14 Interesting Facts About Cooking With Cast Iron Cookware
According to WIKIPEDIA, cast iron pans have been used by chefs for the past 2000 years.
Cast iron ovens and cauldrons have been in use for so long, perhaps we have lost sight
of their amazing properties.
And who better to rediscover your love for cast iron pans with than your Bestie?
Keep watching and we can do it together.
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Let's switch focus back to the cast iron pans.
Have you ever used a cast iron skillet or pan?
No?
Well ‘cast’ away your preconceived notions, because, by the time you finish reading this
article, you’re going to want to purchase a cast-iron pan of your own.
There really is no substitute for a meal prepared on one of the oldest pieces of kitchen cookware
around.
The robust nature of the iron pan will usually last you an entire lifetime and it truly is
the right way to cook food.
Or at least, that's what humans have believed since early history.
Let us take you back to the year 680, where we as humans first mention the term "cast
iron" in English.
It was in reference to a kettle, but eventually, people started using cast iron pots for cooking.
Why would our ancestors choose this certain type of metal for their ancient cooking?
According to WIKIPEDIA, it was because of their "durability and their ability to retain
heat evenly, thus improving the quality of cooked meals."
Listen, things don't stick around for 1339 years for no reason.
Clearly, the generations before us knew the power of the cast iron skillet and passed
down that knowledge to their children.
Then they did the same to their children and so on.
The point is that now, in the present, we can enjoy all the wonders of the cast iron
skillet.
So, do you have a cast iron pan hiding away in your closet somewhere?
How about in your grandmother’s cupboard?
Is there a cast iron skillet or pan that has been in your family for generations?
These beautiful things are a real cornerstone for any kitchen.
Many prestigious chefs might argue that it’s one of the only pans you’ll ever need.
The following fun facts about cast iron skillets and pans will give you a renewed appreciation
for them.
1) Versatility.
Cast iron pans can be used in virtually any cooking situation.
They can be used to prepare meals inside your stove, on the stove top, on your barbeque,
and even over a roaring fire.
The people at MONTANAHOMESTEADREADER.COM tell us that if you want to cook over a fire pit,
simply put the pan over some coals.
Add more coals for higher heat, or fewer coals for lower heat.
2) Health Benefits.
Believe it or not, you can add more iron to your immune system by eating food prepared
with a cast iron skillet.
The researchers at the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION have reported that cast iron pans can release
healthy amounts of iron nutrients into your food.
Anyone with an iron deficiency might want to consider cooking with some cast iron.
Cooking in a cast iron skillet really is the only right way to make food.
3) It’s Non-Toxic.
Unlike pans with cheap Teflon skillets that are made of lower grade metals, cast iron
pans are made of solid iron that will not affect negatively any of your foods.
Although non-stick pans are far more advanced and perfectly safe to use, they might not
have the same durability of a cast iron.
4) Seasoning Your Pan.
An important aspect of cast iron skillet care is what is called "seasoning".
This cookware tends to gather a lot of rust, so seasoning your pan is imperative to its
continued survival.
Luckily for us, a seasoned pan is something that's easy to obtain.
In fact, it's a 4 step process described to us by the experts at top10homeremedies:
Step 1.
Scrub your cast iron pan with soap and water.
Make sure to get all the little nooks and crannies.
Then, let it dry completely.
We're talking the Sahara Desert dry.
Okay, maybe not that dry, but you know what we mean.
Step 2.
Drizzle a bit of vegetable oil onto your pan.
Spread it around so it creates a layer of oily protection.
If you have it, use flaxseed oil, because that's what's recommended.
Step 3.
Start the oven and turn it to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Then, place your cast iron skillet upside down in your oven.
Step 4.
Bake the pan for 1 hour, then let the pan cool in the oven.
After that, your cast iron skillet should have a brand new layer of non-stick, non-rusting
protection.
