How to... clean and season an iron pan

Put the dry pan on high heat and sprinkle a couple of handfuls of salt into it.

Shake to distribute the salt and heat until it starts to discolour. Fold an old cloth into a thick pad and carefully rub the salt against the pan to clean it.

Hold the handle to steady it, and take care not to touch the salt, which may reach 180degC. Continue to heat and scrub the pan carefully, rubbing salt into corners and across the bottom to remove any burnt-on bits and other impurities. The cloth and...

When the pan is clean, pour the salt into a metal bowl (it will melt a plastic one), wipe out any remaining salt and put the pan back on the heat.

Pour a couple of tablespoons of cooking oil into the pan and tilt the pan to distribute. Pour out excess oil.

Refold the cloth so a clean surface is outermost and rub around the inside and outside of the pan to give it a clean, shiny surface. The oil will also prevent the pan rusting. The pan can now be used for omelettes, pancakes and other cooking.

Daniel Pfyl, hospitality management lecturer at Otago Polytechnic, shares some professional techniques to make your cooking easier. Here he demonstrates how to clean and season an iron pan.

Scroll through slideshow images for instructions.

To clean and season an iron frying pan or wok, remove any impurities and make it non-stick (do not use this method on stainless steel, aluminium or non-stick surface).

If the pan is new, wash it with detergent and water to remove any oil and dirt, rinse and dry thoroughly.

Chef Pfyl recommends not washing the seasoned pan unless necessary - just wipe it out after use.

If you do need to wash it, use hot water and a brush while the pan is still hot - don't allow it to cool or use detergent.

Pans treated like this would last a month or so before needing to be seasoned again, he said.

If you would like to request a particular technique we haven't already shown, please let us know. Write to Trick of the trade, Editorial Features, Otago Daily Times, PO Box 181, Dunedin or email odt.features@odt.co.nz with trick of the trade in the subject line.

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