As you may already know, our pans aren't coated, but we do lovingly season them! Our cookware contains no toxic, synthetic coatings that will harm your health or the planet. Instead, our pans possess a healthy, forever-renewable surface that can be enjoyed for generations.
With Quenched™, we've done the oven seasoning for you. Our AUS-ION™ range is seasoned the good, old-fashioned way for your convenience, using a technique in line with what traditional blacksmiths called 'Quenching'. This means you can get straight to cooking right from the bag!
Let's quickly dive into the science behind how we season our pans!
Quenching is a type of metal heat treatment process. Several quenching methods exist and each offers unique properties to metal. The primary forms of quenching are oil, air, water, and brine.
Traditional blacksmiths often used water to quench metal rapidly and cool it down. However, quenching with oil cools the metal at a slower rate, which provides more control and helps to prevent warping.
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We introduced our Quenched range in 2021, and it quickly became loved by professional chefs and home cooks alike. Quenched™ pans come sandblasted with a strong seasoned foundation, so you can get cooking straight away. The seasoning process involves heating the pans and applying oil, which bonds to the surface of the pan when it cools, creating a seasoned layer that's quenched and ready to cook right out of the bag.
Quenched™ seasoning involves sandblasting each skillet, then heating it to a precise temperature before quickly dunking it in a chilled tank of rice bran oil (one of the best oils for seasoning). The oil instantly transforms into a strong, inert, non-toxic, natural cooking surface. We choose to season our pans with non-GMO rice bran oil, which has a high smoke point. We don't heat the rice bran oil. In fact, we have patented a new way to season iron that heavily reduces pollution. We do this by instantly dropping a very hot pan into a vat of cooled rice bran oil to create the needed reaction and seasoned result.
Dunking a hot pan into cold oil creates some turbulence, which can result in some colour variations on the pan. Remember, this is real, natural seasoning, not a synthetic coating! Below is a good example of exactly what we're talking about!
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In simple terms, seasoning is layers of oil that have been effectively baked onto the surface of a pan through a natural process called polymerization. Seasoning is built when fats and oils polymerize during cooking, forming a protective layer on the pan's surface. Seasoning provides exceptional, easy-release (nonstick) properties and enhances the flavour and effectiveness of your cooking.
Our AUS-ION™ Quenched™ eliminates the need for at-home oven seasoning, as we've done the work for you. Your seasoning and nonstick surface will continue to build and get better the more you cook! A healthy layer of seasoning (or patina) will typically become dark in colour, so never fear if your pan's surface develops in unique ways. Our pans are made to be workhorses, not beauty queens!
Our AUS-ION™ Quenched™ cookware is versatile. You can continue to season your pans at home on the stovetop or in the oven if required. Our helpful AUS-ION™ seasoning guide provides all the information you need. However, many find that regular cooking with fats and oils is sufficient to maintain the seasoning.
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The rice bran oil we use to season our pans is non-GMO and offers a high smoke point, allowing us to season our pans securely from the start. For the best results, we recommend an oil such as rice bran oil for its health benefits and high smoke point. You can continue to build your seasoning by cooking with any oil or fat, but rice bran oil is our top choice.
If you'd like the freedom to season yourself from the start, we offer AUS-ION RAW. Like our nöni™ ferritic stainless steel range, these pans don't go through the shot-blasting and seasoning process; instead, their surface remains smooth and bare. Unlike 'Quenched', the Raw range requires some keying to rough the surface slightly to prepare for a solid initial oven season. However, RAW typically results in a smoother texture, even once seasoned, so some iron cookware enthusiasts prefer our RAW pans over 'Quenched'. For information on seasoning RAW, please see our dedicated guide.
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You can season your pan as much or as little as you like. Seasoning provides many cooking benefits and helps protect your iron pans from corrosion and maintenance. While our AUS-ION 'Quenched' range comes seasoned for you, seasoning is a process you can continue to build upon by regularly cooking with fats and oils.
Unlike commonly applied synthetic coatings, seasoning is a natural process that you can continue to top up at home. Building your own seasoning is the only way to achieve a natural, non-toxic, non-stick surface.
It's never been easier to switch to healthy, sustainable iron cookware! Our commitment to seasoning our pans the real way sets us apart. Using the innovative 'quenching' method with non-GMO rice bran oil, we ensure your wrought iron cookware is ready to use right out of the box and free from toxic synthetic coatings.
The beauty of seasoning lies in its simplicity and the benefits it brings to your cooking experience. As you continue to cook with your pan, you'll develop a rich, seasoned surface that not only enhances flavour but also offers natural non-stick properties, promoting healthier cooking practices.
So what are you waiting for? Embark on your seasoned iron cookware journey today, for a healthier, more sustainable cooking experience. Shop our range!
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In the spirit of reconciliation Solidteknics acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.