Right after you wash it (with a little soap, yes, it’s fine), grab a clean dish towel. Not paper towels—they leave lint. Use a cotton cloth and give it a firm, thorough rub-down.
Don’t just dab it like you’re petting a cat. You want to aggressively wipe it dry. Imagine you’re polishing a trophy—your trophy is now a frying pan. Feel the heat from the residual warmth? That’s good.
The "Stove Top Sizzle" Trick
Here’s where things get nerdy—and awesome. Even after towel-drying, there’s still moisture hiding. Pop that skillet back on the stove over low to medium heat for about 60 seconds. You’ll see little wisps of steam rise up.
That steam is the enemy surrendering. Wait until the pan is just barely warm to the touch—too hot and you’ll crack it. It’s like drying a wet dog with a hairdryer; you don’t want to singe the fur.
