Will sanding my cast iron skillet make the seasoning better?

Question

If I sand the inside of my cast iron skillet so it's smooth as glass, will my skillet perform any worse or better?

There's nothing wrong with my seasoning, I am only curious. My skillet has little bumps scattered on the surface, and it doesn't really do anything, but I'm wondering if I sand the surface until it's really smooth and then season it again, will it perform any better? Will it be even more non stick? I know it'll look really really nice.

Answer 1

Don't sand it, I never do. I put mine in the oven.

Answer 2

Smooth Cast Iron Skillet

Answer 3

I can't imagine how you'd sand it. I have some smooth cast iron skillets and some which are rougher. The rougher ones get smoother over time. The rougher ones do have more of a tendency to stick, but that's overcome with time by using it and re-seasoning it.

I wonder if it's really feasible to sand it. Perhaps the roughness is a quality of the steel? It might be rough on the lower layers, too. In any event, if you disturb the seasoning you'll have to re-season it.

If you try this, I'd do it on a skillet that you won't mind trashing. Use a less expensive one to experiment on. I hope you'll let us know how that went. I'm curious now.

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Will sanding my cast iron skillet make the seasoning better?
If I sand the inside of my cast iron skillet so it's smooth as glass, will my skillet perform any worse or better?

Answer 5

Yes, much better.

I have two Lodge skillets. The 10 inch, one gotten from my mom, was not sanded. I recently purchased a 13 inch one, the perfect size I shall say, and had my boyfriend to sand it for two hours, lol. I think he used two different grades of sandpaper on it, but only sanded it the bottom of the skillet, not the sloped sides. The end result was perfect after seasoning - glass-like smoothness; you can easily tell the difference comparing the bottom to the slope.

If I might add, it is not really necessary to sand the slope, if only you are up the the labor, lol.

Answer 6

Do not sand your cast iron skillet! Season it by rubbing it with oil and putting it in a warm oven for an hour.

Answer 7

i'm old!! NEVER sand a cast iron skillet!!! i still use my gramma's skillet and i never even use an sos pad on it. gramma would turn over in her grave!!! the seasoning over time is what makes them so great. wash it, rub it with oil and bake it in the oven for a while. that should take care of the sticking problem. you can also try a little pam while frying til it gets "broken in" if it's new. good luck, grmmy net

Answer 8

If the inside is rough and needs sanding, you may want to start all over again w/ your seasoning. It sounds like yourseasoning is cracked or pitted, causing food to stick.

When mine get like this (or they're funky from when I buy them at a yard sale), I put them in the oven on the self-clean cycle. (Turn on yoru exhasust fan!) Then when I can get to them, I brush them off well adn season again immediately.

This may work for you, better than traying to sand it. I"m not sure sandpaper would scratch iron.

Answer 9

If you can put them in an open fire for a while and get them real hot, they will come out like a mirror. A little olive oil on them after they cool and they'll stay that way for a long time. If you don't have acess to a fire, put them in the oven for an hour or so and the results will be pretty much the same. I use my cast every day and keep them well seasoned. There is notthing like them.

Answer 10

I don't believe sanding is the answer, because they say in your seasoning manuel not to use metal on them and it might put grooves into the castiron. I would just leave it as is and wash it really well and reseason.