| We all love those cute cast iron molds and wish | | | | further heats the pan and allows the oil to seep |
| we could use the fry pan as our ancestors did | | | | deeply into the pores at a high temperature, |
| without them turning to rust. You can once you | | | | which further seasons the pan. |
| season them correctly and then stop destroying | | | | Cleaning up in-between cooking should not include |
| your seasoning of the cast iron. | | | | soap. You may place it in the sink with a bit of |
| To season any cast iron before its first usage, | | | | water and scrub it clean with a brush. Dry right |
| you need to scrub it down with soap and a brush. | | | | away and place a paper towel into the bottom of |
| Rinse the mold or pan thoroughly and immediately | | | | the pan. Never store your pan with a lid on it. |
| towel dry. Set your oven temperature to 450 | | | | Moisture will gather and rust the pan. Some |
| degrees. Place your clean pan with nothing in it | | | | suggest a second seasoning if you have had to |
| into the oven until the temperature reaches 450. | | | | wash your pan out to ensure rust wont build. You |
| Once the pan has heated to that temperature, it | | | | can easily just heat the pan on the stove and add |
| is time to take it out of the oven and let it cool | | | | a bit of oil to the pan. Cool and store it away until |
| just enough so you can handle it. Cast iron | | | | the next usage. |
| breaths and the heat open the pores. Using a soft | | | | If seasoning molds, you can normally follow the |
| piece of cotton such as a tee shirt, very lightly | | | | same instructions with one exception. When using |
| coat the pan with oil or shortening. Some prefer | | | | your mold for the first time, spray it with a |
| to use lard and others like peanut oil. Which ever | | | | non-stick spray before adding the dough. |
| you choose it must be a very light coat. Place the | | | | Now that you have the basic steps in proper |
| pan back in the oven at 400 degrees for exactly | | | | seasoning, you can choose from a large array of |
| a half hour. Turn your oven off and let the pan | | | | cast iron molds for your holiday baking and for |
| cool while remaining in the oven. | | | | that famous corncob shaped cornbread sticks. |
| Your first usage of the pan is important. Most | | | | You are ready to love your cast iron molds as |
| cooks suggest using the pan for frying something | | | | much as grandma did. |
| in oil if it is the first or second time frying. This | | | | |