Cat Iron Skillet Seasoning

Start with new or pre‑seasoned cast iron: remove stickers, wash once with soapy water, rinse, dry, and heat in the oven to evaporate moisture and open the metal’s pores.

Warm the pan (around 225°F in the oven), then apply a very thin coat of avocado oil over all surfaces (inside, outside, handle), wiping off any excess so there are no pools; excess causes sticky residue.

Place the pan upside down in a 500°F oven for one hour so drips cannot pool and the oil can reach its smoke point and polymerize into a hard layer.

After the hour, turn the oven off and let the pan cool completely in the closed oven, ideally overnight, before handling.

Repeat the warm‑oil‑wipe‑bake‑cool cycle multiple times (he suggests four rounds for his poorly performing pre‑seasoned pan) to build up a strong, slick seasoning.