how I seasoned my cast iron skillet. I got a cast iron skillet for Christmas 2 years ago (thanks Annalisa!) and I used it for a whole year, without really understanding anything about it.

So this year for Christmas, I bought myself a cookbook with instructions on how to season a cast iron skillet. I'm no expert, but here's my understanding of what "seasoning" means, and how I did it.

When a cast iron pan or skillet is properly seasoned (see above left), it has a shiny coating on it, and prevents things from sticking to it. I've heard cooking with cast iron is good because it adds much needed iron to your diet, which is important, especially if you're a woman. I don't really know the science of it (there are a billion posts about this very same subject if you google it.)

Here's what I did:

First off, I preheated my oven to 200 degrees, put the pan in for 15 minutes, to heat it up and open the pores.  I then used flaxseed oil (found in the supplements at Hy-Vee) and put 1 Tbsp on the top and 1 Tbsp on the bottom and rubbed in with a paper towel. Then I cooked my coated pan on 450 degrees for an hour, face down. I let the pan sit for a day, then I repeated that process 3 more times.

Occasionally, I add just a little more flaxseed oil to the surface of my pan if it is looking like it needs it. I don't ever use soap or harsh abrasive scrub brushes on it, if it needs to be washed, I usually just rinse with water and dry immediately. The more you use a cast iron, the better it gets.

I love making frittatas, stir fries, and lots of other delicious meals in my cast iron skillet.

Do you cook with cast iron?