Homestead How-To

How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet

'Season' cast iron meaning

Seasoning cast iron means adding a layer of high quality oil to the surface. Doing this adds a nice “patina” to the surface of the cast iron pan.

Clean your cast iron pan. If seasoning a pan for regular use, make sure all food particles have been removed and the pan is dry.

Step 1

Dry your cast iron pan. Wipe well with a paper towel or clean cloth towel and place in a warm (200-degree) oven for about 5 minutes to ensure it is completely dry.

Step 2

Preheat your oven to 400-450 degrees. The general rule of thumb is to preheat your oven about 25 degrees above the smoke point of the oil you are using.

Step 3

Apply a thin layer of your oil of choice to all pan surfaces (it should look shiny but not have a lot of texture; applying too much oil will lead to uneven absorption).

Step 4

Place your pan upside down in the oven as it continues to preheat and bake for 60 minutes.

Step 5

Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool completely before storing.

Step 8

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