Caring For A Cast Iron Skillet

Contributed By: Janet Smith

You Will Need

How to season and care for

  1. Wash skillet in hot, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
  2. Apply a thin coating of melted shortening (Crisco, for example) or vegetable oil with a soft cloth or paper towel.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place skillet UPSIDE DOWN on top oven rack.
  4. Place foil on a cookie sheet and place on bottom rack of oven. This will catch the drippings from the skillet.
  5. Bake in oven for one hour.
  6. Turn oven off. DO NOT OPEN. Allow skillet to cool down in oven (several hours). There may be a film on your cookware, this comes off after use. You will have to use it a couple times as a test.

How to Clean Your Cast Iron Cookware

If your skillet has burnt-on food on it, here's how to get the burnt food and black specks off:

  1. Clean skillet after use while still warm with hot water and a plastic scrub brush.
  2. DO NOT put in dishwasher or wash with soap or dishwashing detergent.
  3. Dry cast iron cookware thoroughly after washing, then spray lightly with vegetable oil (Pam, etc.) Wipe dry and store. Never store cookware with lid on; cast iron cookware needs air circulation.
  4. Reseason cookware after cooking beans or acidic foods (such as tomatoes). Frying or cooking foods with fat content helps expedite the seasoning process.
  5. Do not use cast iron cookware for storage of food.

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Created on ... November 20, 2006