Caring for cast iron

A cast iron pan outlives its owner if it's dried straight after washing and wiped with a thin film of oil while it's still warm.

Soap is fine. What strips seasoning is soaking, the dishwasher, and acidic food left to sit, so cook the tomato sauce in steel.

If rust appears, scrub it back to bare metal, oil it, and bake it upside down for an hour at the hottest your oven goes.