old mountain cast iron
A major issue about cast iron cookware is the need to pre-season it before it can be used. This is a process of letting oil absorb into the material, producing a blackened non stick surface. The process is simple enough. Wash the cast iron piece with hot soapy water, rinse and dry. Coat completely, inside and out with melted vegetable shortening. Place in a preheated oven for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove cookware and wipe it almost dry to prevent pooling of shortening or oil. Place back in oven for another 30 minutes.
With old mountain cast iron, you don’t have to go through all this. Just follow simple cleaning instructions and you are ready to go. Of course you have to take care that the seasoning remains intact. This is made possible by avoiding using harsh detergent in cleaning it as this will wash away the seasoning. Just wait for it to cool down and clean with hot water. Spraying a bit of oil on the surface after washing will keep it ready for use.