Interested in cooking with cast iron cookware? These Tips for Cooking with a Cast Iron Skillet include helpful do’s and don’ts when using cast iron.
Cast iron skillets used to be a well-known cooking amenity. However, as new and “improved” skillets have come out, ins and outs of a cast iron skillet have slipped out the window. Now, people are realizing how much better a cast iron skillet was than these modern-day alternatives. With that being said, more people are looking for a cast iron skillet, but aren’t sure how to use one. These Tips for Cooking with a Cast Iron Skillet are sure to make your life easier!
Tips for Cooking with a Cast Iron Skillet
Season Your Skillet: A cast iron skillet soaks up what it heats up, so you want to season your pan before cooking to prevent your food from sticking. The better you season it; the less food will stick. To season your pan, heat it up on the stove until it is hot. Then, rub some oil into it and let it cool.
Cook What the Skillet is Made For: The great thing about the cast iron skillet is that it gets scorching hot and stays hot. However, this isn’t the ideal way of cooking for every food you cook. Stick to cooking the following with your cast iron skillet for best results:
- Meats that need a hard searing
- Stir-fry foods such as Chinese food
- Fried Chicken
- Deep Fried foods
- Pan pizza
- Panini
- Fried Potatoes
Don’t Cook Acidic Foods in It: Very acidic food can react with the metal. This can make the metal attach to your food giving it a strange flavor. In reality, your pan should be well-seasoned so the metal doesn’t touch the food, but acidic food such as tomato sauce and things that need to be simmered can counteract with your seasoning.
Never Clean it with Soap: Detergents are bad for the seasoning of your skillet and will cause food to stick to the bottom of the pan. Never use soap to clean your cast iron skillet. Instead, wait until it cools and wipes out the contents with warm water or a wash rag. Do not put your cast iron skillet in the dishwasher or in a sink of soapy water.
Always Dry Your Skillet: Cast iron can and will rust. The best way to preserve your cast iron skillet is to keep it from rusting by drying it thoroughly after each use. To dry your pan, put it on the burner and let it get to a scalding hot. Next, you will want to season your pan again by adding a tablespoon of oil and rubbing it in and letting it cool.
Do you have a cast iron skillet? What do you love about your cast iron skillet? Share your tricks and tips in the comments below!
More Helpful Cooking Tips:
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Peggy barr says
I have three pieces of cast iron cook ware. Dutch oven pot type, a large/regular frying pan, a small frying pan. I love them all. I just started cooking oven roasted cut potatoes and it is wonderful in the cast iron. 450% oven for 30 minutes with two tablespoons cooking oil salt pepper garlic powder tossed around. I use small red potatoes.
Cathy says
When making cornbread in your skillet, be sure to heat the pan first, either in the oven or on top of the stove. If you pan becomes rusty, you can “polish” it up just by using cooking oil on it.
Sherry Nappa says
I love cooking with cask iron. I use pots and skillets. They’re so versatile. Thanks for sharing with us at Funtastic Friday.
Leslie Soto says
Hi! I’m one of the co-hosts from the Welcome Home Wednesday Link Up. Your post stole my heart, as a southern girl who learned all about cooking in a cast iron skillet from my daddy. My hubby & I are now avid cast iron cooks. We were both devastated recently when we went to an antique shop and found 5-10 cast iron skillets that were nothing but rust buckets. Broke our hearts. Proper care of cast iron is so important. Thank You for sharing!
Tianna says
thanks for these tips! I recently purchased a cast iron so these help a lot!
A Narrow-Minded Woman says
I love cooking with cast iron. It is very rare that I cook on anything else. We just recently got a steel pan. It is great as well. It is a little lighter than cast iron but you treat it exactly the same. I don’t think acidic foods will react with it either. 🙂
Maggie@ Maggie Lois says
So my dad just gave me his grandmother’s cast iron skillet that is 99 years old! I need to clean it up a bit and this post is perfect because I’ve never cooked with one before. Thanks for sharing, stopping by from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia’s link-up!
Char says
I have a cast iron skillet…but I just cant not use soap on it. Visiting from#merrymonday
Alea Milham says
As long as you rinse it well and dry it completely, it will be fine. However, you will probably want to rub a little oil in it, before you use it.
Anne says
Thanks, for the great information! I use my cast iron constantly, but can never get my kids to stop using it to cook tomato sauce. Now, I have back up!
MPaula says
I have a few pieces of cast iron – a couple skillets and a couple pots – that I have never seasoned for use. From your article, the pots are not that useful in the kitchen. I will keep them for cooking outdoors — over a hot fire.