Name: How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: ½ cup Kosher salt (coarse grind); 1 –2 tbsp Crisco (or avocado oil / olive oil as alternatives)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

What You’ll Need
Step 1: Strip Down the Skillet
Step 2: Clean With Soap (Yes, Soap!)
Step 3: Preheat for Seasoning
Step 4: Apply the Oil
Step 5: Bake at High Heat
Step 6: Repeat
The Result
How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet Recipe

If you’ve ever cooked on cast iron, you know the magic—it holds heat like no other, sears beautifully, and lasts for generations. But that magic only happens when your skillet is properly seasoned.

In this guide, I’ll walk you step by step through restoring and seasoning a cast iron skillet, even if it’s a little rusty or crusted with old food. No overthinking, no complicated tricks—just simple, proven methods passed down and updated for today’s kitchens.

What You’ll Need

For scrubbing:

Kosher salt (coarse grind, works like a natural abrasive)
Chainmail scrubber or stiff brush
Microfiber towel or napkins

For seasoning:

Crisco (traditional choice, high smoke point, lays on evenly)
Oven (capable of 500°F)
A baking pan to catch drips

Step 1: Strip Down the Skillet

Take a look at your skillet. Got rust? Stuck-on food? No problem. Pour a generous layer of kosher salt inside and use your chainmail scrubber to work it in circles. The salt will grind down food residue and rust as you scrub.

You’ll notice the salt changing color—picking up bits of rust and grime. Wipe it out, repeat the process at least twice (including the back and sides of the skillet), and you’ll feel it smoothing out under your hands.

Step 2: Clean With Soap (Yes, Soap!)

Now here’s where things get controversial. Most folks say “never use soap” on cast iron. That rule came from back when dish soaps contained harsh chemicals like lye. Today’s soaps are mild. So yes, go ahead and wash your skillet with a little dish soap and warm water.

Use your microfiber towel to scrub lightly and rinse. You’ll see the water turn dark as it picks up leftover residue. Once washed, dry it thoroughly—first with a towel, then by placing it over a burner on high heat until all moisture evaporates.

Step 3: Preheat for Seasoning

Preheat your oven to 200°F. Place your skillet inside for 5–6 minutes to warm it up. This helps open up the pores of the metal so the oil bonds better.

Step 4: Apply the Oil

Now for the star of the show—Crisco. While the skillet is warm, rub a thin layer of Crisco over the entire surface—inside, outside, handle, and bottom. Get into all the nooks and crannies. Wipe away any excess with a lint-free rag (too much oil leads to sticky spots).

Step 5: Bake at High Heat

Raise the oven temperature to 500°F. Place the skillet upside down in the oven with a tray underneath to catch drips. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn the oven off and let the skillet rest inside for another 30 minutes.

This process bakes the oil into the skillet, creating that slick, nonstick surface.

Step 6: Repeat

For best results, repeat the oiling and baking cycle at least twice. Each layer builds a stronger, more durable seasoning.

The Result

After about two rounds, your cast iron should look brand new—dark, glossy, and ready to cook. No rust, no sticky spots, just a naturally nonstick surface that only gets better the more you use it.

Save Pin Print