface?  My first thought was break out the orbital sander and make it smooth and then season it

 

[daveomak]

One school of thought is, the pebbly surface is "more" non stick....    Try it, you may like it...  I know my new DO has the pebbly surface and after "curing" it with flax seed oil, nothing sticks to it....   Dave

 

[radio]

Thanks.  I have a fairly new Lodge DO my Daughter bought me a couple of years ago and it has a textured surface also.  My thought was eggs might be hard to turn and leave bits in the bottom that were shaved off with the egg turner.  I'll season it and give it a try before I do any "modding" with power tools

What is the Flax seed oil cure you refer to? Is it used in the same manner as other oils for seasoning, or different time/temp/method?  Always used VO or lard to cure them in the past
 

 

[daveomak]

When seasoning, I recommend an oven temp of 450...  and if you do not have an exhaust hood in the kitchen....  cure it outside in your grill... Make sure you use an accurate thermometer to monitor the temps... too high a temp and you could burn off the flax oil...  it does have a very low smoke point......

Originally posted by BeansBaxter

post #11  of 13

8/4/11 at 1:45pm

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• BeansBaxter
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• 4 Posts. Joined 8/2011
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Use flax seed oil. There's science to back this up. Read here for all you'll ever need to know about cast iron seasoning:

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

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/137622/the-ultimate-way-to-season-cast-iron-flaxseed-oil

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/135969/my-dutch-oven-seasoning-update

Dave