🔥A True Story: Flames , Fumbles, and a Fresh Start

While a subsequent Marry Me Chicken experience was flawless, because my wife was in charge—we (read I) had a separate incident earlier this past week that nearly ended in a catastrophe. It started with the simple I’ve done it a thousand times routine of drying my cast iron skillet over a gas burner after a quick wash. But, in a moment of distraction (stepping out to walk the dog), I forgot the burner was still on. By the time I returned, my skillet had heated beyond reason. That well-seasoned surface-gone! I was left staring at a scorched and scarred pan that had lost every bit of its carefully crafted seasoning.

While a true kitchen (whole-house) disaster was thankfully avoided, my trusty and once well-seasoned skillet now needed some serious TLC. Re-seasoning was the only way to restore the pan. Armed with patience and some Avocado oil, I set to work.

Resurrecting a Skillet: The Art of Re-seasoning

First, I scrubbed away the damage, using hot water and a stainless-steel scrubber to clear out the burnt remnants. A bit of Barkeepers powder helped with stubborn spots, ensuring I had a smooth surface to start fresh.

Next, I thoroughly dried the skillet, knowing that moisture was the enemy of cast iron. A quick towel dry was followed by placing it in over low heat for a few minutes, just to be sure every last drop had evaporated. Trust me, I watched that stove like a hawk this time around!

Then I rubbed a very thin layer of Avocado oil over the entire skillet—inside, outside, even the handle. The key here was moderation: too much oil leads to sticky residue instead of a smooth, seasoned surface.

To restore its strength, I baked the skillet upside-down in a 450°F oven for an hour—letting the oil polymerize into a protective, nonstick layer. After cooling, I repeated the process twice more, ensuring a deep, lasting seasoning.

And just like that—my skillet was reborn.

Lesson Learned

While I won’t be leaving the gas burner on unattended again anytime soon, at least I know my skillet is resilient. Cast iron takes care of you, but only if you take care of it—and sometimes, that means a little extra seasoning after a kitchen mishap.

So, if you ever find yourself with a scorched, stripped skillet—don’t panic! A little elbow grease, patience, and oil will bring it back better than ever.