How to Cure a Cast Iron Pot (6 Steps)

Cast iron pots cook beautifully, and when properly cured (or seasoned), are very easy to care for and cook with. Curing your cast iron pot will take a little time and effort the first time. However, with careful care afterward, your cast iron pot should last a lifetime--which is why so much cast iron cookware can be found passed down through generations and sold in resale shops. Well-cured cast iron provides a unique flavor to your food. Over time, it may provide you with stories to hand down to the next generation as well.

Things You'll Need

Dish soap
Scrubbing pad
Dish gloves (optional)

Vegetable shortening
Paper towels
Oven

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Scrub your cast iron pot with dish soap, a dish scrubbing pad and the hottest water you can stand. Use dish gloves to help you stand hotter water than you could with bare hands.
Rub a coating of vegetable shortening all over the inside surface of your cast iron pot. Make sure to coat the entire interior. Use a paper towel to rub it thoroughly into the entire surface.
Bake your greased cast iron pot in the 400 degree oven for one hour. Turn the oven off and let both oven and cast iron pot cool to room temperature; you can leave it overnight, if you'd like.
Remove the cast iron pot from the oven and preheat to 400 degrees again. Coat with vegetable shortening one more time and bake for another hour. Allow to cool to room temperature and wipe away any excess oil.
Cook in your cured cast iron pot. Do not ever use soap on your cast iron pot once it has been fully cured. Clean it only with hot water and a paper towel.

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