Welcome to the Cast Iron Society Website
In the days before we had non-stick cookware, we had the next best thing – seasoned cast iron cookware. While non-stick cookware has certainly outdone cast iron cookware in the non-stick category, cast iron pots and pans are still favored by many chefs, including the professionals because of their durability and ability to retain flavor.
But, if you’re not lucky enough to have a hand-me-down from Grandma, you may find yourself confused about how to become a cast iron chef. Have no fear – you can learn to season cast iron cookware with the pros and keep them in great shape for years to come.
Seasoning New Cast Iron Cookware
The process is actually quite simple. When done correctly, your pans will last a long time and may even become your own hand-me -downs in the future.
1. Heat your oven to 300 degrees.
2. Coat the pan with lard or grease. (Be sure that you do not use vegetable oil or commercial cooking sprays. While they may seem easier, they will not only cause your cookware to be seasoned incorrectly, but they will also leave a sticky film on the outside of the cookware that is impossible to remove.)
3. Place the pan in the oven on the middle rack and allow it to bake for 15 minutes.
4. Remove the pan and pour out any excess grease or lard.
5. Put the pan back into the oven and bake for another two hours.
6. Repeat as needed
Many cast iron enthusiasts will swear upon repeating the seasoning process several times before ever using the cookware the first time. Each time you season the cookware, the seasoning bond becomes stronger. Many people will recommend that the first few times the cookware is used it should be used to cook greasy foods (bacon, fatty meats, etc.) to again strengthen the seasoning bond.
Re-seasoning Cookware
If you find that you seasoned the pan improperly the first time, or if food starts to stick to the pan after a period of time in use, you may want to re-season the cookware.
1. Wash the cookware thoroughly with a steel wool pad (doing this while the pan is warm and still safe to touch is best).
2. Make sure the pan is fully dry (use a towel if needed).
3. Follow the seasoning steps above to re-season the pan.
Cleaning Your Cast Iron Cookware
To make your cookware last the test of time, be sure to take proper care of it. Remember the creed of every enthusiast of cast iron - no soap and no steel wool. Soap and steel wool will cause a breakdown in the seasoning bond and should not be used to clean your cookware on a regular basis. If you’re baffled at this moment, have no fear. Cleaning cast iron cookware is a breeze.
1. You’ll need to rinse your cookware while it is still hot. If food is stuck to it, then scrape the pan or pot as needed.
That’s it! Remember not to store food in your cast iron cookware because it may attach a metallic flavor to the food. In addition, store your pans with the lids off to prevent moisture from accumulating and rusting from occurring.
Now that you know the ins and outs to cast iron cookware, you can start creating your own family heirloom – as well as some great food!
About the Author - Mike Lansing is a retired chef who spent most of his time as a Head Chef in New Orleans after training in France. He spends his free time cooking for family and friends, as well as serving as a contributing editor for CookingSchools101.com which offers information on Cooking Schools for those wishing to enter the trade.
Cast iron cookware has been used for centuries to cook meals, wash clothes and as wall ornaments in a home. The benefits of using cast iron cookware are truly evident to people who love the outdoors because cast iron cookware holds up well when exposed to all weather elements. Any rust that forms is easily removed and the strong metal surface is often not affected by any type of cooking temperatures.
Most people love cooking with cast iron cookware because of the resilient cast iron metal promotes even heat distribution. Some people enjoy cooking with cast iron cookware because it can be used inside the oven and can withstand a variety of heating levels without causing damage to the shape of the cooking pan. Cast iron cookware is also liked because it travels well and can produce many edible items.
The various shapes of cast iron cookware allow people to bake, boil and roast foods without fear that any foods will be over cooked. Cast iron cookware shortens the cooking process and allows cooks to utilize the interior space of an oven more effectively because cast iron cookware sets are manufactured for this purpose.
Many people enjoy cooking cornbread in large cast iron skillets because the corn meal browns evenly on top and on the bottom. There are many styles of corn bread that can be cooked at one time and this is especially helpful if a family prefers to eat wedges of cornbread for an evening meal and sconces for an afternoon snack. The pre-shaped forms for sconces allow cooks to provide elegant morsels for guest at a dinner party.
Cooks truly appreciate the benefits of using cast iron cookware when it is time to clean up after dinner. Even the hardest baked on foods can be easily removed with a limited amount of soaking. Maintaining a smooth interior surface in a cast iron pan can be accomplished with a steel wool pad. Many cooks have learned through years of use that cleaning all surfaces of cast iron cookware will render better results if a consistent circular motion is used on the cooking surface.
