How to Cure Old Cast Iron

When cared for properly, cast iron cookware lasts for years.

Cast iron cookware can easily be passed down from one generation to the next when cared for properly. The sturdy metal provides versatility in the kitchen, enabling you to cook on the stovetop, in the oven or store food in the refrigerator. A cured cast iron pan retains a nonstick surface, preventing food from sticking and burning to the pan. An old pan, or one that hasn't been cared for properly, can lose its seasoned surface. Reseasoning enables you to cure the old cast iron cookware so it can be used effectively again.

Things You'll Need

• Nylon dish scrubber
• Dishwashing detergent
• Paper towels
• Steel wool pad
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• Baking pan

Instructions

1. 

   Dish detergent helps remove rust and old stains on cast iron.

   Clean the cast iron surface before curing it to ensure there's no rust or burned-on food and grease stains. Wet a nylon dish scrubber and pour three or four drops of dishwashing detergent onto the brush. Scrub the inside and outside of the cast iron surface to remove dirt, rust stains and food particles. Rinse with water and dry with paper towels.

2. Treat remaining rust stains on the old cast iron surface by scrubbing them away with a dampened steel wool pad. Rinse the cast iron and dry with paper towels.

3. 

   Vegetable oil helps coat the surface of cast iron cookware.

   Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Pour 2 tbsp. of vegetable oil into the cast iron cookware. Use a paper towel to spread the oil around the interior surface to coat it thoroughly. If more oil is needed to thinly coat the entire surface, drizzle a bit more in and continue to rub.

4. Place the cast iron pan face down on a baking sheet. Cure the cast iron in the oven for 30 minutes to create a nonstick surface.

5. Shut off the oven and allow the cast iron to stay inside until completely cooled. Wipe excess vegetable oil off the surface with a paper towel.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash your cured cast iron cookware with a nylon scrubber and hot water only. Avoid using dishwashing detergent, as this removes the nonstick coating. Cast iron that's washed immediately after cooking cleans easily.

• Reseason your cast iron cookware once per month to maintain a nonstick surface.

• Substitute lard or vegetable shortening to season cast iron.

• Avoid washing your cast iron cookware in the dishwasher.

References

• What's Cooking America: The Irreplaceable Cast Iron Pans
• "Mother Earth News"; The Care and Feeding of Cast Iron; Brook and Barbara Elliot; December/January 1999
• "Real Simple": Cleaning and Seasoning a Cast Iron Skillet