| Before you start, give it a good cleaning. Use hot water and mild soap with a stiff brush, rinse well. Some new items may have come with a protective coating, some of the older items may just need old patches of built up grease removed. Pre-heat your oven to 300 (F) degrees. Using a kitchen cloth or a small brush, apply a thin even coat of oil onto the entire surface of the pan. It is best to use regular vegetable oil. Be sure not use too much oil or you'll end up with a thick, sticky film. Next we need to bake the oil on. Place the pan in the oven and let is sit until the oil is absorbed. This amount can vary on the pan. It can take only 30 minutes, mine usually take about 3 hours. Using an oven mitt, remove the pan from the oven and gently wipe off any excess oil. Let the pan cool. The surface should be slightly shiny but not sticky. Now you are ready to cook! To keep it seasoned, don't wash it with soap. Instead soak it for several minutes if necessary and scrub it with a plastic scouring pad or brush under hot water. Be sure and dry it thoroughly right away. Wipe it with a wee bit of oil if it seems dry. KP, from WA, entered 1999-12-11 | 