Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple.

Cast-iron skillets are staples in a Southern kitchen that must be treated with care.

This means learning how to season a cast-iron skillet properly.

cast iron pan on dark background

Credit: Getty Images

It’s important to take the necessary steps to care for yourcast-iron skillet.

Bring back its luster and protect it from rusting by preserving, protect its oily sheen and non-stick powers.

Cast-iron and carbon steel pans require this treatment.

This protective layer increases with every use, so it’s essential to care for cast iron properly.

How To Season a Cast-Iron Skillet

Repeat this process whenever you remove a bit of seasoning.

It’s also a good idea to season your pan after scouring any foods (it happens!

), if rust appears, food starts to stick, or you experience a metallic taste.

It also means you should never put your skillet in the dishwasher.

Add Kosher Salt

Kosher salt is also a good scrubbing agent for baked-on stains.

It’s also completely okay to use soap on the skillet to scrub off cooked-on messes.

Luckily, that’s not true of dish soap anymore.

Find this tool at hardware stores, bike shops, or woodworking shops.