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Glam Journal

How do you cure a cast iron skillet for the first time?

Author

Andrew Henderson

Updated on February 27, 2026

How do you cure a cast iron skillet for the first time?

Follow our easy steps to season cast iron in the oven and download our Seasoning Guide to add a quick go-to reference to your cookbook.

  1. Scrub your pan. Scrub the pan with warm, soapy water.
  2. Apply oil. Apply a very thin, even layer of cooking oil to the cookware (inside and out).
  3. Bake for 1 hour.

How do you Reseason a cast iron skillet?

How to Reseason a Cast-Iron Skillet

  1. Clean. Scrub the pan well in hot, soapy water.
  2. Oil. Rub a thin layer of vegetable oil or melted shortening over the entire pan.
  3. Bake. Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
  4. Cool. After one hour, turn off the oven and leave the pan in the oven to cool completely.

Do you have to season a cast iron skillet?

Cast iron pans need seasoning. Seasoning will develop layer by layer, every time use your skillet. If you put cast iron under a microscope, you’ll see that its surface is bumpy and porous, and those bumps and pores expand once the pan is heated.

When should I Reseason cast iron?

After the skillet is clean, it’s important to do a quick re-oiling and heating before storing to get the skillet ready for its next use. Use a paper towel to coat the entire skillet with oil, wiping away any excess. Then heat the skillet over high heat on a burner until it’s thoroughly heated and slightly smoking.

How do you clean rust on a cast iron skillet?

To clean rust spots on cast iron cookware, just pour a tablespoon or 2 of oil on the pan. Sprinkle liberally with the coarse salt. Use a stiff brush to scrub until the rust is gone. It doesn’t take long at all.

When to season a cast iron skillet?

Traditionally, the skillet is coated in a fat such as bacon grease or lard. The skillet is then put in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour to dry the oil, which forms the protective coating. You should season once a month, but it really depends on how often you use your cast iron and the kinds of food you cook in it.

What is the best brand of cast iron skillet?

Lodge cast iron is the best brand of cast iron skillet in terms of mass appeal and popularity. You can’t go wrong with the iconic Lodge cast iron skillet, with nearly 3,000 rave reviews on Amazon touting its versatility (it can be used in the oven, on the stovetop or over a campfire), durability and easy clean-up.

To clean rust spots on cast iron cookware, just pour a tablespoon or 2 of oil on the pan. Sprinkle liberally with the coarse salt. Use a stiff brush to scrub until the rust is gone. It doesn’t take long at all.

How to reseason a cast-iron skillet?

  • using a little soap is fine in this case because you are reseasoning the pan.
  • Oil. Rub a thin layer of vegetable oil or melted shortening over the entire pan.
  • Bake. Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
  • turn off the oven and leave the pan in the oven to cool completely.

    Traditionally, the skillet is coated in a fat such as bacon grease or lard. The skillet is then put in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour to dry the oil, which forms the protective coating. You should season once a month, but it really depends on how often you use your cast iron and the kinds of food you cook in it.

    Lodge cast iron is the best brand of cast iron skillet in terms of mass appeal and popularity. You can’t go wrong with the iconic Lodge cast iron skillet, with nearly 3,000 rave reviews on Amazon touting its versatility (it can be used in the oven, on the stovetop or over a campfire), durability and easy clean-up.