17 Ways to Cook with Cast Iron is your primer to caring and cooking with these tried and true cast iron heroes.
Cast iron skillets and pots are kitchen superheroes, able to leap from stovetop to oven in a single bound! These mighty workhorses can handle anything you throw their way, from crusty bread to succulent meats. And with their virtually indestructible construction, they’ll be cooking circles around your flimsy nonstick pans for decades to come.
But with great cooking power comes great responsibility! Mastering the cast iron arts takes a bit of practice. Follow these 17 brilliant tips and you’ll be slinging hash like a seasoned pro in no time.
The Cast Iron Family
Before we get to the tips, let’s meet the cast iron clan:
Skillets – The kitchen’s quintessential Jack-of-all-trades, invaluable for searing, baking, frying, and more. Opt for pre-seasoned versions to hit the ground running.
Dutch Ovens – Perfect for deep frying, baking bread, stewing, braising…you name it! The heavy lids lock in moisture.
Grill Pans & Griddles – Ridged or flat, these give you killer grill marks sans grill. Indoor smash burgers, here we come!
Iron Man Care Instructions
Like any superhero, cast iron needs TLC to stay in tip-top form. Here’s how:
Seasoning – Oil is the key to creating a premium nonstick patina. Rub on a thin coat after cleaning and bake at 300°F for an hour to seal ‘er up.
Cleaning – No soap! Just scrub off stuck-on bits with coarse salt and oil. For real messes, sprinkle with baking soda and scrub with a stiff brush.
Rust-Busting – If your skillet gets rusty, scour with steel wool and re-season. Good as new!
Let’s Get Cooking! 17 Ways to Cook with Cast Iron
Now that we’re housekeeping pros, it’s time for the main event – cooking! Here are 17 brilliant ways to put your cast iron to work:
1. Seared Steaks – Get a crusty, caramelized exterior that puts even the priciest steakhouse to shame.
2. Fried Chicken – The stove-to-oven flexibility is perfect for crisping up juicy, battered birds.
3. Pizza – Preheat your skillet in the oven and use it as an impromptu pizza stone for a Neapolitan-caliber crust.
4. Dutch Baby Pancakes – Whip up this creamy, puffy, oven-baked delight for breakfast or dessert.
5. Cheesy Skillet Cornbread – Crisp and crunchy on the exterior, unbelievably moist on the inside.
6. Shepherd’s Pie – Let the enameled cast iron distribute heat from all sides for an amazingly fluffy top layer of potatoes.
7. Roasted Veggies – Toss ’em in olive oil, salt, and pepper and roast at 500°F for delicious caramelized goodness.
8. Cinnamon Rolls – Turn your cast iron skillet into an adorable baked-from-scratch cinnamon roll oven!
9. Smash Burgers – The screaming hot, sizzling pan gives you super-juicy, ultra-crispy smash burgers at home.
10. Frittatas – Start them on the stove and finish in the oven for light, custardy perfection.
11. Caramel Apples – Heat sugar and butter in your skillet for homemade caramel without scorching.
12. Ultimate Skillet Brownies – Dense and fudgy with a delightfully crispy crust. You’ll want to skip the boxed mixes after trying these!
13. Nachos – Layer on the toppings and bake for epic, shareable portions of gooey, crunchy nacho bliss.
14. Stir-Fries – Crank up the heat for sultry sizzling and incomparable flavor development on your stir-fried ingredients.
15. Roast Chicken – You’ll get supernaturally crisp, crackling skin and fall-off-the-bone tenderness every time.
16. Giant Baked Pancake – A rustic, puffed-up cross between a popover and a pancake. Fun for the whole fam!
17. Campfire Baking – Pack up the ol’ skillet next time you go camping! It’s the perfect vessel for baking biscuits, cornbread, and even pizza over the fire.
Dutch Oven Delicacies
For you, Dutch oven devotees, try your hand at:
- Crusty No-Knead Bread
- Layered Enchilada Bake
- Tender Beef Bourguignon
- Louisiana Gumbo
- Melt-in-Your-Mouth Beef Brisket
- Creamy Shrimp and Grits
A Few Words of Caution
As great as cast iron is, there are a few things it’s not ideal for:
- Anything super acidic like tomato sauce (deglazes are ok)
- Delicate fish that can overcook and stick easily
- Eggs are not ideal in a cast iron skillet
Pro Tip: Enamel-coated cast iron can be used to cook foods that can react with bare cast iron.
In Conclusion, 17 Ways to Cook with Cast Iron
Cast iron cookware awakens your inner master chef and heritage cooking skills. It’s economical, almost indestructible, and a great way to ditch gross nonstick chemicals. With these brilliant 17 tips under your belt, mastering cast iron’s rustic cooking powers has never been easier. Give your cast iron babies some love, and they’ll love you right back with downhome deliciousness for years to come!
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