MegaChef Assorted Pre-Seasoned OVEN SAFE, Cast Iron Cookware Set, 5 Piece, Black

Love this cast iron set. Out of the box, it's easy to tell the factory "preseason" is only meant to get them through shipping. They are not ready to cook with out of the box. If you do not know how to season cast iron keep reading.Seasoning cast iron is the absolute most important act of kindness you can do for yourself and your cooking set. There is lots of debate on what oils are best, I personally prefer canola oil. In my opinion, it coats the best and scientifically it is one of the most heat tolerant oils you can choose. Before I tell you my season method, you should know the reason we season our cast iron is to protect it from rust and wear. We do this by rubbing our cast iron down with canola oil like we would rub ourselves down with expensive lotion. If you think of this like moisturizing, seasoning will go smoothly. Before you do anything, line your bottom oven rack with aluminum foil and move that rack to the bottom holder in the oven (see photo). Drop your top rack to the holder right above your bottom rack and preheat your oven to 450 degrees. You want to get an old kitchen towel, something that doesn't give off a lot of fuzz or lint, lay it in your lap, and grab the first cast iron pot or pan. Toss a cap full of canola oil into it and rub it down inside and out. The pan will feel rough and that's normal for an unseasoned pan. Your pans will soften as they season. After the rub down, use your towel to buff your pan. This step pushes the oil into the cracks and crevices and removes the excess oil. Rub down and buff out all of your pans. Once this is done, put everything except the Dutch oven and lid upside down on the top rack of the oven (simply because this is all that will fit in one go). Set a timer for 30mins. You will need serious oven mits when the timer goes off, I recommend heavy duty silicone. When the timer goes off, pull the pans out, put them on the stove top, and put the Dutch oven in on the top rack upside down along with the lid. Set the timer for another 30mins. Once the pans on top of the stove cool enough to handle, rub and buff them down again. I find they cool down faster if you move them onto a towel on your counter top after the first 10mins of being out of the oven. Try to lean them on their side for more air flow. I did this by putting a piece of cardboard against my countertop walls where they meet in the corner (see photo). You want to cycle everything through (rub, buff, oven, cool) 4 times for well seasoned cast iron. It will take about half of a day from start to finish. If you do this correctly, you will know because on every round your pots and pans will be a deeper darker shade of black and feel softer. The softness comes from the oil binding to the cast iron creating a protective layer. This layer is mildly nonstick and allows you to stack your pots and pans, and wash your pots and pans with warm soapy water after each use. It is absolutely imperative that you never submerge them into a sink full of water, and never allow your cast iron to air dry. You must wash them in running water, towel dry immediately after washing, and follow that up with a paper towel to ensure you get every drop of moisture off. It's not a bad idea to rub and buff about a half teaspoon of canola oil before you put them away after cleaning just like you would lotion yourself after you get out of the shower.If you take care of your cast iron, your cast iron will take care of you. Happy cooking.

Love cast irons and nice set for reasonable price

I've always loved cast iron, but these are certainly a set of the best. I'm loving the even cooking and less time for foods to cook. I found it's best if baking or frying (eggs, ect ) to use a coating the first few times to prevent sticking and you're home free from there. I can see this set being handed down for generations.

Could use more seasoning. A good starter set. A good value for your money. My son-in-law loves them.

Loving my pots. Cooking in these pots has really made a difference in my dishes

Not good, buy at your own risk. What a waste of my time I searched and searched and I found these to find out I had to send them back it had some kind of chemical on it that I could not understand. The color was bluish. and one dark brown spot and rusty. Not worth my time or my energy because they are heavy OMG. I have to return them with a friend because they are to heavy. Then the bubble rap was dirty. I feel lie opening the boxes again just to take photos of the bubble rap, it was dirty wrapped around a clean plastic but who knows how clean that clean looking plastic. OMG it was crazy never again. They going on my never again list that company name/. Not sure if all their stuff is like that. But that is unethical to send someone that paid full payment of something that is supposed to be brand new to arrive in the condition it was in. I had to send Amazon those pics. They were flabbergasted. Like OMG.But if you still want to get them go ahead. I shared what I had to because people should not do that. Its so unethical.I hope that's all they have in bad condition. Maybe they did not realize. But the bubble rap was dirty who is not going to notice that. honestly no sure if this is cast iron. It has to be something else. Because Cast iron is not suppose to rust or have any kind of chemical on it like this did.

Got this as a gift for my wife, and she absolutely went bonkers for it! She loves to cook and prefers cast iron, but we never thought we could afford more sets. Thankfully this exists, and she loved it.It seasoned well and cooks just as good as any other one we have. The sizes are perfect and they heat so evenly. Her favorite thing is the camping pot that comes with a lid/handle. It's something she's always wanted.I'm thankful they make these so I could make my wife's Christmas that more special.

I was excited to get this set for my husband however one of the skillets was broken I have contacted customer service and I’m going to return it and they are going to give me a refund other than that they need seasons and they look awesome and I’m excited to give him his birthday present just disappointed it was broken pain arrival.