So my mom gave me a cast iron skillet which i love to make quesadillas on. i think she oiled it a few times to cure i or whatever, but since i've had it i haven't washed it or oiled it or anything.

can anyone give me tips on when, if ever, i need to oil this baby up? i asked for it because i'm pretty sure it's indestructible and really easy to take care of but i could be wrong.

also, what kind of things can i cook on it? or how exactly should i be using it? thanks

 

If you wash cast iron, you need to dry it and reoil it right away. If it starts to get chunky, warm it up over a burner, then dump some salt in it and use a dish rag to "scrub" it. You don't want to use anything to abbrasive on it (i.e, SOS pad) or you will get rust spots and more pores. Again.After you clean it like this, reoil it. Oil and cast iron are best friends! You can cook anything you want in it. Just remember that cast iron is pourous, and will retain flavors and particles of things previously cooked in it.

 

I always rinse my cast iron after every use. I use a towel under warm water. I thoroughly dry it with a towel. I clean with salt once every few months.

 

okay thanks guys, should i oil it while it's still warm so the pores soak up more oil?

 

That and the oil will "dry" a bit. Really requires minimal cleaning. We use them in the restaurant and probably only salt scub once a month. That's with severe use.