Is Walnut Oil Good for Cast Iron Knobs?

Here at Pick and Fix, we carry a vast range of cast iron products. In fact, I would argue that we have everything that you would need to finish a kitchen: cast iron knobs, pulls, coat hooks, and shelf brackets. As a material, cast iron is versatile and looks good with almost any decorating style, which is why we love it so much. For example, our gallows-style cast iron shelf bracket would look incredible in minimalist kitchens, but also kitchens with more of a farmhouse feel to them. 

Side note, did you ever read our blog post on the cottagecore trend, and how to integrate it into your kitchen? 

Pick and Fix's beautiful cast iron gallows shelf bracket

Because of the amount of cast iron products we sell, we spend a lot of time researching the material. Today, while carrying out some research on how to care for and maintain cast iron, I found out about a process called 'seasoning'. Seasoning is where oil is baked onto a cast iron object, in order to create a layer of carbonised oil that will give the iron a black patina finish. This is a process that is most commonly used on cast iron cookware, but I can see the benefits of using it on cast iron knobs and shelf brackets too, as it prevents rusting and gives the iron extra shine. This would be a particularly useful maintenance process to go through if you intend to use your cast iron shelf brackets or knobs outside.

As you can see below, the results of seasoning your cast iron are really worth it.

Via Pinterest

One of the most commonly asked questions I found was: is walnut oil good for cast iron? Unrefined walnut oil has a smoking point of 204 degrees celcius, meaning that it won't get hot enough to season the iron. It may be possible to season cast iron with a refined walnut oil, but there are other oils that are also suitable for seasoning cast iron. 

One of the easiest ways to season your cast iron, is to buy a product that is specifically made for seasoning, such as this Joseph Daniel's Baking wax or this Lancaster Cast Iron seasoning oil. 

However, there are some household oils that you can also use for seasoning cast iron. Using olive oil to season your cast iron is a bad idea, due to it's low smoke point, as it can lead to harmful chemicals being released into the air. Sunflower oil and evegtable oil are better options, but will result in a less durable seasoning which will mean that you have to have a few seasoning sessions to get the result that you want. 

The best oils to season with are grapeseed oil and avocado oil. Avocado oil contains high levels of unsaturated fats, which lead to a tough and durable seasoning coat on your cast iron. Grapeseed oil, on the other hand, is great because it is relatively inexpensive and has a mild flavour which won't interfer with the food that you are cooking. However, be careful to avoid cold-pressed and virgin grapeseed oils, as these have a much lower smoke point which makes them unsuitable for seasoning cast iron. 

If you are interested in learning more about seasoning your cast iron, please keep an eye out for next week's blog post, where I will discuss the process of seasoning!