Having a cast iron skillet is not anything like owning another pot or pan. Cast iron is special because it’s made up of one piece of iron, so you have to treat it carefully and much differently than your standard cookware.
Sponge
For a cast iron skillet, you have to have a separate sponge that you only use for that pan. This is because you don’t want the pan to come into contact with soap since it’s porous and will absorb it. You can use any sort of scrubber, chainmail, or anything of the like. But, don’t use steel wool because it will strip the seasoning off the pan.
Oil
Some people say you need to have an expensive oil like flaxseed oil to season your pan, but that’s not necessarily true. You do need a good oil, like a nice olive oil or organic canola oil, but don’t use something like vegetable oil because you need a better quality ingredient than that.
Handle Cover
While this isn’t a requirement for having a cast iron skillet, but having a handle cover can really help you out a lot. Since it’s one piece of iron, every part of it heats up, including the handle. Buying a little cover for it will eliminate any possibility of burns.
