Technique: Seasoning Cast Iron

Cast iron requires seasoning before usage for three reasons:

1) to remove any wax that the item was treated with for transportation, and
2) to prevent the iron from rusting
3) to prevent food from sticking to the cooking surface.

Steps to season a cast iron skillet:
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The main point of seasoning is to bake the oil into the pores of the pan.
2. While it is preheating, wipe a generous amount of oil or grease around the edges and bottom of the pan. Wipe away any extreme excess. Place the skillet in the oven for 2 hours.
3. To get a strong coating, repeat the process.

Note:
If food starts sticking to the skillet, it is time to reseason.
After cooking, do not wash your pan with soap or an abrasive pad. This will remove the seasoning. To clean, sprinkle kosher salt in the pan and rub with a paper towel until clean.
Do use an scratchy pad to remove rust, but you must reseason after doing so.