Abstract: A method, and an article produced thereby, of providing a corroson-resistant, scratch-resistant, and stick-resistant, surface on a ferrous-metal-containing article, including forming microcavities in a ferrous-metal-containing article surface by ferritic nitrocarburization and seasoning the surface, including a non-stick agent deposited thereon. In preferred embodiments, the surface of the article including the exposed microcavities is oxidized before seasoning. The article includes cookware. Certain preferred embodiments include forming microcavities by ferritic nitrocarburization wherein the article is heated in an atmosphere including ammonia, nitrogen, and carbon-containing gas to a nitriding temperature of between about 800° F. and about 1300° F. for a time of about 0.5 hours to about 10 hours.