How to Season Your Cast Iron Skillet

There are so many wonderful advantages of cooking with cast iron cookware. The amazing heat retention, its long-lasting construction, its versatile use from the kitchen stove to the open campfire…the list goes on!  

A seasoned cast iron skillet also helps keep food from sticking, and many cast iron cookware, like Lodge cast iron, already comes seasoned and ready to use.  However, seasoning your skillet may be needed if your pan came unseasoned.  Or perhaps, your pan is becoming dull and food is not releasing like it once did. 

But how do you season your cast iron skillet?

Here are the five simple steps for seasoning your cast iron skillet. (This information is courtesy of our friends at Lodge!)

1. Wash Your Pan

Wash your cast iron pan with warm, soapy water. A little soap is okay to use since you’re preparing to season your pan in the oven.

2. Dry Thoroughly

Completely dry your cast iron skillet with a paper towel or lint-free cloth. You can place it on the stovetop on low heat for a few minutes to make sure it’s completely dry.

3. Apply Oil

Add a very thin layer of cooking oil—like our Seasoning Spray—to the surface of your cast iron (inside and out) with a cloth or lint-free paper towel. Go easy on the oil—you want just a thin layer, not enough to drip or run when you tilt it. Thin layers are important for baking seasoning into the pan.

4. Bake for 1 Hour

Preheat your oven to 350–450 degrees F. Place aluminum foil on the bottom rack of the oven to catch any excess oil. Put your cookware upside down on the center rack. This helps prevent oil from pooling on the cooking surface. Bake for 1 hour.

5. Cool in the Oven

Turn off the heat and allow the cast iron skillet to cool in the oven. This allows the seasoning to further cure and adhere to the iron.

Happy cooking!

You can find our full section of Lodge cast iron here.

Editor’s Note: Originally posted in July 2022.