How to Season Cast Iron with Flaxseed Oil

Do you have some flaxseed oil in your pantry? You might be curious about what it’s used for. It can be used for seasoning cast iron, but it’s not like other cooking oils.

Because the smoke point is so low, the margin of error when seasoning your pan is low. You can burn the oil off if you’re not careful. Flaxseed oil is not an ideal oil if you like to fry or cook at high heat.

Flaxseed oil is a type of drying oil. Typically, drying oils, like linseed oil, are used to finish outdoor wood. But flaxseed oil is edible. If done right, your pan will have a smooth durable surface. It won’t be non-stick right away. But don’t worry; that’ll come with time.

Compared to other cooking oils, flaxseed oil is expensive. You have to ensure you buy 100% flaxseed oil. Otherwise, the layer of seasoning may not polymerize properly. Flaxseed oil with additives can flake off in just a few months.

Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to season cast iron with flaxseed oil.

Note: If your pan has a wooden handle, you’ll need to season your cast iron on the stovetop.

What You Need

• ~1 tbsp flaxseed oil (depending on the size of the pan)
• Abrasive scrubber – sponge or scrub brush
• Dish towel
• Dish soap
• Oven
• Sink
• Baking sheet or aluminum foil

1. Preheat your oven to 200º F.

Flaxseed oil has a smoke point of only 225º. This is much lower than olive oil at 375º or most other cooking oils which hover around 400º F. When seasoning your cast iron, it’s important to heat it around the smoke point, so the oil can polymerize. If the temperature is too low, it won’t polymerize and the pan will get sticky.

A little smoking is fine – in fact, this tells you the seasoning is working. But if the temperature is too high, the layer of oil will burn off.

If that happens, you’ll want to reseason the pan. When oil burns off, it becomes bitter and will impart that flavor into the pan.

2. Add a layer of foil or a baking sheet under the pan to catch drips.

3. Clean your pan thoroughly with an abrasive scrubber and dish soap.

When your cast iron pan arrives from the factory, it often has a factory coating that needs to be removed before seasoning. Scrub the pan with a scrubby sponge or steel wool and dish soap to completely remove this coating.

After you season your cast iron cookware, we don’t recommend using abrasive scrubbers to clean cast iron. But in this case, you are preparing the pan for seasoning, So scrub away!

4. Dry the pan thoroughly with a towel, then on your stovetop.

Before seasoning, you want to remove all moisture from the pan. After drying it with a towel, heat the pan up for a couple of minutes to remove the last remaining water from it.

5. Apply a thin layer of flaxseed oil to the entire pan: bottom, handle, sides, and interior.

Add some flaxseed oil into your cast iron pan and spread it with a paper towel. You don’t need to be too generous with the coating. Just make sure you cover the entire pan.

6. Bake your cast iron pan upside down in the oven for one hour.

You don’t want the flaxseed oil to pool in the bottom of your pan while it’s baking. Otherwise, it will come out sticky. So make sure it’s upside down!

7. Let it cool in the oven for at least 30 minutes.

8. Repeat steps five to seven at least five times to reinforce the layer of seasoning.

With other oils, the additional coats of seasoning are optional. But you’ll get the best results with flaxseed oil if you season your cookware at least five times. Every coat strengthens the layer of seasoning. Flaxseed oil can get brittle and flake off at high temperatures so the extra coats make it more durable.

9. Start cooking!

Seasoning your pan with flaxseed oil is that simple! Remember to reseason it twice a year. With this particular oil, remember to avoid high heat cooking because of its low smoke point. If you want to do heavy frying or baking, try avocado oil or vegetable oil instead!

Can you use flaxseed oil for cooking?

It’s not recommended to use flaxseed oil for cooking due to its low smoke point. You can add flaxseed oil to salads and other dishes after they’re cooked. If you heat flaxseed oil past its smoke point, it can produce harmful compounds called free radicals.

Is flaxseed oil good for high heat cooking?

Flaxseed oil is not ideal for high heat cooking. With a smoke point of just 225º, the oil will burn at higher temperatures. You can add it to dishes after they’re cooked, though.

Is flaxseed oil good for deep frying?

No, do not use flaxseed oil for deep frying. The smoke point is way too low, at 225º. We recommend using olive oil, which has a smoke point of 375º. Or you can go with vegetable oil, which has a smoke point of about 400º to 450º.

What is the difference between flax oil and flaxseed oil?

Flax oil and flaxseed oil are the same thing. Flax oil is made by pressing flax seeds. Many people take flaxseed oil in supplements to improve skin health and lower blood pressure. Don’t use it for cooking due to its low smoke point.

What does flaxseed oil taste like?

It tastes a little nutty, but the flavor is pretty neutral. Many people find it bitter, but that’s because the oil is likely rancid! You’ll want to buy new flaxseed oil if that’s the case.

How long does flaxseed oil last?

Flaxseed oil lasts about three to six months after it's been opened. It can last about a year if refrigerated, but that’s not required.

We hope this helped you season your cast iron. If possible, we recommend using cooking oil with a higher smoke point. Flaxseed oil is typically not used for cooking because it burns off so quickly.

Here are a few other guides on how to season cast iron with different cooking oils.

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