Caring For A Cast Iron Skillet
Contributed By: Janet Smith
You Will Need
- Cast Iron Cookware
- Melted Shortening or oil
- Soft cloth or paper towel
- Aluminum Foil
- Cookie Sheet
How to season and care for
- Wash skillet in hot, soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and dry completely.
- Apply a thin coating of melted shortening (Crisco, for example) or
vegetable oil with a soft cloth or paper towel.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place skillet UPSIDE DOWN on top oven rack.
- Place foil on a cookie sheet and place on bottom rack of oven. This
will catch the drippings from the skillet.
- Bake in oven for one hour.
- 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:
- Clean skillet after use while still warm with hot water and a plastic
scrub brush.
- DO NOT put in dishwasher or wash with soap or dishwashing detergent.
- 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.
- Reseason cookware after cooking beans or acidic foods (such as tomatoes).
Frying or cooking foods with fat content helps expedite the seasoning process.
- Do not use cast iron cookware for storage of food.
Created on ... November 20, 2006