# How to Coat a Cast-Iron Skillet
Cast-iron skillets are a durable staple in the kitchen, but they require a little extra care. They cannot be washed in the dishwasher, and you cannot use regular dish soap when you're washing them by hand. Cast-iron skillets also need a coating, called seasoning, to keep your food from sticking to the surface and prevent rusting. Some skillets come pre-seasoned from the factory; if not, or you need to re-season a skillet, adding a protective layer of grease seals the interior surface of the pan.
Things You'll Need
- Dish soap
- Stiff brush
- Vegetable shortening
- Paper towel
Instructions
-
-
1
Scrub your skillet thoroughly with dish soap and a stiff brush. Generally you do not clean cast iron with soap because it removes the protective coating, but since you are going to season it, you want to start with a clean surface. Also, cast iron will often come from the factory with a waxy coating that must be removed prior to use because it is not safe to eat.
-
2
Melt the vegetable shortening and apply a thin layer on the bottom and sides of the skillet with a paper towel.
-
3
Bake the skillet in your oven at 350 degrees for about one hour.
-
4
Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool off on your kitchen counter.
-
5
Repeat steps 1 through 4 if desired -- an additional layer will help maintain the coating for a longer period of time.
-
1
Previous:
