Cast iron skillets are great to cook in because they retain heat well and do not have the chemical worries that Teflon and stainless steel pans have. In fact, cast iron skillets leach small amounts of iron into your cooking which is actually good for you. The only drawback of cast iron skillets is that prior to use they must be seasoned, and they require special care between uses.
Seasoning Cast Iron
Although you can buy some cast iron pre-seasoned, not all of them are, and any skillet that you buy used needs to be seasoned prior to use. To season a cast iron skillet you want to follow the steps below:
- First wash the skillet with a mild soap and hot water. (This is the only time you will use soap on your cast iron skillet).
- Now dry the skillet thoroughly with a clean lint free towel and apply a light coating of solid or liquid vegetable oil to the entire pan including the bottom, sides and handle.
- Put the cast iron skillet into a preheated 400 degree oven upside down on the top rack.
- Place a cookie sheet or other pan on the rack below the cast iron skillet to catch any oil that may drip off.
- Cook for one hour and then turn off heat and allow the cast iron to cool in the oven.
Caring for Your Cast Iron Skillet
Now that your cast iron skillet is ready to use, there are a few tips you need to know to keep it top shape.
- Never clean your cast iron skillet with soap. A stiff brush and hot water should be sufficient to clean it in most circumstances.
- If you do burn something on and regular cleaning does not work, add water to the skillet and boil it on the stove top. Once it has boiled for a couple of minutes, take it to the sink and work on it again with a stiff brush.
- After cleaning and drying thoroughly, add a small amount of vegetable oil to the skillet.
- Before each use add a small amount of vegetable oil to the skillet and preheat before adding food to the skillet.
By following the above tips for seasoning and caring for your cast iron skillets, you should expect years of use out them. You should be able to use your cast iron to cook anything on the stove top or in the oven. Please keep in mind that if you do use you cast iron to cook high acid foods like tomatoes, it may need extra oiling after use. The acid in the tomatoes will remove much of the seasoning. If you start to experience sticking on your cast iron skillet, it is probably time to re-season it.
One note when buying used cast iron. Please make sure that any cast iron you buy used is made in the USA. Some cast iron skillets from China were found to have other minerals than iron in them and could be dangerous.
