Saturday, November 6, 2010

How to Care for Cast Iron Cookware

Do any of you have cast iron cookware? I do, and I love it! I just have one piece, a little pan I use for scrambled eggs and omelets. Some people think cast iron is hard to use, but it's really easier to wash than other dishes. You just wipe it out with a wet dish rag (no soap!) and then dry. You have to dry it or it will rust. After washing & drying, I place mine in our oven, which is usually warm, to make sure it is completely dry, and sometimes I put a little bit of oil in the pan after this.

Wow, look at this old time mother in her old fashioned kitchen. Actually, I'm not sure if she's a mother, but she is a wife! Weren't kitchens different from what we now have in our modern kitchens?
Mrs. Yandle Cooking on Coal Stove, Yacolt Mt, Future Recipients of Electricity from Bonneville Dam


Mrs. Yandle Cooking on Coal Stove, Yacolt Mt, Future Recipients of Electricity from Bonneville Dam
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My pan came pre-seasoned, but here is a post at Keeper of the Home on how to season your cast iron, as well as other care instructions. She mentions the good reason to get cast iron--non-stick pans are bad for your health. They actually release chemicals into the air and into your food when you cook with them. Good alternatives to non-stick cookware and bakeware are stainless steel, cast iron, glass, and stoneware, but not aluminum. If you're just now finding out that non-stick cookware is unhealthy by me telling you, please understand that I'm not trying to make you feel bad! I just like to pass along information to help people make better choices for their family's health when they are able to. If you can not afford to switch over your cookware right away, I completely understand. I was not able to purchase new cookware until we received a tax refund a couple of years ago. And I still have some non-stick and aluminum cookware/bakeware that I have not been able to replace yet, even though they badly need to be replaced because of the sorry state they are in. But most people in America have more money than us, so if you can afford it, then yea! you have an excuse to purchase a new set of cookware.

What are you making in the kitchen today?


7 comments:

  1. We use cast iron too. I use others as well, but realized some time ago it is the healthier alternative.

    Jordan Rubin from Maker's Diet was the first I heard speak of cast iron cookware. My wok is also cast iron.

    Well, I think in the kitchen we're going to have pancakes and eggs for dinner tonight.

    Thanks for the link to Keeper of the Home. Great article.

    Love and Hugs,

    Jasmine

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  2. I was always afraid of cast iron, now this post makes it look so easy that I think I might get one pan :-)

    Over here we are cleaning up around the house this morning(I just took a short break to take a snack and check blog at the same time) Because I did a big pot of pumpkin soup last night we are having it for lunch today (nice to be able to relax for one meal) then this afternoon it will be preparation for the Sabbath day (getting food and clothes ready) and maybe we are going to bake a little something :-)

    have a great weekend
    Mrs. Stam

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  3. thank you for this! I do love my pans also. I wonder though, I had to buy an electric stove this time (not my favorite, I prefer gas) & am unable to use the pans on my cook top. I am wondering though if I can use them inside the stove. Hmmmm.....I think I need to do some research. There is no other way too cook! Love them!

    Rejoicing in Him, Patrizia

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  4. Ah, Jasmine! The Maker's Diet is a very good book. Love it! I first read about it in Nourishing Traditions. How nice to have a cast iron wok. I still have my old non-stick for that.

    Pancakes & eggs sound so good. We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast today.

    How is your family, Jasmine? I hope you are hanging in there.

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  5. Oh, Mrs. Stam, it's pretty easy! I was intimidated by it at first too, but it's pretty quick to clean up! Just make sure to use lots of butter (yum!) In my small cast iron egg pan I usually use 2 tablespoons if I'm cooking 2 eggs or more. And pumpkin soup sounds delicious! I would like to try that some day.

    Patrizia, you can't use cast iron on an electric stovetop? That would be awful :(
    We have a gas oven, all I've ever had. Well I guess I can be really glad for it now! And yes, you can definitely use cast iron inside the oven (at least for gas, but I don't know why it would be any different for electric).

    God bless you~

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  6. In reference to the poster who says they can't use castiron on the electric cooktop - I've been using mine for 4 years with no trouble, and my mother in law for much longer. No problems! :-) And they go stove-top to oven, no problem. (I'm a big fan of cast iron. I have 3 pans in varying sizes and a dutch oven, and I use them almost exclusively.)

    Just wanted to give you hope that you can use it on an electric stovetop too, and everything turns out great:)

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  7. I go to my Dad's house one evening a week to prepare dinner for him and me. Last night I used his cast iron kettle (with lid) to make potatoes, carrots, onions and ground beef in the oven. He thinks I'm the BEST cook in the world :)

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