How to Use a Sizzling Plate

Serving on a sizzling plate is a fancy way of presenting food that will surely awe and amaze your family and friends.

I had a cast iron sizzling plate years ago and didn't know how to handle it.  I washed it in hot soapy water after each use and set to dry with the other dishes.

BIG MISTAKE!

Now I know that...

• I can only wash it in soap the first time, then just rinse with hot water after every use.
• I need to season it the first time even before I start using it so oil will coat it nicely and prevent rusting.
• For safety purpose, I need to keep the pot holder in the handle while I heat it up so I don't forget that the whole thing is screaming hot!!
• Always use the wood underliner to protect any surface from the hot plate.
  

I thought that if I just apply some oil, wrap in plastic and store it like that, it will not rust and be ready the next time I take it out of the cabinet.

Surely, it didn't rust but the oil became rancid and the plastic stuck to the plate, making it hard to remove without tearing.

So now, let us go through how to better prepare the sizzling plate to enjoy our Garlic Butter Shrimp, Sisig or Steak.

Using the oven is better to season the whole plate,  but if not available,  the stove top is the next best thing, even though it only seasons the top side.

Why do I need to season, you might ask?  Well,  food won't stick as much.  And it will not rust in storage because the oil laminates the surface. 

If using an oven, 

1. Preheat the oven at 350°F.
2. Apply a coating of vegetable or canola oil on the plate and bake for 1 hour.
3. Take it out of the oven and cool down.
   

If using the stove top,

1. Apply a coating of vegetable oil ONLY on the topside (where you would put the food) and NOT the underside (where the burner touches!  REMEMBER : IF YOU HAD PUT OIL ON THE UNDERSIDE, DO NOT SET IT ON THE BURNER AS IT WILL CATCH FIRE! WASH OFF THE OIL WITH SOAP AND WATER BEFORE PROCEEDING). See Disclaimer.
2. Put the pot holder in the handle and leave it there.
   
3. Heat up the plate in medium heat until lightly smoking, then turn the heat off.
4. Repeat steps 3 and 4 a couple more times, then turn the heat off.

TO USE THE SIZZLING PLATE :

1  Heat up the plate in medium heat for about 5 to 10 minutes before the food is ready to serve.

2   When the plate is slightly smoking, it is ready to use. (If a lot of smoke is coming out, turn the heat down or turn the heat off to slightly cool the plate down).

3   Pour the food away instead of towards you so you will not burn yourself.

4  Keep the pot holder in the handle so you will not forget that it is hot.

5   Lastly,  remember that the food continues to cook and toast in the sizzling plate so give it less cooking time in the stove. 

Garlic Butter Shrimp

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