Instructions

1. Season your skillet. Start by washing and drying your pan well. Then take a soft cloth or sponge and wipe the interior of your pan, including the sides, with bacon fat or lard. Make sure that the entire surface is coated.

2. Place your skillet in a 300 degree F. oven and bake for two hours to let the grease settle into the pan. If the skillet is brand new, you may need to repeat this a couple of times. Otherwise, your pan has been seasoned and is ready for use.

3. Clean your skillet by using a soft sponge or cloth. Never use a heavy scouring pad or steel wool as this will just scrub off your seasoning. The more use your pan gets, the more oils will cook into the material. This is what gives your iron skillet that prized non-stick surface.

4. Don't use detergents of any kind on your pan. Some people say this is simply an "old wives tale," and that detergents really won't harm your skillet. But detergents cut grease, and like a scouring pad, will slowly remove all the naturally occurring non-stick surface that you created. You can clean your iron skillet by simply soaking it in a little hot water and using a plastic scraper to remove any cooked on food.

5. Dry your skillet thoroughly before putting it away. This is an iron skillet, and rust can occur if it is allowed to sit wet for too long. Some people wash and simply put the pan on a warm stove surface to allow the moisture to evaporate. You can also just give it a good wipe with a drying towel.

6. Wipe the inside of your dry skillet with a little bit of vegetable oil, just a teaspoon or so should do it. This will keep the surface seasoned and ready for the next meal.