Our pans aren't coated, we 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 using a technique in line with what traditional blacksmiths called 'Quenching'. This means you can get straight to cooking right from the bag!
What is 'Quenching'?
Quenching is a type of metal heat treatment process. 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, providing more control and helping to prevent warping.
How does Solidteknics achieve the Quenched™ seasoning finish?
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 process involves sandblasting each skillet, then heating it to a precise temperature before quickly dunking it in a chilled tank of rice bran oil. The oil instantly transforms into a strong, inert, non-toxic, natural cooking surface. We use non-GMO rice bran oil for its high smoke point.
We don't heat the rice bran oil — we have patented a new way to season iron that heavily reduces pollution by dropping a very hot pan into cooled rice bran oil to create the needed reaction.
Note: 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!
What is seasoning, and why does it matter?
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. Your seasoning and nonstick surface will continue to build and get better the more you cook! A healthy layer of seasoning (patina) will typically become dark in colour, so never fear if your pan's surface develops in unique ways.
With Quenched™, this initial seasoning step is done for you before the pan ships, so you can start cooking immediately. You can still build on it at home — on the stovetop or in the oven — using our AUS-ION™ seasoning guide, though most people find regular cooking with fats and oils is enough to maintain it.
Why season with rice bran oil?
Rice bran oil has a high smoke point and is well suited to seasoning, which is why Solidteknics uses it to pre-season every Quenched™ pan.
A high smoke point matters because seasoning oil needs to withstand high heat without breaking down. We use non-GMO rice bran oil for this reason. Once your pan is in regular use, you can continue building seasoning with any stable oil with a high smoke point.
Once the oil polymerises it's not longer about taste or nutrition.
Is seasoning necessary?
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. 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.
It's never been easier to switch to healthy, sustainable iron cookware! 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.
Conclusion
Quenching gives Solidteknics a way to deliver a seasoned, cook-ready iron pan straight out of the bag — no synthetic coatings, no PFAS, no PFOA.
FAQ
Can I re-season or build on my Quenched™ iron pan's seasoning at home? Yes. Quenched™ pans arrive with a strong seasoning foundation, and you can continue building it on the stovetop or in the oven, or simply through regular cooking with fats and oils.
Do I have to use rice bran oil to re-season my pan? No. You can continue to re-season your pans using any other stable oil with a high smoke point.
