How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet Easily

So, you want to learn how to season a cast iron skillet? I want to say, congratulations, on welcoming your new baby to the world, and by baby I mean your cast iron skillet. Yes, it takes some work to season your cast iron, but being able to flip a perfect egg or pancake is worth it. The best things in life take a bit of work.

Okay, so you purchased a new cast iron skillet or you’ve had one for a while and you want to know the best way to take care of it. We have several cast iron skillets and we’ve tried everything to season them. None of the methods have worked in the past. Like you, I finally typed “how to season a cast iron skillet” into google. After all these years I have finally discovered some great ways that actually work.

We love our cast iron skillets because they provide an easy way to add iron to our food. Without having to think about it we are getting vital nutrients. Not to mention, once seasoned, they are the best way to cook great tasting dishes.

Why do I need to season my cast iron?

This is a great question and the answer is quite simple. Cast iron is porous, which means that as you heat it those pores expand, seasoning helps to fill in those holes. This creates a smooth nonstick surface. I will tell you from first-hand experience that an unseasoned pan can become dry and brittle. This is especially true when cooking more acidic foods like tomatoes. We pan seared tomatoes and the surface became unusable for a while. But don’t worry, the great thing about cast iron is that it’s pretty resilient.

Should I season my new cast iron skillet?

It’s always best to season a new pan even if the manufacturer tells you it’s good to go right out of the package. Besides, in this case, the more season, the better.

How to season a cast iron skillet

Let’s get down to business, the reason you’re here, to find out how to season a cast iron skillet. I’ve tried several ways to season my cast iron skillets. The method that works best for me is seasoning them in the oven. Regardless, I will give you a few options to play around with. You may find you like one way more than the other and that is great!

First, you must clean your skillet

This may come as a surprise, but to have a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, you must start with a clean one. Many people will tell you not to use soap on your cast iron. Most of the time I do not, instead, I use salt, a pan scraper, and hot water, but each time before seasoning I do. This is okay as it would take more than soap to harm the pan’s seasoned layer. Especially if you use something like Myer’s dish soap like I do. For years I never put soap on my cast iron because it was a no-no, but I never had a well-seasoned skillet either. Hmmm?

How to clean

• Wash the skillet with a sponge and warm soapy water. If you’re feeling inspired, you can clean it with a salt scrub before the soap and water. Don’t you wish someone would rub you down with a salt scrub? How luxurious.
• Rinse and dry using a dishtowel. It’s also a good idea to let it finish drying on the stove on medium heat. This will allow it to dry completely while also opening up the pores a bit more for better seasoning.

Next, gather your supplies

You will need the same items regardless of which method you use to season your skillet.

Supplies:

• A cast iron skillet
• A clean cloth. You can use any of your kitchen towels or old t-shirts (torn into rag size pieces) set aside for oiling purposes.
• Oil for seasoning- Common oils are shortening or vegetable oil, but I use coconut oil and it works great! Did you know that coconut oil is antibacterial and immunity-boosting? Your cast iron skillet is getting healthier by the minute!

Finally, choose your seasoning method

As I mentioned earlier, I use the oven method and it works for me. Up until last year, I went back and forth between the stovetop method and the oven method without much luck. I’m not sure if my recent success is due to sticking to one method or if the oven is the better of the two. I will show you how to do both and you can decide.

How to season a cast iron skillet in the oven

How to season a cast iron skillet on the stovetop

• Place your skillet on the stove on high heat and allow it to get super hot
• Now remove it from the heat and put your oil into the pan, it is best to rub it in using a paper towel or cloth
• Finally, place the skillet on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the oil dries. Warning- it will get smoky in your kitchen, so you might want to turn on a fan or crack a window, both might be a good idea.
• Now, let it cool and you’re good to go!

How often do you need to season a cast iron skillet?

It’s recommended that you season your cast iron once a month. But you will know that it’s time to reseason when food starts to stick to the pan even after preheating.

Can you season an old rusted cast iron skillet?

You may be wondering if these methods will work for old pans that seem beyond hope. The simple answer is yes! Have you left one outside or soaked it overnight?  While these are big no-nos when it comes to cast iron, you can still save it. You may have to work a little harder but cast iron is awesome and resilient and you can restore it no matter what you do to it.

Is cast iron worth all the work?

Short and sweet, yes! Cast iron will outlive us all. It is often passed down through generations and keeps going strong through all the use. It is healthy for you, adding iron to your food. It provides a nonstick surface while keeping out chemical compounds that may flake off into our food. Yuck and yay!

Seasoning your cast iron may seem like work, but once you get into a routine it will become second nature. I wouldn’t trade my cast iron for the world, in fact, we keep adding to our collection. If you follow these tips on how to season a cast iron skillet, I’m sure you’ll soon be trading your other pans for cast iron too!

We’d love to hear all about how you season your cast iron, let us know if these tips work for you.

Until next time, happy seasoning!