TOP 5 ways to light a cast iron cauldron at home
Before using cast iron cookware, you need to carry out its preliminary preparation. Experienced housewives advise calcining such containers. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with how you can light a cast iron cauldron.
Why are they fired?
Some people think that before using cast iron cookware, just rinse it with detergent and dry it. However, a newly purchased Kazan Citizen must be burned before use.
In the manufacture of such containers, technical lubrication solutions are used. They cover the molds in which the cast iron dishes are cast. This coating protects metal products from premature rusting and damage during transport. During the cooking process, the protective coating penetrates the food and negatively affects the taste of the prepared dish. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out annealing in advance and get rid of the remnants of factory grease.
Basic methods
There are four main methods of calcination, the characteristics of which should be familiarized with in advance.
Calcination with table salt
The most common method is using table salt, which everyone has in the kitchen. The procedure takes place in several sequential steps:
- Rinse the cauldron under the pressure of lukewarm water and wipe it with a dry towel to remove any remaining moisture.
- Put the washed Kazan on the gas stove and turn on the burner to maximum.
- After 15-20 minutes, the bottom of the container is covered with table salt. At the same time, it is poured in such a way that salt particles fall on the walls.
- When the cast iron pot is warmed up, the poured salt is stirred. When shaking, it is carefully rubbed along the bottom and walls so that fat is better absorbed.
- When the salt browns, the gas can be turned off.
- After cooling, the cauldron is washed with warm water and cleaned of salt residue.
Oil treatment
Some experts argue that calcination alone is not enough to clean the surface of a new cauldron. Therefore, in addition to this, it is necessary to process oil. To do this, use sesame, linseed or sunflower oil.
The processing is done as follows:
- 500-700 milliliters of oil are poured into the dishes. It must be poured carefully so that the liquid does not fall on the outer walls.
- A container with oil is placed on a gas stove and heated for 40-50 minutes.
- When the oil is warmed up, it is evenly distributed with a spoon along the walls of the Kazan. It should not be rubbed for more than 15-20 minutes, as the oil will begin to evaporate.
- The processed cauldron is removed from the stove and wiped with dry paper.
In the oven
People who do not want to use additional funds can ignite Kazan using the oven.Before you do this, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of baking cast iron cookware. This procedure takes place in several steps:
- The cauldron is washed with water warmed to room temperature.
- The oven is turned on and heated to 200-250 degrees.
- After warming up the oven, a cast iron container is placed on the baking sheet in the oven. After 20-25 minutes, white smoke will begin to appear in the oven. This indicates that factory fat is burning gradually.
- Once the smoke has stopped coming out, the firing stops.
- The cooled Kazan is washed again with warm water to remove grease residues.
Roasting over an open fire
Some people prefer to burn dishes not in the oven or on the stove, but over an open fire. In this case, you can use the barbecue or make a fire. The container is pre-washed with a hot liquid and only then placed on an open fire. During the calcination process, a lot of smoke will start to rise from the cauldron, which will gradually darken.
Dark spots may also be observed on the sides and bottom of the container. When they disappear, the citizen of Kazan is removed from the fire and washed with water.
Post-annealing treatment
After the calcination is completed, the Kazanian must completely cool. Then it is rinsed with cold or lukewarm water to remove any residual dirt. Some people use detergents at the same time, but you shouldn't.
How to prepare aluminum for first use at home
Sometimes, instead of cast iron cookware, more economical aluminum containers are used. They are prepared for first use in the same way as cast iron.They are calcined in an oven, over an open fire or in a gas oven using salt.
Rules of care
Cast iron cookware should be well cared for to last longer. After preparing the food, it is immediately transferred to another container and is not kept for a long time in a cauldron. Then the citizen of Kazan is washed in hot water with detergent to get rid of food debris and grease. The washed cauldron is wiped with a towel and dried.
Cooking functions
The following features of container preparation are distinguished:
- if Kazan aluminum is calcined over an open fire, then wet logs are used for the fire;
- during calcination, monitor the heating temperature of the cauldron;
- it is necessary to reheat dishes no more than an hour;
- firing is carried out at low temperature so as not to damage the aluminum coating.
Conclusion
Before using a new cauldron, it is pre-calcined. Before that, you should familiarize yourself with the main methods of roasting cast iron and aluminum cookware.