Cast iron cookware maintains a pitch black metal surface at all times. Since cast iron is prone to rusting, cooks have found that oil will keep rust from forming. Any type of oil can be used on cast iron cookware and many cooks will choose to store cast iron cookware with a rich layer of oil on it so that it will be ready for use each day. Cast iron cookware is a good value for the money because it will last for many years and many cast iron pieces have been passed on to many generations of families.
About the Author - James Brown
You can probably recall your grandparents using cast iron frying pans and skillets. On Sunday, you were sure to have fried chicken cooked in a cast iron frying pan and some delicious gravy to cover that rice.
There are many pieces of cast iron cookware. Many a fine meals have been prepared in cast iron frying pans and skillets. Cast iron has handles that can endure the heat. When you're not using your cookware, it is best to grease it down to prevent rust . Cleaning cast iron is rather simple if cleaned while warm. Wash out and towel dry. Storing food in cast iron is not recommended. Moisture can form and cause rust to develop . This could be very harmful.
Cast Iron Cookware : Fry Pans- great for frying chicken or fish Dutch Ovens- Can be used for many purposes. This can be used when camping out or cooking your favorite pot of soup or beans. Cornbread Pan- ideal for cooking cornbread or small pieces of fish. Flat Bottom Square Skillet- used for frying up that bacon or sausage. Country Kettle- makes some great chili, soups and stews. Cast Iron Charcoal Grill - great for grilling on picnics. You can find this cookware at ball games where tailgating is permitted.
Campers use cast iron cookware to prepare their outdoor meals. Haven't you ever eaten that fried bacon, eggs and outdoor toast? Catching fish and frying them up outdoors by the creek is awesome. Sporting events , is an excellent place to see cast iron cookware put through a test.
Cast Iron cookware isn't all that expensive. It does require more maintenance than other cookware. Preserving your cookware is simple. Keep it clean and greased down.
If your parents and grandparents used cast iron cookware , you can believe that it is durable and can stand the heat. The weight of the cast iron helps to equalize the heat. Cast iron is great for slow cooking .
When selecting your cookware , cast iron is the only one that has multiple uses. Indoor and outdoor usage. Having cast iron cookware will benefit your family for generations to come. Carry your children and grandchildren down to the creek and fry those fish up. Camp out and enjoy the scent of that bacon cooking and that coffee brewing. Your life will never be the same , once you invest in cast iron cookware. Prepare to hand down your cast iron cookware to your children. It is that durable.
About the Author - James Brown writes about Cooking.com, KitchenCollection.com and ChefsCorner.com
Cast iron cookware pieces have graced kitchen shelves since the Wild West was tamed and they are mainstay items that every creative cook likes to use to prepare family dinners in record time and enjoy home cooked flavor in every bite. Cooks typically use vegetable oil when cooking, but olive oil and butter are other fine choices.
The choices in cast iron cookware range from the 10 inch cast iron skillet your grandma chose to fry her famous chicken in, to the more unique pieces that feature ribbed surfaces that outline your steaks with stripes that would put any restaurant to shame. Cast iron skillets are so special that they have their own cookbook to help you prepare a skillet full too.
For the outdoorsy kitchen cook masters, there are cast iron Hibachi Style charcoal grills that will light up your life will full flavor hamburgers, kabobs or grilled shrimp with no aluminum foil lining needed. These charcoal grills only require routine maintenance with seasoned vegetable oil and a dry rag to maintain their brilliant natural black coloring and rustic appearance. With very little effort, savvy cooks can keep the natural non-stick surface in perfect operating performance.
When cooking breakfast, country cooks can use a cast iron grill press to present their guests with flat bacon slices that are truly delicious, and top the meal off with a stack of pancakes that are fresh off a cast iron grill. This method is a favorite of most fast food dine-in restaurants and you can achieve this delectable cooking art form with little to no effort at all.
There are cast iron combo cookers that are three cooking tools in one. One day you might use it as a skillet, and the next morning, convert the lid of the combo cooker over and use it as a griddle to prepare an assortment of egg choices that your family will definitely enjoy. Another day, you might choose to use it as a Dutch oven and prepare a hearty stew for your family to enjoy whenever they like.
Cast iron cookware is easy to maintain and will provide years of service with proper care. Enjoy golden cornbread several nights a week if you like, or bake up some home made biscuits that will delight the entire family. There are cast iron slice wedge pans that will save you the time cutting your cornbread slices, if you want to be pampered some on any particular day.
With a little vegetable cooking oil and elbow grease applied to your cast iron cookware, the cast iron surface will resist rusting and develop a smooth cooking surface that will maintain its shape for many years to come. Cooks that keep cast iron cookware in their kitchen will be ready to cook on a moments notice.
