How do you season a new cast iron skillet?

Answer 1

They're inexpensive, a healthy way to prepare food and if properly treated will last for decades. All you need to do with your new cast iron skillet is season it before the first use.

Some people use melted bacon fat but cooking oil works well, too. With a paper towel or soft cloth, rub the fat or oil all over the skillet on the inside and outside. Next, place the pan upside-down on a middle rack in a preheated 350 degree oven for one to two hours. You might want to place a large sheet of aluminum foil on the bottom rack to catch any drips. Remove the pan from the oven and voila! Your new cast iron skillet is ready to use.

When cooking, add enough oil to coat the pan and preheat before adding the food. This will help prevent the food from sticking to the pan. Only use non-metal utensils so as not to scratch the treated surface.

To maintain the natural non-stick surface, it's suggested that soap should not be used to clean the pan. Wipe off the remaining oily residue with a paper towel. Remove any burned bits on the bottom using salt as the abrasive. Never use cleanser. Wash and rinse with hot water then pat dry.

If food begins to stick to the pan, re-season it as you did when it was new. You won't need chemically-treated non-stick fry pans anymore. Health concious cooks love using cast iron because they know food absorbs a trace amount of iron.

A well-cared for cast iron skillet easily becomes a family heirloom to pass from generation to generation.