Based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil. If you're on the hunt for healthier alternatives, applesauce is a great alternative to Crisco in desserts.

Focusing on ‘smoke point’ means you are missing out on the science of what polymerization does for you. Polyunsaturated fats like those found in grape seed oil have been found to produce toxic compounds (including those that cause cancer) when heated. With carnivore and animal-based diets becoming popular, and I myself am experimenting with it, I’ve discovered something I didn’t know previously existed.So here I am all these years later wondering what I should do at this point, shall I properly season the skillet as it is? How to watch Love Island Games in the UK: As the spin-off to the popular dating show lands, UK viewers need to know how to view it. You definitely don’t want to go through the multistep process of seasoning your cast iron pan only to have all of that hard work just flake off, so this oil is low on my list. This reformulated Crisco is claimed to have the same cooking properties and flavor as the original version of the product.

Ask your supermarket for shortening, that's what crisco is, he'll be able to direct you to a brand you do have there. We hope you enjoy baking and creating some American classics at home whether using traditional American ingredients or swapping them for the UK substitution instead. Grape seed oil has been touted as a “healthy oil” for years because of its high levels of omega fats. One disadvantage is that butter has a lower melting point, so icing made with butter does not hold up as well in warm weather.I personally have had great success with avocado oil and Crisco solid shortening, but the choice is yours. The low water content in the lard will result in little splattering and smoking when you are cooking.

A disadvantage of using coconut oil is that it has a distinct coconut flavor that may come through in the final product. But after reading your article about how flaxseed seasoning may flake off and how food might stick more to it, I’m wondering if I should season them a couple of times with avocado oil instead and should I go right over the previously done flaxseed oil seasoning or should I just put the pans in a lye bath and start all over again? When I first started out with cast iron, I used Crisco exclusively to season my pans, and it worked great. Building on James Boyce's 1890s work in the successful development of a consumable solid lard substitute, Cottolene, in the U. I first seasoned cast iron before the age of the internet, when word of mouth from relatives was all you had.Thought I could use Crisco but I really love the idea of using Avocado oil as I prefer the healthiest oil to use. As for butter, well in America their sold in 'sticks' and come in at 113g, whereas in Britain this baking essential comes in at 250g standard. If looking for another fruit substitute, banana puree can also be used in place of Crisco in the same manner as applesauce. Keep in mind that palm trees are in the same family as other nut trees, so this is not a suitable alternative for someone allergic to tree nuts. But if you’re looking for the best AND cheapest oil for cast iron seasoning, then you can’t go wrong with Crisco.