How to Season a Non-Stick Pan Before First Use

Why Should You Season a Non-Stick Pan Before First Use?

Seasoning a non-stick pan before first use fills tiny pores in the coating with oil. This makes the surface extra slippery. Food slides off easier. The coating lasts longer. It takes just 5 minutes.

Most people skip this step. They open the box and start cooking. The pan works fine at first. But the coating wears out faster without that first seasoning.

Think of it like moisturizer for your skin. The coating is smooth already. But a thin oil layer adds extra protection. It reduces friction. It stops food from grabbing onto the surface.

Key fact: Seasoned non-stick pans last 20-30% longer than unseasoned ones. The oil fills micro-imperfections in the PTFE coating that are invisible to the eye.

What Do You Need to Season a Non-Stick Pan?

You need three things to season a non-stick pan. A clean pan. One tablespoon of cooking oil. A paper towel or soft cloth. That is it. No special tools.

Best oils for seasoning:

• Refined sunflower oil: Best choice. High smoke point. No sticky residue.
• Rice bran oil: Good alternative. Clean burn.
• Vegetable oil: Works fine. Available everywhere.

Oils to avoid:

• Olive oil: Low smoke point. Leaves a gummy film.
• Coconut oil: Low smoke point. Gets sticky at low heat.
• Butter or ghee: Milk solids burn and stick. Not good for seasoning.

How Do You Season a Non-Stick Pan? (5 Easy Steps)

Season a non-stick pan by washing it, heating it gently, rubbing oil on the surface, heating again for 1 minute, and wiping off extra oil. This takes 5 minutes total. Do it once before first use.

1. Wash the pan. Use warm water and mild dish soap. Wipe with a soft sponge. This removes factory dust and oils. Dry it fully with a clean cloth.
2. Heat on low flame for 30 seconds. Place the pan on the stove. Turn to low flame. Let it warm up. Not hot. Just warm to the touch.
3. Add oil. Turn off the flame. Pour 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil into the pan. Use a paper towel to spread it evenly. Cover the entire cooking surface. Go up the sides too.
4. Heat again for 1 minute. Turn the flame to low. Let the oil heat for 60 seconds. You should see a faint shimmer on the surface. No smoke. If you see smoke, the flame is too high.
5. Cool and wipe. Turn off the flame. Let the pan cool for 10 minutes. Wipe off extra oil with a dry paper towel. The surface should feel smooth and slightly slick.

Done. Your pan is ready to cook.

How Do You Season the InstaCuppa Multicook Kettle?

The InstaCuppa Non-Stick Multicook Kettle uses a removable non-stick bowl. Season it the same way as any non-stick pan. But since it is electric, the process is slightly different.

1. Wash the bowl. Remove the non-stick bowl from the kettle base. Wash with warm water and mild soap. Dry fully.
2. Place bowl back. Put the clean dry bowl into the kettle base.
3. Add oil. Pour 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil. Spread with a paper towel. Cover the bottom and sides.
4. Turn on low heat. Set the kettle to the lowest heat setting. Let it warm for 2 minutes. No smoke. Just warm.
5. Turn off and cool. Switch off. Wait 10-15 minutes. Wipe extra oil with a paper towel.

The InstaCuppa Non-Stick Multicook Kettle (Rs 1,999) has a PFOA-free coating. Seasoning it adds extra life. When the coating wears out after months of use, contact our support team. We will arrange a replacement bowl. Any local electrician can swap it in minutes.

What Are the 5 Biggest Seasoning Mistakes?

The five biggest mistakes when seasoning a non-stick pan are using too much oil, heating too high, using the wrong oil, skipping the first wash, and not wiping off extra oil after seasoning.

How Often Should You Re-Season a Non-Stick Pan?

Re-season a non-stick pan every 3-6 months. Or whenever food starts to stick slightly more than before. Re-seasoning takes the same 5 minutes as the first time. It refreshes the oil layer in the coating.

Signs you need to re-season:

• Eggs stick slightly even with oil.
• Food leaves marks that are hard to clean.
• The surface feels rough instead of smooth.

Note: Re-seasoning helps with a worn surface. But it cannot fix a peeled or flaking coating. If the coating is peeling, it is time to replace the pan.