How to use a Cast Iron Skillet

Buy It For Life, There are not many products in one's kitchen which are gonna last as long as a well seasoned cast iron skillet. Cast Iron cookware have been in use for a long time and they are becoming popular once again. Cheap and durable these pans last for generations with proper care and attention. They are the best chemical free non-stick alternative.

You can buy brand new pre-seasoned skillet or a used one. Older used pans have a smoother texture due to the material and the casting process used. Smoother pans are still available in market but they can be more expensive compared to regular ones. One word of caution if you decide to buy a used one, buy it directly from the original owner via a garage/move out sale instead from an flea market or thrift store so that you can know the history of its use. As these pans were pretty cheap they were used/abused for smelting lead, casting ingots, pet food bowls, catching oil/chemical drips. So pay the extra dollars and buy it form the sweet grandma who used it for just cooking.

Cast Iron Cooking Tip : Cast Iron heats pretty unevenly, so you need to preheat your pan for a good amount of time before you start cooking on it. For eggs and simple fare preheat for about 5 minutes, for searing protein preheat upto 10 minutes. 

What are the benefits of using a Cast Iron Skillet.

A well seasoned cast iron pan keeps food from sticking to the pan. The more you use the more layers of seasoning you build up. This creates an even better non stick surface. They can go directly from the stove top to the oven and to the table to be served. As cast iron cookware maintain higher temperate for a longer duration,  your food will stay warm for a long time. As for health benefits, At high temperatures teflon coated non stick pans emit potentially harmful gases that is not the case with cast iron. Also, as mentioned earlier, cast iron cookware are budget friendly and wont burn a hole in your pocket.

On a lighter note, Just like in the cartoons you can use the skillet to bang the burglars head.

How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet

Seasoning is the process of  spreading a thin layer of oil and heating the skillet at a very high temperature so that the oil layer oxidizes/polymerizes and forms the non stick layer on top of the skillet surface. Most of the skillets available in market come pre-seasoned but to enhance the non-stickiness of your skillet, season it 2-3 times before you cook for the first time. Once you start using the skillet regularly, re-season it after every use a few times. Eventually there will be a point where you don't need to season at all as the more and more you cook with oil, it seasons more and more by itself and becomes self sufficient.

The main benefits of seasoning are; it makes your cast iron skillet non-stick and also prevents it from rusting.

• Warm the clean skillet on the stove top or in a oven to remove any trace of moisture from the skillet.
• Flax seed oil is the best oil for seasoning, if you don't have it in your pantry you can use any vegetable oil or Grapeseed oil. Olive oil and Butter are not recommended for seasoning. 
• Take a spoon or two of your preferred oil and pour it on top of your skillet and now using a clean rag or paper towel coat the oil everywhere.
• Ensure you coat the bottom of the cast iron skillet, handle and the sides. 
• Now with another clean rag/paper towel rub of the excess oil and your skillet is ready to go into a preheated oven.
• Bake the skillet for an hour with the oven temperature set at 500°F.
• Let the skillet cool down in the oven itself. 
• If its a brand new cast iron skillet, repeat the steps above a couple more times. 

A well seasoned skillet will have a nice glossy surface. If food starts sticking to your skillet that's a good indication that your skillet needs to be reasoned. 

How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet

The easiest way to ruin a cast iron skillet is by leaving it soaking in water. Cast Iron pans need to be cleaned as soon as you are done cooking with them. 

• Gently remove excess food from the pan using a spatula, Yes, You can use metal spatulas with your cast iron skillet.
• Using a soft bristle brush preferably natural, gently scrub the cooking surface. You can use a little dish cleaning liquid. 
• Rinse off the skillet and put it back on the stove top on a low heat. 
• Heat the pan until all moisture evaporates 
• Switch off the stove and let the skillet cool, Now with a clean rag or paper towel gently rub a spoon of vegetable oil throughout the skillet. 
• Remove excess oil using a paper towel. 

What to cook in a Cast Iron Skillet

Cast iron skillets retain and transfer heat to your food much better than either a carbon steel or a stainless steel skillet. This makes it a good candidate for searing meat/protein.

    
• Steaks
• Pizza
• Corn Bread
• Cobblers & Crisps
• Compotes 
• Roasting Veggies
• Any kinds of Flat Bread 

How to remove rust from a Cast Iron Skillet. 

If your pan is lightly rusted, Use steel wool/wire mesh to scrub off the rust. Rinse the pan under water using a little dish soap and follow the steps under the section of Seasoning. You would have to season 4-5 times before you can start using the pan once again.

If your skillet is heavily rusted, soak your pan in a diluted white vinegar solution to remove the excess rust for a couple of hours. Rinse the pan in clean water and thoroughly dry it on a stove top by gently heating it. If there is still a lot of rust, use some coarse sea salt and half of a potato to remove the same. As a final step, use steel wool/wire brush to remove the last final traces of rust and the pan is ready to be re-seasoned.

Cast Iron Cooking Tips & Tricks 

• Do not use your skillet as a storage container, the food should be transferred to another vessel if its not going to be used soon. 
• Limit cooking using wines/acidic sauces if the skillet was recently seasoned. 
• Do not let the skillet sit in water or air dry on a rack. Always remove the excess moisture by gently heating on the stove top. 
• You can use steel utensils on your skillet, but be gentle. 
• Steel wool and other abrasive brushes need to used only to remove rust and not during regular washing.
• Always hand wash your skillet and don't use dishwasher.
• Always preheat your skillet before you start cooking to avoid sticking of food.