What should you cook first in a cast iron skillet?

Start with Vegetables

Any seared, sautéed, or pan-roasted vegetable recipe is a great place to start breaking in your skillet. Vegetables won't stick to your cooking surface like fatty proteins, and are easy to spread out over the entire cooking surface, helping to build even seasoning.

How do you use a cast iron skillet for the first time?

Can you just start cooking on a cast iron skillet?

Cooking with a Cast Iron Skillet. Whenever you're cooking in your cast iron skillet on a stovetop, make sure you preheat the cast iron for 5-10 minutes on a low to medium heat before adding food to the pan. Cast iron pans don't typically heat evenly, but they do keep the heat really well.

Do you have to do anything to a cast iron skillet before first use?

Well, traditionally, before using a cast-iron skillet, you'd have to wash it, dry it, coat it in vegetable oil, and bake it for an hour upside-down for an hour. This is known as seasoning.

What should you cook in a cast iron skillet?

How To Cook With Cast Iron

What Cannot be cooked in cast iron?

What can you not put on a cast iron skillet?

Should I oil my cast iron after every use?

— To get the best out of your cast iron skillet, it's recommended that you oil it after each use. However, depending on how frequently you use it, 2-3 times a year is sufficient. How can I tell when my skillet is seasoned properly? — A well-seasoned skillet will be noticeably dark with a shiny, semi-gloss finish.

What is the best oil to season cast iron?

All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.

Is olive oil good for seasoning cast iron?

Do not use olive oil or butter to season your cast-iron pan — they're great to cook with, just not for initial seasoning. Place the pan upside down on the top rack of the oven and bake for 1 hour. Turn off the oven, leaving the pan in the oven to cool completely as the oven cools down.

What is the disadvantage of cast iron?

Disadvantages of cast iron cookware

Cast iron is heavier than other cookware. Bare cast iron is not the best for boiling water and cooking acidic foods. Cast iron cookware will need re-seasoning. Cast iron pans take longer to heat up.

Do you have to season cast iron every time?

Every time you use your cast-iron skillet, you're wearing some of the seasoning down, and eventually it won't function as well. So season it again whenever you see dull spots. Or do what I do: season it whenever it's out and your oven is on.

How do you keep food from sticking to cast iron?

Prior to cooking, add about a teaspoon of oil to your skillet and heat it gradually on the stovetop or in the oven to help reduce sticking. After cooking, allow the cookware to cool, then use a pan scraper to remove stuck-on food, scrub with a nylon brush or nonscratch pad, hand dry, and add a generous layer of oil.

Should you season a new cast iron skillet?

Classic cast iron skillets need to be seasoned before you can use them. (This is what makes them nonstick!). But many cast iron skillets come “pre-seasoned” now, with the hardest part done for you. Beyond that, the key really is just using the pan.

Can I use a cast iron skillet without seasoning it?

It works just fine. Here's the thing: if you have the time and the patience, seasoning and maintaining your skillet will really pay you back in spades. But truthfully, if you decide to skip this step, your pan will be okay (or even better than okay) if you use it regularly and know a few tips beforehand.

Do I have to season a cast iron skillet before using it?

Cast iron pans need seasoning. Seasoning is the black patina that builds up on your cast iron skillet with regular use, a non-stick surface that's slick enough for eggs to skate across the pan, but tough enough to withstand the blazing heat needed to properly sear a steak.

Why do my eggs stick to my cast iron skillet?

Mighty Nest lists the three most common reasons why your eggs may be getting stuck: Your cast iron skillet isn't seasoned enough, there's not enough fat, or you have the pan over the wrong heat temperature. During the preheat stage, the pan should be over medium-high heat.

Can you use PAM to season cast iron?

Do not try to use nonstick sprays like Pam to season your cast iron skillet, as they contain other ingredients that aren't good for your pan.

Is bacon grease good for seasoning cast iron?

Part of caring for your cast iron skillet is seasoning it to keep the surface smooth and to give it a non-stick sheen. Although you can use oil or shortening to season your cast iron skillet, bacon grease works just as well.

How many times should you season a new cast iron skillet?

All in all, you'll want to do this oiling-and-heating process three to four times, to set down a good initial layer of your own seasoning. Once you're done, just let the pan cool down. It's now ready for cooking.

Do you wash a cast iron skillet after seasoning?

Our cast iron cookware should be washed by hand. A dishwasher will remove the seasoning and likely cause rust.

Do you need to wash a cast iron skillet?

When it comes to new and used skillets — a little soap and water is a good thing. This first wash removes factory residue or rust bits. Make sure you rinse and dry the pan well after this first washing. You'll likely only need to wash your skillet with soap once or twice a year if you take good care of it.

Is it OK to use butter in a cast iron skillet?

Yes, you can cook with butter in your cast iron skillet or Dutch oven. Keep in mind that butter burns at temperatures above 350°F (177°C), so you shouldn't use high heat when you're frying foods with it. Either turn down the heat or substitute it with an oil that has a higher smoke point.

Can you fry eggs in a cast iron skillet?

With a few simple tricks to choose the right oil and get your pan to that just-right temperature, you'll get eggs with crispy edges and runny yolks every time (if that's your jam). But don't worry, cast iron makes the perfect egg no matter how you like them done!

Does food taste better in cast iron?

Foods taste better in cast iron, and those skillets, Dutch ovens and muffin pans can be used for more recipes than you might expect. Cast iron pots and pans are not only versatile in the kitchen, they absorb and hold heat well, making them ideal for dishes you would like to keep warm long after they hit the table.