I'm sure many of you have read numerous articles extolling the virtues of cooking with cast iron. The most compelling reason being the lack of PFC's (perfluorocarbons). I don't know anyone who wants to fill their home and bodies with the toxins found in non-stick pans. The appealing benefits of cast iron are many.
Health wise the benefit comes during the cooking process when trace amounts of good for your blood iron are leached from the pan into your food. Isn't that a cool fact. Now lets talk money. Economically you can't beat the price. On average a twelve inch skillet runs somewhere in the vicinity of $25.00 to $30.00 dollars. Then there is the longevity factor. When properly taken care of a cast iron pan can last generations.
If you need evidence on how foods crisp and brown just look at my lemon cutlets above. Seasoned correctly cast iron becomes non-stick and a cinch to clean. A little hot water and a stiff brush takes care of anything that might stick. I hope if you don't already cook with cast iron you will give it a try. I know you will be pleased you did.
I've often been tempted to buy a cast iron pan when we've been on holiday i France, but I'm put off by the sheer weight of the things. If I can barely lift them in the shop, I'm not going to be much use when it's full of hot food.
ReplyDeleteI am still tempted though xxx
Your dinner looks amazing! I have a few enameled cast iron pieces, I'm sure I'm missing out on the iron benefits though. I still love them:@)
ReplyDeleteCooking with cast iron is on my list for one of the next cooking adventures I would like to master! I tried back when I was much younger and newly married and burned something to a crisp which I guess kind of scarred me! Now, I need to reconsider that and give it another try. Living down here in NC, corn bread in a skillet is very big!
ReplyDeleteit does look amazing... the thing is that you can get so many pots now that have that look of cast iron without the worry... still, nothing better than the real thing x
ReplyDeleteI love the idea, but I have such a hard time keeping a cast iron pan properly seasoned ... ideas?
ReplyDeleteThe best way to keep a seasoned cast iron pan seasoned is to use it all the time. I use mine for everything except a simmering tomato sauce recipe. We make our eggs in it as well as pancakes, french toast and our pork loin. A little hot water to clean and a swipe of vegetable oil afterwards keeps mine in great non stick condition.
DeleteI love my cast iron pans too - I'm wondering if Susan might be using soap to wash her pans? Just hot water works well or to scrub stuck on food I sprinkle coarse salt and rub with a sponge or dishcloth - hot water rinse and it's done. I use coconut oil to re-season it after each salt wash. Your lemon cutlets look so yummy!
ReplyDeleteHoping you'll post the recipe for your cutlets?? Please!??
ReplyDeleteI LOVE my cast iron! You are right, so economical too. I enjoy my stainless steel pans, but the flavor from cast iron is unbeatable! Oh, your chicken looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI use one of my mother's original cast iron skillets. I can't tell you how old it is. Mother cooked everything in it; used a damp paper towel to wipe it clean. I can remember anything ever sticking. The iron skillet seems to be having a bit of a come back.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE mine.. People get frustrated UNTIL they learn how to use them. They are much easier to cook in (and clean!) than people think and so much better for our health.
ReplyDeletexxleslie
Most of my cast iron has come from my mother and grandmother. I did buy a two sides grill last year for doing pizza on the charcoal grill.
ReplyDeleteI found you browsing through various other blogs. Nice work!
Look at that awesome crust!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more! I love cast iron. Your picture looks yummy. I hope you make my skillet cake.
ReplyDeleteXO Rita
I love my cast iron skillets. I don't know what I would do without them.
ReplyDeleteI love the way your cutlets look nice and brown. Have you ever made Pioneer Woman's Rosemary rolls in one. Total heaven.
I've been using cast iron exclusively for over 30 years. I don't think I could cook with anything else. Mine came seasoned (well used) and I have never done anything but cook in them. I wash with dish soap and hot water. They are smoother than a babies butt.
ReplyDeleteI came over from Rita May's to see what you made in your skillet. I have pulled my out that my MIL gave me years ago. I think she got them from her mother so they are really old. I just made Panko Crust Fish. The original recipe said you could cook it in an iron skillet on a grill. It turned out wonderfully. Your dish looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI have beautiful antique cast iron that hand from a swing arm of my kitchen fireplace but would you believe I have never cooked with them.
ReplyDeleteCast Iron is my favorite way of cooking. I have some of my grandmothers skillets. I would love to have the big deep cast iron pot I have seen to fry my chicken in
ReplyDeleteBeen thinking about you wondering how your doing and then you show up on my site. haha
I love when that happens to me.
It just doesn't work with the lotto numbers though.
Got to catch up with you while I am lucky enough to be blogging.
Love ya
Maggie
I have a VERY large skillet that was my Grand Mothers. I tried finding one for my daughter. Only to learn they don't make them any longer. Probably because there to heavy. It takes two hands to lift mine. That doesn't stop me from using it all the time. I can see a fight over it between my girls when I am gone.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, try Cabella's the sporting and hunting store. I have never seen so many cast iron pans. Large, very large, gigantic!
DeleteI LOVE cooking with cast iron, and your photo is SO enticing, I feel like rustling up something to eat now! Lovely post! Karen
ReplyDeleteI want to make that meat. It reminds me of something yummy I had when I was small!
ReplyDeleteI love my cast iron, I still have the ones I bought when I left home and a couple of my mothers. I had someone give me a set of non=stick and I hated them! it is good to see so many people who still cook on them.
ReplyDeleteCooking with cast iron is a great idea. It can also helps in maintenance of iron pans.
ReplyDeleteIron casting