Cast iron cookware heats up fast, and will hold the heat in the metal surface to warm the food if dinner will be delayed for some reason. Cast iron cookware is a marvelous gift choice that can be handed down from generation to generation.
Author - Mary Lorainne
The process of restoring rusted cast iron cookware can bring a family heirloom back to life and make it a fully functional asset in your kitchen. You can even salvage a garage sale or flea market find that looks too far gone. The beauty of cast iron cookware lies in it's rugged durability and versatility. Cast irons durability results from the quality and thickness of the material from which the pan was made. Older cast iron is especially tough since it was made before the time of cheap imports that do suffer some quality issues. But, nonetheless any piece of cast iron that is structurally sound can be restored and put to use in your kitchen.
Before beginning the restoration process, you must carefully inspect the pot or pan and make sure it is truly structurally sound. Look for cracking or pitting in the surface of the pan. If the pan is cracked or severely pitted then it would be best to set that pan aside and not proceed with restoration. a cracked cast iron pan is very hard to repair and requires a process called brazing to fix the pan. This is usually an expensive process and even with repair the possibility of contamination of your food from the repair process makes the pan pretty much useless for use in the kitchen. If you would like you can restore the damaged pan and use it as a decorative reminder of days gone by in your kitchen.
Once you have established the soundness of the cast iron, you can begin the process of restoration. Start by using steel wool or a wire brush to remove as much surface rust from the pan as possible. You can then soak the pan in a solution of 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water for a day or so. This will help to finish dissolving any rust that remains on the surface of the pan. If you run into a pan with severe rusting, then you may have to use a product like spray on oven cleaner to remove a heavy layer of rust. Be careful when using caustic chemicals like oven cleaner. Wear personal protection such as gloves and a mask to prevent personal injury. Also, avoid using any other highly caustic chemicals on your cast iron. Solvents and similar chemicals can soak into the loose pores of the iron and then leach into your food at a later time.
After you are sufficiently satisfied with the initial phase of restoration of your cast iron, then you can proceed to the seasoning step. seasoning is a simple process whereby the clean pan is coated with either lard or bacon grease and repeatedly heated in an oven. This process creates a durable non-stick finish for the cast iron and makes it easy to clean after use.
About the Author - Larry Honz is the chief talent at Recipe-Rack.com. One of the web's most popular cooking sites.
Cast iron cookware is an extremely versatile and economic alternative to expensive copper and copper clad cookware. If you aren't currently using at least a couple of cast iron pans in your kitchen, you really should consider it.
Cast iron has several advantages over other cookware. Cast iron pans have excellent heat conduction and retention, so you get even heating over the whole surface of the pan. If there are no wooden handles on your cast iron cookware, you can use it either on the stove, or in the oven. Properly seasoned and cared for, cast iron is just as non stick as any fancy non-stick pans. Cast iron is very durable. Some of you may have cast iron pans from your grandmother's kitchen that are still in excellent condition. Cast iron pans are very inexpensive compared to the fancy copper pans.
On the other side of the coin, there are some disadvantages to cast iron. Cast iron pans are very heavy. If not properly treated, cast iron pans can be prone to rust. Cast iron pans must be handwashed, they are not dishwasher safe. Cast iron pans require a bit more maintenance than regular pans (but not too much more).
If you properly care for your cast iron, it will give you many years of use. Some cast iron comes pre-seasoned, so you don't need to season it yourself. If you need to season it, simply rub it with oil, shortening, or lard, and heat for an hour in a 300 degree oven. Then remove the pan and let it cool. You can repeat this process a couple more times to strengthen the bond of the seasoning. What seasoning does, is it fills in the pores in the iron with the oil, helping to prevent food from sticking and to create a protective coating.
You should never use soap in a cast iron pan. To clean them, just use hot water and a plastic scouring pad, don't use steel wool, or it could ruin the seasoning (if this happens, just re-season the pan). After washing, dry the pan throughly with lint free paper towels. Store the pans with the lid off to prevent moisture from building up and causing the pan to rust.
Other cast iron care tips: Do not use cast iron to cook acidic foods, cast iron is a reactive metal, and will react with the acids. Never use your cast iron pans to store food; You can use them to keep food warm during a meal, but when the meal is over, move the food into proper storage containers, and wash your pan.
If you don't currently have any cast iron cookware, I suggest getting some and trying it. A good skillet and dutch oven are good pans to start with. They can be used for pan frying, deep frying, roasting, and stewing. I've even used two pans as a makeshift sandwich press.
Whatever the disadvantages of cast iron cookware, they are far outweighed by the advantages. Properly cared for, cast iron cookware will last for years of great meals.
About the Author - Tim Sousa is the webmaster classy-cooking.com. An online library of recipes, cooking tips, and other valuable cooking resources.
