How To Care For Cast Iron Cookware

A brand new set of cast iron cookware presents a possibility for some of the best culinary creating in the world. Offering a down home taste and a simple way to create masterpieces in the kitchen, this type of cookware is amazingly versatile, but does require a little know how to learn how to use.

Cast iron cookware is handled differently than any other kind of cooking equipment out there. These pots and pans will require special treatment before the first meal is ever placed in them. The process to prepare these pans for cooking is known as seasoning.

The seasoning of cast iron cookware can be handled in a few different ways. The two main methods are:

* Straight oiling. In this process of preparing cast iron cookware, oil, fat or even lard is rubbed into the pans and then wiped off to a slight extent. The pans are then used to cook foods that are naturally greasy for the first few times out of the box. Food such as bacon, fatty sausage and so on is ideal. This is recommended to be done at least five to seven times before trying to cook something else.

* Oiling and baking in. This is the most common method for seasoning cast iron cookware. In this method, the pan is oiled or greased and then it's baked in an oven at roughly 225 degrees for about a half hour. The pan is then removed and wiped out slightly. The pan is then returned to the over for another half hour or so. Even with this method, it is still recommended the first few things cooked in the pan be rather fatty by design.

Once cast iron has been properly seasoned, it's capable of being used to cook almost anything. Many cooks use their cast iron pans to do everything from frying chicken to actually baking corn bread or biscuits. These versatile cooking items are ideal for stove-top cooking and baking, as well.

Cleaning cast iron will require a method that most stainless steel cooks might find rather unusual. Instead of tossing it in a dishwasher or scrubbing and scraping it out, this type of cookware requires a delicate touch to ensure the seasoning isn't lost.

To clean cast iron cookware, all that really is recommended is a good boiling of water in the pan. Once the water is boiled, it's removed and the pan is wiped out. It's that simple.

If this process doesn't get rid of stuck on food, these pans can be scraped, but if the seasoning is harmed in the process, it's a good idea to redo that process to ensure a well-cooked meal the next time around. To preserve the seasoning and the pan itself, food should not be stored in cast iron.

Cast iron cookware provides one surefire way to obtain a good, down home flavor out of food. Ideal for frying, stewing and even baking, these pans do require special treatment. Cast iron isn't quite like anything else out there for flavoring and even cleaning.

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