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Plus, how to choose and take care of quality non-stick pans
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Non-stick pans are great for a quick clean-up in the kitchen, but their non-stick quality can slowly deteriorate over time. Scratches or stains on the surface of the non-stick coating make the pans stickier and less effective, which can be frustrating. Luckily, you can revive sticky pans by “seasoning” them with oil. The process fills in the scratches and reinforces the non-stick coating. We spoke to executive chef Abyssinia Campbell to bring you the best advice on re-seasoning your non-stick pan, so keep reading to learn the proper cleaning and seasoning techniques to make your pan like new again!
How to Make a Pan Non-Stick Again
Clean the pan, then heat it over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add 2 tbsp (30 mL) of vegetable, canola, or coconut oil to the pan, coating the bottom entirely. Heat the oil in the pan until it smokes, let it cool completely, and wipe out any remaining oil. Your pan should now be re-seasoned and stick-free.
Steps
Section 1 of 7:
Prepping the Nonstick Pan for Seasoning
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Add water and vinegar to the pan. Before you season a non-stick pan, it's a good idea to deep clean it to remove any stains or food particles responsible for the pan’s stickiness. Begin by partly filling up the pan with water, then add 1 ⁄ 2 c (120 mL) of white vinegar. [1] X Research source
- If there’s something stubborn stuck on the pan after cooking, Campbell suggests putting some hot water in the pan, boiling it, and then scraping away any residue. [2]
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Expert Source
Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- If there’s something stubborn stuck on the pan after cooking, Campbell suggests putting some hot water in the pan, boiling it, and then scraping away any residue. [2]
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Abyssinia Campbell
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Heat on medium until boiling. Place the non-stick pan onto the stovetop over medium heat. Heat the pan until the vinegar mixture is boiling, about 10 minutes, then take the pan off the heat. [3] X Research sourceAdvertisement
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Wash the pan. Per Campbell’s instructions, pour the vinegar mixture into the sink after you take the pan off the stove. Then, wash the pan as usual with gentle dish soap, being sure not to use steel wool or other abrasive tools that can scratch the non-stick pan. [4] X Expert Source Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef Expert Interview. 31 August 2021. -
Dry the pan with a soft cloth. After washing out the pan, dry it thoroughly. Campbell expresses the importance of having a completely dry pan before you season it, as a dry surface gives the oil something to stick to. [5] X Expert Source Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
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Section 2 of 7:
Seasoning a Nonstick Pan on the Stovetop
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Heat the pan on medium heat for 3 minutes. If you aren't confident that your pan is oven-safe, season it on the stovetop. Begin by heating the clean, dry pan on medium heat for 3 minutes. [6] X Research source
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Add 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of coconut oil to the pan. Once the pan has heated for 3 minutes, add 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of coconut oil to the pan and wait for it to melt. This typically takes about 2 minutes. [7] X Research source- Campbell also recommends using vegetable oil as a substitute if you don’t have coconut oil on hand. [8]
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Expert Source
Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- Campbell also recommends using vegetable oil as a substitute if you don’t have coconut oil on hand. [8]
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Abyssinia Campbell
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Swirl the oil to coat the pan. Once the coconut oil has melted, pick the pan up off the stove and roll your wrist to tilt the pan in a circular motion. Continue moving the pan until the bottom is completely coated in oil. [9] X Research source
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Heat the oil until it smokes. After swirling the oil, place the pan back down on the burner. Let the pan sit over the heat until the coconut oil begins to smoke. This means that the oil is getting hot and is starting to bake into the pan. [10] X Research source
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Set the pan aside to cool. When you start seeing the oil smoke, take the non-stick pan off the heat and set it aside to cool. Keep the oil inside the pan and let the pan cool until it is room temperature. [11] X Research source
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Rub the oil into the pan. As Campbell instructs, take a paper towel and gently rub the oil into the pan. [12] X Expert Source Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef Expert Interview. 31 August 2021. The rubbing forces some coconut oil into the pores of the pan while absorbing the excess with the paper towel. [13] X Research source- Once the pan cools after cooking the oil, there should still be some oil coating the bottom. If not, you likely didn’t use enough oil.
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Section 3 of 7:
Seasoning a Nonstick Pan in the Oven
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Warm the pan over medium heat. Once you have thoroughly cleaned the pan, you can begin the process of seasoning it. Place the clean, dry pan on the stovetop over medium heat and let it warm. [14] X Research source
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Preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C). While the pan is warming, preheat the oven to 400 °F (204 °C). Baking the oil into the pan will help thoroughly coat the bottom and help revive its non-stick surface. [15] X Research source
- 400 °F (204 °C) is the smoke point for vegetable and canola oil, meaning that it’s the highest you can cook the oil before it starts to burn and smoke.
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Coat the pan with vegetable oil. Pour a non-salted vegetable oil into the pan. Use enough so that the oil coats the entire bottom of the pan and is about a 1 ⁄ 2 in (1.3 cm) high. [16] X Research source
- Campbell recommends using olive oil for the best results. [17]
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Expert Source
Abyssinia Campbell
Executive Chef Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- Campbell recommends using olive oil for the best results. [17]
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Abyssinia Campbell
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Heat the pan in the oven for about 2 hours. After pouring the oil into the pan, place it in the oven and let it heat for about 2 hours. The oven's heat lets the vegetable oil bake into and coat the bottom of the pan.