Keep in mind: you want your cast iron skillet to have a black somewhat matte surface, that's
when you'll know it's good and seasoned.
5) It'll Get Better.
Maybe you've bought a cast iron pan halfway through this video because you thought "wow,
this is amazing!
I need one of those to finally cook the right way!".
Then when you bought it you noticed that your food was sticking to the pan.
Don't panic, this is normal.
The cast iron skillet tends to get better over time when it's more seasoned.
Our recommendation– use it for every meal!
6) It’s Easy To Clean.
This is one of those fun facts that speak to the convenience of the cast iron skillet.
Believe it or not, you don’t even need soap to clean your cast iron.
Unless of course you haven’t properly seasoned it or maintained it for a while.
All you need is an abrasive sponge and hot water to clean off the debris from your cast
iron, say the people from THEKITCHN.COM.
Sounds like a plan to me!
7) Use Salt.
Hate to harp on the cast iron skillet cleaning for too long, but another great tool to clean
your pan with is salt.
Using salt to get rid of grease on your pan is considered one of the finest cleaning methods
for cast iron skillets.
While the pan is warm, sprinkle some salt onto it then add some water.
Use a sponge to scrub the surface of your pan, then let it dry on the stove.
After that, your pan will be spick and span!
8) Metal utensils.
Have you ever been yelled at by your mother for using a metal spatula to flip your eggs?
Well, grab her a cast iron skillet and ease her worries.
Author J. Kenji López-Alt lets us know that metal utensils are fine as long as we're not
trying to deliberately scratch the skillet.
See mom?
J. Kenji López-Alt lets HIS kids cook with metal spatulas!
9) Durability.
As mentioned before, cast iron pans are extraordinarily durable.
One pan could last several generations in a single family.
Unless it’s given way due to improper care over the years causing oxidation and rust,
a cast iron pan should last you several lifetimes.
Even then, if your cast iron pan has some rusting, it’s usually easily removable with
a good piece of steel wool and some elbow grease.
10) The Two Deadly Ways.
While the cast iron skillet is world renowned for its durability, there are still two ways
you can destroy or eventually break down the legendary cookware.
First, if you don't season your pan ever, it'll start to deteriorate.
Second, if you get the pan very hot and immediately dump water onto it, it'll start to form cracks.
Which, last time we checked, is not something you want in your cookware.
11) It Maintains Its Heat.
Unlike other pans, once a cast iron pan is hot, according to WIKIPEDIA, it is a very
slow conductor of heat.
Unless you try heating it up too quickly, a cast iron might have some spotty areas that
get too hot, however, if you slowly raise the temperature of your cast iron, it will
cook your food perfectly, the right way.
12) The Are Relatively Inexpensive.
Unlike other professional cookware that might set you back hundreds of dollars, a good ol’
fashioned cast iron pan won’t cost you more than a couple hours pay in most parts of the
world.
They are also readily available, including hand-me-downs from your own family, in which
case, the cost is usually free.
13) Your Meals Taste Better.
The cast iron pan expert and KOSHER.COM author Toby Vogel says that a good cast iron pan
“adds a depth of flavor that no other cookware can.”
In other words, it’s pretty safe to say that a steak cooked on a well seasoned, well
maintained cast iron skillet will taste far better than something cooked on your run-of-the-mill
skillet purchased from your local department store.
I'll say it once and I'll say it again– cast iron skillets are the right way to cook
food.
14) There Can Be Only One.
Here's a fun fact about cast iron skillets – The Lodge Manufacturing is the only major
cast iron cookware producer in all of the US!
Most of the other cast iron pots and pans are made in Asia or Europe.
Uh oh, looks like we're going to start a debate between cast iron lovers!
What do YOU cook with, American or Foreign made cast iron?
That just about wraps it up!
What do you think about cast iron skillets?
Are there any fun facts about cast iron pans that we missed?
Let us know in the comment section below everything we missed about this legendary cookware!