Cast iron pans have been making a comeback and there are many good reasons for it. Cast iron pans have been around for a very long time. Due to new modern cookware their presence started to decrease in the homes.
We love cast iron in our homes for so many reasons which I will mention below! Once you know how to clean, oil and cook with your cast iron pans you will never look back!
If you are interested about cast iron pans, their benefits, how to use and care for them then this post is just for you!
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History Of Cast Iron Pans
Cast iron pans where first produced in China a few thousand years ago. They blended it with steel to make them sturdier. It then ventured into Europe where people loved it because of its heating ability and was able to be manufactured easily.
When people started to colonise America they brought their cast iron pans as well. Then other types of pans came out and Cast iron lost its appeal as people wanted to the new pans.
But cast iron is now on the comeback because people realise, they are healthier, sturdier and can last a lifetime!
Benefits Of Cast Iron Pans
There are so many benefits to using cast iron so I’ll name just a few to get you excited about it!
- Cast iron pans are strong and durable. If taken care of properly, they can last a lifetime! Yep imagine just having to buy one set of pans for your entire life!
- These pans are naturally nonstick. If you season them properly you will find you can cook even eggs on them without them sticking.
- It retains the heat well. Once the pans are warmed up they stay nice and warm for a while. I can turn the stove off and allow food to finish off cooking which saves me on electricity.
- You can transfer cast iron pans from the stove top straight into the oven. This makes it awesome when cooking one pan meals!
- They are super affordable. You can buy these new for very reasonable prices or buy them 2nd hand at op shops and garage sales. These might need a little work done on your part to reseason but you can get them at bargain prices!
- Cast iron pans are actually very easy to clean. When seasoned properly food doesn’t stick to it making it easy to wipe down. But even if something does get stuck I have found using a scrubbing brush and some hot water and soap to do the trick pretty quickly!
- It can infuse some iron into your food. If you are lacking iron it’s a good way to add a little bit more minerals into your diet.
- You can buy lightweight cast iron pans now as the traditional ones are heavier.
- Did I mention they look beautiful on display. Wether you have them hanging in your kitchen or just displayed on the stove top they add some rustic charm to the home.
How To Clean A Cast Iron Pan
Depending on how much food is stuck on the pan will depend on how I clean. If nothing is really, I’ll just give the pan a quick wipe with a cloth and rub a little more oil onto the pan using a paper towel.
If there is some food stuck, you can use a little soap, warm water and a kitchen scrub. Then dry your pan with a cloth or paper towel and rub a little more oil onto the pan again.
If food is very stuck, add a little bit of water and put it back on the heat for a few minutes. Then just do the exact same thing as above to wash your pan.
The key is you want to always make sure you dry off the excess water so it doesn’t rot. I always add a little more oil onto the pan as well to keep the coating strong and protects the pan from rusting.
How To Season A Cast Iron Pan
So, when I say season your pan, I do not mean add spices like salt and pepper! Instead seasoning means you are adding oil to your pan to keep its coating strong, so the pan doesn’t rust and remains nonstick.
When you add oil to your pan and heat up that pan the oil binds to the iron creating a black shiny coating. Once it has several layers of oil bound to it, you will have a pretty good nonstick pan!
You do not need to do this over and over again after cooking in it. This is a onetime thing when you buy a new pan or need to show some tender, love and care to an old pan!
- First wash your cast iron pots and pans. If you just bought some new pans or maybe have some op shop ones that need some loving, make sure to scrub them well under hot soapy water.
- Give them a good dry with paper towel all over. I even let them dry on the stove on low for a few minutes to make sure they were very dry.
- Rub some oil with a high smoke point all over your pan. The inside, outside and handle of your pan needs to get wiped down. Some high smoke point oils include canola, sunflower, avocado oil and grapeseed oil all have a high smoke point. This is just for seasoning your pan.
- Preheat your oven to about 230c/ 450F. Once it reaches temperature place your pans downside on the rack and leave them for 30 minutes or so. This will allow any extra oil to drain down, so you don’t get pooled up oil in your pan and is allowing the oil to bind to your pan, so it becomes nonstick. This is the first layer of nonstick.
- Repeat this process another 3 more times to create a few more layers of nonstick coating to your pan.
- That’s it, once you have those layers your pan is now ready to cook in!
- Every time you cook in your pan and put fat on it, this will re-season your pan naturally!
How To Cook On A Cast Iron Pan
Before placing food on your cast iron pan you really should preheat it first. Cast iron pans hold the heat really well and evenly, so they cook food beautifully.
You can add a bit of butter or high smoke point oil to your pan while it’s heating and this will ensure the food you put onto your pan won’t stick to it.
Many foods cook really well on a cast iron pan. You can use it to sear meat and fry eggs. It works great when cooking stirfrys and deep-frying food because it holds the heat well.
Cast iron pans are very versatile and can go from oven to stove or stove top to oven. You can even make a delicious sourdough pizza crust using a cast iron pan! As long as your pan is heated up and oiled you will find it to cook majority of foods super well.
There are a few things I don’t cook in a cast iron pan and I will have that written a little farther down below for you!
Storing Your Iron Pans
You can store you pans in many different places. The most important thing is that they are stored in a dry place.
You can store your pans on the stove top or have them displayed on the wall. These pans can also be stored nicely in the oven or stacked in a cabinet.
If you are going to stack in the cabinet, it’s best to put a pan cloth down on each base to keep moisture low and protect your pans. Make sure before you put your pans away you have washed, dried and oiled your pans!
What To Avoid With Cast Iron Pans
While most foods can be cooked in cast iron there are some things you may want to avoid.
- You don’t really want to cook acidic foods on your cast iron pans because it can break down your nonstick coating. If you cook acidic food for a long period of time you might find it to get a slightly metallic taste from the pan as well.
- So, avoid cooking tomatoe based dishes for long periods of times or adding lots of lemon to a dish.
- Avoid cooking delicate fish in your pan as they can easily break apart and stick to your pan. It’s not the funnest to clean.
- Until you have a well-seasoned pan and get used to cooking in your pan I’d initially avoid cooking stick food like scrambled eggs, pancakes and sticky rice dishes. Once you know how to use your pan and it’s seasoned well you can cook these kinds of food in it.
Cast Iron Pan Suggestions
Here are the pans and tools I recommend if you plan on getting and using cast iron in your home!
3 piece cast iron set: This is a great 3 piece set when you are wanting to fry eggs, cook up steaks and more! Super affordable as well with great reviews. I use these 3 sizes regularly.
3 piece pot and pan protectors : If you want to stack your pans you will love these pot and pan protectors. They will keep your pans from getting scratched and keep them dry as well.
Bamboo Scrubbing Brush: You can use this to scrub all your dishes, it looks super cute and will work great to scrub off anything that happens to stick to your cast iron pans!
Conclusion
I hope you have found this post helpful and will enjoy using and cooking in a cast iron pan. I truly love my cast iron pans and will never look back.
They are not very expensive at all, are healthy to cook on, can last a lifetime when taken care of and are nonstick when seasoned properly.