- Some smoke may come from the pan, but this is completely normal. Once the smoke is gone, the seasoning process is complete. [18] X Research source
- Only use this method if you have an oven-safe pan.
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Turn off the oven and keep the pan inside overnight. Once the 2 hours are up, turn the oven off. Keep the door closed, and leave the pan in overnight so it continues to dry.
- Take the pan out the following morning.
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Section 4 of 7:
Seasoning a Nonstick Pan Before Cooking
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Clean and dry the pan. Even if you have used vegetable or coconut oil to season and restore a non-stick pan, it’s still a good idea to do a quick seasoning before each use to lubricate and protect the non-stick surface. Make sure your pan is clean and completely dry before seasoning. [19] X Research source
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Pour 2 tsp (9.9 mL) of oil onto a paper towel. Pour about 2 tsp (9.9 mL) of a neutral-tasting oil (like vegetable or canola oil) onto a paper towel. You can also use butter if you prefer by placing a few shavings of butter inside the pan. [20] X Research source
- You only need a small amount of oil, which is why it's best to apply it first to the paper towel instead of putting it directly into the pan.
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Rub the pan with the oil or butter. Use the paper towel to rub the oil or butter around the bottom of the pan and absorb any with the paper towel. Then, use your non-stick pan to cook as usual. [21] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionCan I re-season a nonstick pan in the oven using coconut oil?Community AnswerNo, it is better to use the stove top as stated in the directions.
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Tips
- Make sure that you are using your non-stick pan correctly by not using metal spatulas or spoons on the pan and avoiding abrasive cleaning tools like steel wool.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://food52.com/blog/25458-how-to-care-for-nonstick-pans
- ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- ↑ https://food52.com/blog/25458-how-to-care-for-nonstick-pans
- ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- ↑ https://worldofpans.com/can-non-stick-pans-be-recoated/#Seasoning_with_Coconut_Oil
- ↑ https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/health/how-to-cook-on-season-a-stainless-steel-pan-to-create-a-non-stick-surface/
- ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- ↑ https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/health/how-to-cook-on-season-a-stainless-steel-pan-to-create-a-non-stick-surface/
- ↑ https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/health/how-to-cook-on-season-a-stainless-steel-pan-to-create-a-non-stick-surface/
- ↑ https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/health/how-to-cook-on-season-a-stainless-steel-pan-to-create-a-non-stick-surface/
- ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- ↑ https://wholelifestylenutrition.com/health/how-to-cook-on-season-a-stainless-steel-pan-to-create-a-non-stick-surface/
- ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/5561-how-to-season-nonstick-skillet
- ↑ https://overthefirecooking.com/season-or-re-season-a-cast-iron-skillet/
- ↑ https://overthefirecooking.com/season-or-re-season-a-cast-iron-skillet/
- ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview. 31 August 2021.
- ↑ https://overthefirecooking.com/season-or-re-season-a-cast-iron-skillet/
- ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/5561-how-to-season-nonstick-skillet
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/your-money/18shortcuts.html
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/your-money/18shortcuts.html
- ↑ https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pof/article-abstract/33/2/023601/1033587/On-formation-of-dry-spots-in-heated-liquid-films?redirectedFrom=fulltext
- ↑ https://www.foodandwine.com/news/why-food-sticks-to-nonstick-pan
- ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/articles/2021-the-dos-and-don-ts-of-nonstick-cookware
- ↑ https://www.today.com/food/7-ways-you-are-ruining-nonstick-pans-how-save-them-t104329
- ↑ https://www.today.com/food/7-ways-you-are-ruining-nonstick-pans-how-save-them-t104329
- ↑ https://www.today.com/food/7-ways-you-are-ruining-nonstick-pans-how-save-them-t104329
- ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/5117-how-often-should-i-replace-my-nonstick-pan
- ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/articles/2021-the-dos-and-don-ts-of-nonstick-cookware
- ↑ https://www.americastestkitchen.com/cooksillustrated/articles/2021-the-dos-and-don-ts-of-nonstick-cookware
About This Article
Article Summary
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To re-season a nonstick pan, start by heating it on the stovetop for 3 minutes over medium heat. Next, pour 2 tablespoons of coconut oil into the pan and swirl it around so the pan is fully coated. Continue heating the oil until it starts to smoke and then set the pan aside to cool. Once the pan is cool, use a paper towel to gently rub the remaining oil into the pan to finish seasoning it. To learn how to re-season a nonstick pan with vegetable oil, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "My frying pan has been used every day for fifteen years for bacon and eggs. It had been overheated a few times and had completely lost its non-stick properties. I cleaned it with soda and vinegar, then baked oil into it as described. Although it certainly doesn't look like a new pan, it is certainly non-stick again. I am very grateful for this article." ..." more
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"My frying pan has been used every day for fifteen years for bacon and eggs. It had been overheated a few times and had completely lost its non-stick properties. I cleaned it with soda and vinegar, then baked oil into it as described. Although it certainly doesn't look like a new pan, it is certainly non-stick again. I am very grateful for this article."
..."
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"I find this site fantastic, and I have learned a lot. I wish I had found it years ago, then my nonstick pans may not have gotten into such a state."
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