SkilletLoreCookware Chemistry Reference Tables & Diagnostic Matrices
SkilletLore maintains two comprehensive static HTML reference tables with instant client-side filtering and column sorting. Unlike artificial "seasoning calculators" that hide simple rules behind empty form inputs, every data point—from Wijs iodine values and polyunsaturated fatty acid percentages to defect stripping reactions—is rendered directly on the page so you can compare, filter, and print the complete dataset immediately.
Static HTML Reference + Instant Filter
Cooking Oil Smoke Point, Iodine Value & Free-Radical Polymerization Reference Matrix
Filterable static reference matrix of 22 culinary and seasoning fats comparing neutral vs. unrefined smoke points (°F/°C), Wijs iodine values (g I₂/100g), polyunsaturated linoleic and alpha-linolenic fatty acid percentages, cross-link density, and brittle flaking risk.
Static HTML Reference + Instant Filter
Cast Iron, Carbon Steel & Clad Stainless Defect Diagnostic & Restoration Decision Matrix
Interactive symptom-to-root-cause diagnostic filter and 18-defect metallurgical reference table covering flaking flaxseed films, sticky half-polymerized gum, flash rust, pitting corrosion, heat-ring spinner warps, magnetite heat tint, and enameled crazing vs. spalling.
Which reference matrix should I consult?
| Your Restoration or Cooking Question | Recommended Reference Matrix | Data Columns & Engineering Parameters Included |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing an oven seasoning oil that cures hard without flaking off cast iron or carbon steel | Cooking Oil Smoke Point & Polymerization Matrix | Compares 22 oils across Smoke Point (°F / °C), Wijs Iodine Value (g I₂/100g), Drying Class (Drying >130, Semi-Drying 100–130, Non-Drying <100), PUFA (C18:2 + C18:3 %), Film Hardness, and Flaking Risk. |
| Comparing refined high-smoke-point searing oils (avocado, peanut, tallow, ghee) vs. unrefined oils | Cooking Oil Smoke Point & Polymerization Matrix | Explains how alkali refining and steam deodorization strip free fatty acids (FFA < 0.05%) to raise smoke point by 60–110 °F without altering triglyceride iodine value. |
| Diagnosing peeling black flakes, sticky amber gum, orange flash rust, or pitted vintage iron | Cookware Defect Diagnostic & Restoration Matrix | Maps 18 visual and tactile symptoms to their chemical mechanism, safe stripping method (NaOH lye vs. 12V electrolysis vs. 50/50 vinegar limit), and step-by-step fix. |
| Troubleshooting warped "spinner" skillets, rainbow heat tint on stainless, or crazed Dutch oven enamel | Cookware Defect Diagnostic & Restoration Matrix | Distinguishes reversible surface phenomena (chromium-oxide thin-film interference, calcium carbonate scale, carbon steel magnetite bluing) from irreversible structural damage (plastic creep warpage, enamel spalling). |
Why we publish full static tables instead of black-box widgets
Lipid polymerization and metallurgical phase behavior depend on competing variables: an oil’s smoke point is governed by its free fatty acid (FFA) content and volatile minor compounds, whereas its cross-linking speed and film brittleness are governed by its degree of unsaturation (Wijs iodine value). Viewing all 22 fats or all 18 defects side-by-side lets you see the trade-off between cross-link density and elastic flexibility at a glance. See our editorial policy for our primary data sources.