Everyone has their own way of seasoning that works for them.
DrCrash wrote:Way two Is add thin layer of wax then toss in a oven @ 450 -75 degrees for 45 min.
Let cool apply wax and repeat until you are satisfied with the seasoning .
I have done it this way for the past 5 years, as it is how George H., the guru of seasoning with beeswax who started this trend in teardropping, taught me. The temp is about right, as anything over 500° will burn off the seasoning. Oven is a good way to do this because you can easily control the heat to get an accurate temperature. However, time-wise, I leave it in for about an hour (until it stops smoking), then turn the oven off and let it cool. Repeat as often as you want until you get the coating you like. You want to get a hard shell coating baked on so that it does not come off when you cook with it. In doing it this way, I usually don't have to re-season any of my CI for several months.
I also use a microfiber dish towel, as it does not produce any lint. I don't use any oil for seasoning after using the wax, as it really isn't needed. Plus I Iike the smell of the beeswax better.
Here is the process in George's own words:
Prepare your CI as you would for shortening type seasoning. Get it warm enough to melt the bee wax, getting a puddle. Soak this puddle up in a lint free cloth. Spread a coating of the wax all over the CI piece. Take a second lint free cloth and wipe the surfaces of the CI that you had coated.
In the mean time, preheat your oven to 475minimum, 500 max.
When oven is up to temp, put piece on oven rack set at middle of oven. Bake CI for 1 hour plus. Then shut oven off and let it cool till you can handle it. Repeat the coating and wiping process, return to oven reheated to same temps. Again let it bake for an hour. Now you can repeat as many times as you like obviously the more times you do it the better the "season coating". When you finally let the CI get to room temp, note how black it is, and how hard and slick the surface feels.
Now for fun and giggles give your piece a lite spray of non stick, heat it up, and fry an egg. When you go to pick it up and flip I'll bet you have a lot of trouble getting the egg on your spatula. You will chase it all around the pan.
When you clean this pice now, use boiling water to cut residual oil, or grease. Wipe dry, heat it up to dry, and then you are ready to store unit. Bee wax will not turn rancid, if your pot does stink, it is because there is residual cooking grease in pot, or on lid.
Betsey