My grandma was from Tennessee, and once a month on a Sunday she would make us all supper. There was fried chicken, cornbread, mashed potatoes, and all kinds of amazing southern food. I don’t remember her recipes {I was still pretty young at the time}, but I do remember my grandma’s cast iron skillet. It was always on her stove and ready to cook with. When Grandma passed, I didn’t have the good fortune to get my hands on her skillet, but a couple years ago my mom bought me one for my birthday.
With cast iron comes great responsibility. A cast iron skillet is something to be treasured, loved, and seasoned. Then passed down generation to generation – which is totally feasible with the proper care. So how do you love your cast iron and make it last (presumably) forever? With these tips on how to clean cast iron skillets and the seasoning process, your little black beauty will last you for years and years!
Let’s clean the skillet first.
I made you some steaks. See: butter, browned bits, stovetop heat, and oven heat all working the cast iron.
I didn’t clean the skillet right after cooking. Which isn’t the best thing ever, but also not the worst. Please please please don’t soak your skillet in water or leave it in the sink. This can encourage rust to form.
Now your first reaction may be to reach for these stand by’s.
STOP! The sponge – fine, but ignore the scrubby side. The soap – NO.
Take a paper towel, and wipe out all the grease and residue you can. Run your sink water until it’s super hot.
Rinse your cast iron skillet under the hot water as best you can.
Use the soft side of your sponge to remove any residue you couldn’t get with the paper towel.
If there are still food bits stuck to the skillet, like this…
Mix a paste of Kosher salt and water.
Rub the salt paste around the skillet with the soft side of the sponge.
You can use some more force when rubbing to really clean the skillet.
Now the skillet is clean, but we’re not done yet.
{If your skillet is brand new, you can scrub it with the coarse side of your sponge and use soap. Just this ONE TIME.}
Now it’s time to season the cast iron skillet. This is what a cast iron skillet is all about. The seasoning process will keep your skillet in excellent working condition, and impart that extra deliciousness that only comes from cast iron cooking.
Each time, after you clean your skillet, you should coat the inside with a thin layer of solid shortening. You can use vegetable oil too, but shortening doesn’t leave as much of a “sticky” feeling as the shortening. This step is really important – it’s like doing a mini-seasoning for the skillet.
If your skillet is brand new, you will need to do the full seasoning process to get things going.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; set aside.
Using a paper towel, apply a very generous layer of solid shortening to the inside of the skillet.
The cooking surface, the sides, handle, edges, everything. (I like to lay down a kitchen towel so my counter doesn’t get messy.)
Flip the skillet over and apply a generous coating of shortening to the bottom of the skillet and sides.
Place the skillet upside down on your prepared baking sheet and put everything in the oven.
Bake the skillet for 1 hour.
Turn off the oven and leave everything in the oven.
Once the oven and skillet are cooled, remove the skillet and pan.
Now your cast iron skillet should be nice and shiny.
Apply a thin layer of shortening to the inside of the skillet.
And you’re done!
Your cast iron skillet is now ready for cooking!!
Try My Favorite Cast Iron Skillet Recipes
Spinach & Bacon Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust | Chorizo Queso Fundido
Preparing fatty foods like bacon or frying chicken in the skillet will help give the skillet a little extra oomph since they help season the pan for you. Over the years, the shortening layers and foods fats will give your skillet flavor and provide a natural non-stick surface that is unique to cast iron. Happy seasoning!
This post originally appeared on Around My Family Table where I am a contributor.
Jennie @ The Diary of a Real Housewife says
Great tips! I’ll be keeping this on hand! I would love if you would stop by and share on my Friday Favorites Link-up!