If you’ve never cooked with a cast iron pan, you do not know what you’re missing. The cast iron pan is one of the most versatile, multi-use cooking mediums one could possibly use in the kitchen. Not only can it be used to perfectly sear meats and veggies, it can be used to fry, deep fry, and even bake. Even more impressive, there are hundreds of tasty and decadent dessert recipes that feature the use of a cast iron pan!
Coming in a number of sizes, cast iron cooking pans are a MUST HAVE for the cooking enthusiast. Here are some ways you can put it to use:
- Use your cast iron pan to cook a perfect steak. Cooking a steak in your cast iron pan is a great alternative to grilling that can produce the same juicy tenderness that you want with a steak. Use butter, garlic cloves, and a stem of rosemary to season your steak while you sear. Be sure to constantly pour the melted butter over your steak to add great flavor!
2. While roasting veggies is healthy and tasty, switch things up a bit and toss them into your cast iron skillet at a high temperature for a few minutes. The high temperature of the pan will cook the outside of your veggies quickly while maintaining their natural colors and flavors along with a hearty crunch.
- Cast iron pans are naturally oven-safe; so don’t be afraid or hesitant to experiment a bit! For instance, you can use your cast iron pan to take a shot at Chicago Deep Dish pizza, a protein or veggie packed baked casserole, or a delicious baked brownie/cookie dessert pie!
This versatile cooking medium will open up new doors to your cooking process. They are sold as round pans, longer skillets, and with grill grooves to add a bit of texture to your seared meats and veggies!
Good info for beginners. 12” Cast iron pan is a must-have in anyone’s kitchen.
I’m 84 and am still using my mother’s pan. Also have a griddle, grill and dutch oven all in cast iron. Growing up there were no other types of skillets. Have had to learn again how to clean but this is the best way to cook, fry or grill.
Only thing I use for cooking; many of my pans were made in the early 1930’s .. still going strong. The ‘key’ is to get them well seasoned and keep them that way. NO SOAP when you wash them!!
fae
how do you clean it.
This is only part of the story, what about the maintenance of the cast iron skillet like seasoning it for example. Thanks.
A cast iron skillet used every day and cared for well. Will be a great skillet for your great great grand children!
I love to use the cast iron pan but I need a recipe to show me how to use to cook food. Especially steak.
How do you clean a cast iron pan?
Mine are old, how do I clean them up and clean after cooking in them.
I have a Cast Iron Stove top Griddle that I use for almost everything from Frying Eggs to Baking a Pizza. Nothing cooks like Cast Iron!
I have my Grandmother’s cast iron skillets and I don’t know any other way to make cornbread or pineapple upside down cake I am famous for.