How to Season
a Dutch Oven

Learning how to season a Dutch oven is an absolute must before you start using it. Seasoning a Dutch prevents rusting, forms a non-stick cooking surface, makes clean up easier, and extends the life of your Dutch oven. When you're ready to season your Dutch oven just follow the steps below to learn how to season a Dutch oven properly.

1. New Dutch ovens come with a special coating to protect it from rust (often wax or oil). This coating must be washed off by using warm water, soap, and some kind of scrubber. Be sure to scrub the lid, too.

   NOTE: This is the only time you'll use soap on your Dutch oven. Using soap after the protective coating has been removed could leave a soapy taste in all of your meals.

2. Completely dry your Dutch oven with paper towels. Make sure the oven is totally dry so that all moisture is gone. You can place the Dutch oven inside a 200 degree oven with the door open for 15 minutes. This will get rid of all moisture.

3. Carefully remove the Dutch oven since it will be hot. Set your kitchen oven to 350 degrees and close the door.

4. Using paper towels or a cotton rag, coat the Dutch oven (inside and out and including the lid) with quite a bit of vegetable oil or shortening. Rub it in really good, and then wipe off any extra oil or shortening with a paper towel.

5. Place an oven liner or aluminum foil in the bottom of your pre-heated oven. This will catch any run-off or drippings.

6. Place the lid with the handle pointed up on the rack. Put the Dutch oven upside-down (so the drippings won't pool up inside the Dutch oven) next to the lid. Close the oven door and set the timer for 1 hour.

7. Remove the Dutch oven and the lid carefully using oven mitts and wipe off any remaining oil or shortening.

8. Apply another layer of oil or shortening with a paper towel or cotton rag to the Dutch oven and the lid, inside and out.

9. Put both the lid and the Dutch oven back into the 350 degree oven the same way as in step #6. Set the timer for another 45 minutes to 1 hour.

10. When the timer goes off, turn the oven off. Then let the Dutch oven cool inside the oven until it is cool enough to pick up with your bare hands.

11. Wipe off any extra oil or shortening again, and apply another very light coat of oil. Rub the oil in, and wipe off any extra oil.

12. Your seasoned Dutch oven should be slightly shiny, and it is now ready to go.

13. After each use Clean your Dutch oven properly.

Once the Dutch oven is properly seasoned, the coating will turn black and harden after use. This is nothing to worry about. In fact it is a good sign that the Dutch oven was seasoned and cared for properly.

And now that you know how to season a Dutch oven properly, then get out there and start cooking!