Cast Iron Cookware

If you don't have a cast iron skillet, I strongly urge you to get one.  Cast iron cooks evenly, holds the heat, and is as effective as any non-stick pan you've ever used, if seasoned properly.

 

To season cast iron, wipe it down with cooking oil and bake in the oven until the oil has hardened.  You'll need to do this a few times before it turns black like this one and is seasoned and becomes non-stick.  Preseasoned pans can be purchased.

 

Cast iron is good for cooking all sorts of things from your morning eggs to fried chicken, any kind of meat, and of course, for baking cornbread.  You can use it on a grill or campfire, so it's good to have on hand in case the power goes out or if you are a camper.

 

A good seasoned cast iron skillet or pan is so highly prized they are passed down from generation to generation.

 

You'll see different ways to preserve the seasoning on these beauties.  Some say water should never touch cast iron.  These people say to wipe them out with a paper towel.  I've used cast iron for years and have no problem wiping them out with a damp sponge and rinsing under hot water.  Some people dry them with a paper towel, and that's fine.  My method is put the skillet on the stove burner and turn it on.  Any residual grease will cook onto the pan, maintaining the seasoning.

 

If something should stick on the pan, put a tablespoon of oil and a tablespoon of salt in the pan and scrub the stuck bits loose with a paper towel.  Rinse and wipe dry.

 

I personally never cook eggs in my cast iron skillet, but opt for a non-stick pan.  My grandmothers cooked eggs every morning in theirs, but first they cooked the bacon and then the eggs, sloshing the bacon grease over the tops of the eggs to cook them.  I almost never cook bacon and the eggs, being particularly "sticky" would have a tendency to stick without all that grease.

 

If something you cook does stick and you end up scrubbing the skillet, you may be concerned that you've scrubbed off the seasoning.  You can reseason by rubbing the inside with some cooking oil and baking in the oven or cooking the empty skillet on the stove top. 

 

You want to avoid letting water stay on the pan at all costs.  This will cause rust.  Take care of your skillet and it will serve up delicious meals for many years to come.