Not to play favorites, but here at The Chew we are big fans of the cast-iron skillet.  This traditional cookware is essential when making a number of different kinds of dishes and just a good thing to have in your kitchen.  However, it does require a few extra steps to care for it.



Seasoning



If you buy a traditional cast-iron skillet, you will need to season it before you use it.  This seasoning is the process of coating the skillet with oil and baking it at 350 degrees for an hour.  It won’t be black, but once you pat it dry it will be ready to use.  This coating will be reinforced every time you heat oil in the skillet.



Alternatively, if you don’t want to bother seasoning the skillet you can buy a pre-seasoned one at your local hardware or cookware store.

Cleaning



The best way to keep your skillet in good condition is to rinse it with hot water immediately after cooking.  If you need to eliminate some stuck food, scrub with a mild abrasive like salt.



If the pan ever gets sticky you can re-season it.