The most forgiving pan you own
Cast iron has a reputation for being fussy, and it simply is not true. A skillet is a slab of iron; it is one of the hardest-to-ruin things in the kitchen, and it rewards regular use more than careful handling. The whole secret is a thin layer of seasoning — oil baked into a slick, protective finish — and a few small habits that keep that finish intact.
The everyday routine
Cook on your pan often; that alone builds and maintains the seasoning better than anything. When you are done, clean it while it is still warm: rinse under hot water and scrub with a stiff brush or a handful of coarse salt to lift stuck bits. A little mild soap now and then will not strip a well-seasoned surface, so do not fear it — just skip long soaks and the dishwasher, which invite rust.
Then dry it completely. Towel it off and set it over low heat for a minute so every trace of water disappears. While it is warm, add a few drops of neutral oil, rub a very thin film across the whole surface — inside, outside, and handle — and buff it until it looks nearly dry. That is it. Done after each use, this keeps a pan slick and ready.
If rust or stickiness appears
Neglect happens, and cast iron forgives it. If your pan develops rust or a patchy, sticky surface, scour it back to bare, clean metal with steel wool, rinse, and dry it well. Then re-season: coat it in a very thin layer of oil, wipe off all you can, and bake it upside down in a hot oven for an hour, letting it cool inside. One or two rounds and the pan is as good as new — often better than the day it was bought.
A pan for the next cook
What makes cast iron worth the small effort is where it ends up. A pan cared for this way does not wear out; it deepens into a smooth, glossy black finish that no new pan can match, and it passes easily from one cook to the next. Plenty of the best-loved skillets in use today were handed down, not bought. Treat yours as something to keep, cook on it happily, and it will still be earning its place on the stove long after you have stopped thinking about how to care for it.