How do you properly season cast iron cookware?
Thoroughly clean and dry the new cast iron. Cover it THOROUGHLY with a film of shortening or vegetable oil using a paper towel or whatever you prefer. Put the cast iron pot in the oven at 425 degrees for about 1-1/2 hours, upside down (so that excess grease will drain out) and on a cookie sheet or other flat surfact that will catch the grease. Turn off the oven and let the cast iron cool. When you get it out of the oven it should be an even black color, if not, repeat the process. Once cast iron cookware is properly seasoned it should never be washed with soap or put into a dishwasher. Just lightly clean off any residue. Some never even use water, they just scrape it clean, put the pot back on the fire and cook off any left-over food.
