Rai Mincey is a food writer and baking enthusiast whose focuses include culinary history, seasonal cooking, and Southern cuisine. She splits her time between Birmingham, Alabama, and Tulum, Mexico.

Cast-iron skillets are heavy-duty kitchen heroes, but they only perform at their best if properly cared for. Once you know how to season a cast-iron skillet (or Dutch oven, or griddle pan)—and how to ...