Finally got around to getting one (preseasoned). Used it tonight and made the best steak I have ever made in my life on the first try. Good lord why did I wait so friggin' long!
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Finally got around to getting one (preseasoned). Used it tonight and made the best steak I have ever made in my life on the first try. Good lord why did I wait so friggin' long!
It won't truly be seasoned for another 20 years, sensei.
Way to take over the reigns from Larry
I have owned mine for over 15 years, and anticipate having both for the rest of my life.
Don't wash it. Rinse, wipe & oil. Things will get better.
The only oil I had was EVOO and Avacado oil so I used EVOO. Is ok? DIdn;t use soap, I used warm water and a new scrubbie lightly washing it down.
Olive oil is fine. Some say to use peanut oil for a while for the high smoke temperature.
Seer in the pan and finish in the oven. Works great for chicken legs, pork tenderloin, steak etc.
I do 90% of my frying in a cast iron pan. Planning on getting a second one with grills in the bottom.
Oil depends a bit on what you are cooking and at what temp - but IMO the best seasoning oil is bacon fat. Best way to wash it out if food burns into the coating is to boil some salted water for about 5min - the crud will then wipe right off.
[QUOTE=BCMountainHound;3170755but IMO the best seasoning oil is bacon fat.[/QUOTE]
Step 1: Cook bacon in cast iron
Step 2: Cook potatoes in bacon fat in cast iron
Step 3: Cook eggs in the remaining fat.
Step 4: Enjoy...
I made a frittata the other morning that was amazing. Browned onions, mushrooms and red peppers in the pan. Added 6 eggs with bit of milk. Cooked about half way through then grated some parmesan on top and stuck it under the broiler to finish. Some bacon in there would have been good but that goes without saying.
I'm the third generation to use my cast iron skillet. It was my grandmother's older sister's. She was born in 1901 and I believe she may have gotten it new as a wedding present but I don't really know for sure when she acquired it. When she died back in the 80's my grandmother gave it to my mom. Then it was my mom's for about 20 years. It's been in my possession for almost a decade now. It's about 5" deep and around 10" at the narrow part of the bottom. It's automatic. I just have to show up and it does the rest. Hopefully I'll be able to pass it on to one of my children.
Our cast-iron skillet belonged to my wife's grandparents. Grandma's been dead a long time, Grandpa died about 10 years ago at 96. No idea how old the thing is (50-75 yrs.?) but it's going strong
Cast iron is the way to go. Cooking bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with chorizo and goat cheese as I type.
My Mom uses one that was my great grandmothers from my Dad's side. Old prairie woman, boater, sod houser. Had this big ass old stove that she preferred to toss frozen cow turds into in the winter and make lefse on the top. Lefse is like a Norwegian potato tortilla. She had a bun on her head the size of three tennis balls, saw her with that long white stuff down on day and about passed out. Listened to Twins Baseball with Herb on the am everyday. Tough old prairie broad, lived to 96. Almost to the month her daughter (my grandma) made it to.
Anyway, my Mom will roll out of the rack and make me and my hooligan hammered friends breaky any time of night/daybreak in that thing. Throw a couple lbs of farmer bacon in there followed by some farm eggs in that oil, eesh. My wife is always after me to try and make eggs like that. Like the hamburger gravy she makes in that thing, I don't come close.
I hit about 3 garage sales a year and it is funny to see one there. I think about yelling to people do you know that you can use a fricken channel lock in these and not scratch the "no stick coating".
Those ribbed for your pleasure ones are the suck. Holy shit I hated mine. Think it is in the dog kennel as a threat.
Yeah- screw the oil- just cook bacon on it.
I keep a cast griddle out on my grill- I just cook some salt pork on it when it gets a little rust on it.
LMAO @ Hugh.
and in times of need ...
its a great weapon ...
did I say that out loud ???
I've been begging my mom to let me have some of her cast iron pans. She has a ton of them, and they just sit in a box in their garage, but won't give me any cuz they're "antiques." Pretty sure I couldn't break them if I tried, but thankfully my girlfriend's parents gave me a nice skillet for christmas. I use it several times a week, and like Gameface, have been making the best steak I've ever had.
Just made a frittata in the skillet. 2 thumbs up
Just go snag one of those pans, that ain't right. Those things were meant to cook with, not sit in a garage and rust. I doubt she has them counted, anyway, and I doubt she ever looks in the box. So, liberate one every three months or so. If you intend to take care of them and use them, then it's the only conscionable thing to do.