How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet
If you are wondering how to season a cast iron skillet, you have come to the right place. Below you will find step-by-step instructions, as well as some additional information on long-term care for your cast iron skillet. As you may already know, seasoning is an essential step toward making your new or used cast iron skillet functional and durable. A well cared for skillet means a smoother cooking surface, less oil needed to fry eggs or sauté, and easier cleanup.
For brand new skillets, you can skip step one. Straight out of the box there will be no rust or roughness on the surface of your skillet. An older skillet found at an antique store, in the back of your cupboard or your grandmother’s attic may need the additional attention covered in Step 1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350-425.
1) If your skillet in rough, especially on the cooking surface, or if there is rust anywhere on it, even on the bottom surface, than your first step should be to dab a bit of cooking oil on a small piece of steel wool, and rub off the offending surface in a circular motion until it looks smooth and uniform in color. You may need to rinse occasionally during the smoothing process, then pat the surface dry and continue to sand.
2) Now, wash your skillet in warm water. If there is debris that simply wont come off, at this stage you can use a small amount of dish detergent. The point of seasoning is to build up a seal of oil on top of the iron, so in general you should never use soap on a cast iron skillet. For the initial seasoning, a clean surface is most important. Once all surfaces look smooth and black, thoroughly dry your skillet with a towel, or place it for a moment on a burner turned to low-medium, until all moisture is gone.
3) You have reached the step where you can begin seasoning your skillet with oil. Most cooking oils will work just fine as a coating. Some have subtler flavor than others, but in the end vegetable oil, lard or animal fat are all fine options. Do not use any oil that is not edible! Completely coat the entire skillet by pouring 1-3 tablespoons onto the surface and spreading with a paper towel or clean rag. Rub in thoroughly. You want to leave enough oil so that the skillet glistens but does not drip.
4) This is the final step to season your cast iron skillet: bake your oiled skillet at about 425 degrees for approximately an hour. This will make your efforts more durable and permanent.
5) Repeat this process every few months, or whenever your skillet looks dull, food sticks to it, or food begins to taste slightly metallic.
