How Do You Prepare A Cast Iron Pan?
Before you begin cooking with your new cast iron pan, you need to season it. Cast iron pans are durable and versatile. You can cook on top of the stove as well as bake bread in the oven. A well seasoned cast iron pan will prevent food from sticking better than any nonstick pan in the store. Seasoned cast iron pans will last a lifetime and can be passed from generation to generation. Scrub the cast iron pan with dish liquid and the scrub side of a sponge or steel wool pad. This is done to remove the coating the manufacturer put on the cast iron pan to prevent the pan from rusting during shipping. Dry your cast iron pan thoroughly with paper towels. Let the pan air-dry overnight, or set the oven to 125 degrees and heat the cast iron pan for 20 minutes. Moisture can become trapped in the pores of the iron which could cause the pan to rust. Apply a light coat of shortening or lard to the inside of the cast iron pan with a paper towel. Turn on the oven and set it to 300 degrees. Line a baki
