An easy guide on how to season a cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, or griddle and all your questions about how to care for cast iron answered in one spot.
Wash the cast iron cookware with warm, soapy water and a stiff brush. This will be one of the few times you clean your cast iron with soap.
Rinse and thoroughly dry the skillet.
Pour a small amount of desired oil into the skillet, you only need enough to coat the inside and the outside of the skillet.
Use a paper towel to lightly coat oil around the entire skillet- inside and out, even the handle! This needs to be a light touch, too hard and your paper towel will leave all little bits on the cast iron.
Place the skillet upside down on the center rack. You can place a sheet of aluminum foil below the rack to catch any drips. Bake for 60 minutes.
Turn off the heat and allow to the skillet to cool completely before removing from oven.
Apply another very thin layer of oil to the skillet.
Store in a dry place.
If you've tried this techinque, come back and let us know how it was!
Notes
Seasoning cast iron takes a long time. If you want to do it fast, you can repeat steps 4-7 several times.