Up next in 10
You Got New Cast Iron? Here's What to Do First!
Jan 25, 2026
Be sure to grab all our cast iron tips and tutorials on our cast iron playlist tab on our channel
We used the 14-inch YETI cast iron skillet in this demo https://www.yeti.com/search?q=cast+iron&lang=en_US
#yetipartner
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
So, you got some new cast iron and you
0:02
don't know what to do with it next. I've
0:04
got my top tips to help you get through
0:06
this process. First thing I need you to
0:08
do, run your hand all the way around
0:10
through here on the bottom. Do you feel
0:12
any burrs, bumps, blemishes, anything
0:15
like this? This is factory smooth, so it
0:17
ought to be in pretty good shape. But
0:19
what we need to do first is wash it with
0:21
good hot water and soap. And I know
0:23
you're saying, "You told us never to use
0:25
soap." You can the very first time
0:27
because we want to get the factory
0:28
residue if there's any on here off.
0:38
So, wipe any of that excess water out
0:40
with a good lint-free rag. Then, let's
0:42
bring it over to some heat. High heat is
0:45
what I like to start with. And you'll
0:46
leave it on there till you first begin
0:48
to see just a little whiff of smoke.
0:50
Then, I turn it off. Grape seed oil is
0:53
what I prefer. And so many people use
0:56
too much. It doesn't take much. Sure,
0:59
this is a big old skillet, but this is a
1:01
lint-free rag. Wiper around there. You
1:04
can see that smoke now even better. We
1:07
won't leave, we don't want to leave any
1:09
excess in there. That's when it begins
1:11
to puddle up. That's when you have
1:13
sticky cast iron. My favorite oils,
1:15
grape seed oil, avocado oil, and beef
1:17
talla. Next step in this process,
1:20
preheat your oven to 450°.
1:22
Slide a sheet pan under that top rack.
1:25
Go ahead and take your skillet, turn it
1:27
upside down. Now, what we're doing here
1:29
is creating a great way to get that base
1:32
seasoning. Polymerization is going to
1:34
take place. We're going to bake it for 1
1:36
hour, 450°, then turn that oven off, let
1:39
her cool. After it cools, we're going to
1:40
bring it back over here on the burner.
1:42
Let it get hot. Go ahead and give us a a
1:44
good sealing of oil again. Then back in
1:47
the oven to bake it. Do this two more
1:49
times. You don't have to bake it every
1:51
time after this. That was the first
1:53
initial process. But after we start
1:56
using this skillet, we got it on the
1:57
stove top. Every time we cook in it,
1:59
we're going to clean it well. We're
2:01
going to rinse it and we're going to dry
2:02
it over heat. Then we're going to add a
2:04
little oil, lintfree rag, and it all
2:06
takes place right there on the burner.
2:08
Good as gold. So, you're wondering, what
2:10
do I cook in here first time? It's best
2:12
to deep fry something in the skillet.
2:14
Get that oil in there about that deep.
2:16
The temperature remains at 350°.
2:19
Cast iron loves to deep fry. Well, we
2:21
hope this helps you out. Don't be afraid
2:23
of that cast iron. Use it every day.
2:24
It'll last a lifetime. But just be sure
2:27
if you have any trouble, check out all
2:28
our cast iron playlist. We got you
2:30
covered on anything that might come
#Cooking & Recipes
#Hobbies & Leisure
#Home Improvement
#Kitchen & Dining