I bought this taiyaki mold in April 2024. I'm delighted with it. I love cooking with cast iron.When the mold arrived, I seasoned it by lightly but thoroughly coating it in avocado oil (any high-heat oil will do), then placing it, propped open, on a baking sheet in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for one hour. (The baking sheet is to catch oil drips. Don't attach the wooden handles until after seasoning it!)I removed it from the oven, let it cool, then attached the wooden handles.My daughter thoroughly oils the taiyaki molds every time she makes taiyaki. She also makes sure to heat the mold until it's quite hot before adding the batter, but then she cooks the taiyaki at medium to medium low heat on a gas range.