Cast iron cookware pieces have graced kitchen shelves since the Wild West was tamed and they are mainstay items that every creative cook likes to use to prepare family dinners in record time and enjoy home cooked flavor in every bite. Cooks typically use vegetable oil when cooking, but olive oil and butter are other fine choices.
The choices in cast iron cookware range from the 10 inch cast iron skillet your grandma chose to fry her famous chicken in, to the more unique pieces that feature ribbed surfaces that outline your steaks with stripes that would put any restaurant to shame. Cast iron skillets are so special that they have their own cookbook to help you prepare a skillet full too.
For the outdoorsy kitchen cook masters, there are cast iron Hibachi Style charcoal grills that will light up your life will full flavor hamburgers, kabobs or grilled shrimp with no aluminum foil lining needed. These charcoal grills only require routine maintenance with seasoned vegetable oil and a dry rag to maintain their brilliant natural black coloring and rustic appearance. With very little effort, savvy cooks can keep the natural non-stick surface in perfect operating performance.
When cooking breakfast, country cooks can use a cast iron grill press to present their guests with flat bacon slices that are truly delicious, and top the meal off with a stack of pancakes that are fresh off a cast iron grill. This method is a favorite of most fast food dine-in restaurants and you can achieve this delectable cooking art form with little to no effort at all.
There are cast iron combo cookers that are three cooking tools in one. One day you might use it as a skillet, and the next morning, convert the lid of the combo cooker over and use it as a griddle to prepare an assortment of egg choices that your family will definitely enjoy. Another day, you might choose to use it as a Dutch oven and prepare a hearty stew for your family to enjoy whenever they like.
Cast iron cookware is easy to maintain and will provide years of service with proper care. Enjoy golden cornbread several nights a week if you like, or bake up some home made biscuits that will delight the entire family. There are cast iron slice wedge pans that will save you the time cutting your cornbread slices, if you want to be pampered some on any particular day.
With a little vegetable cooking oil and elbow grease applied to your cast iron cookware, the cast iron surface will resist rusting and develop a smooth cooking surface that will maintain its shape for many years to come. Cooks that keep cast iron cookware in their kitchen will be ready to cook on a moments notice.
Cast iron cookware heats up fast, and will hold the heat in the metal surface to warm the food if dinner will be delayed for some reason. Cast iron cookware is a marvelous gift choice that can be handed down from generation to generation.
Cast Iron Cookware Seasoning
Cast iron cookware has been used for over a thousand years in Europe and possibly longer in China and Asia. This cookware remains popular to this day, primarily because of the satisfaction of the cooks who enjoy using a product which heats evenly and produces delicious tasting foods. While cast iron cookware started out as a basic pot and later evolved to a pot with a lid on it, today there are countless numbers of different sizes and shapes of cast iron cookware available. There is an excellent selection of cast iron at Your Smart Kitchen.
Originally cast iron referred to the use of molded iron to create various shapes and sizes of cooking pots. Perhaps the most well recognized piece is the ten or twelve inch frying pan, often wielded by females in comic strips and on TV. This type of cast iron cookware is still available today. It remains the “gold standard” of frying pans, and many world-class chefs swear by it to produce the finest finish to fried meats and fish. Just the act of heating the frying pan on the stovetop, until a drop of water “bounces” on the surface, along with the sound of the “sizzle” is a satisfying experience! It also creates the anticipation of a mouth-watering meal!
The classic cast iron Dutch oven is perhaps another of the most commonly used pieces of cast iron cookware. This large deep pot with its lid provides unlimited versatility. It probably became popular for the tantalizing stews and chilies it produced when placed over an open campfire by cowboys in the Old West. Even over the uneven heat of charcoal or wood embers, the Dutch oven heated the meal evenly and retained the heat in the pot until the last tired cowpoke was served. Today, many fine cooks still insist upon a Dutch oven for roasting meats or preparing special holiday barbeque dishes such as slow baked beans with onions, molasses and bacon.
Cast iron cookware can be used on gas or electric cook tops, as well as the new induction method cook tops. It can also be used in a conventional oven as well as convection ovens. Due to the rugged nature of the classic black cast iron cookware, avoid using these pans on glass cook surfaces, as they may scratch.
As you use cast iron cookware, you will become enamored with its ability to redistribute and hold heat, which results in frying perfection. It also is known for producing tender meat dishes as they slowly simmer and braise in their juices.
In addition to the classic black cast iron cookware, another variation is the porcelain coated cast iron cookware made by Chasseur or by Color Cast. As you may have guessed by the name, these products are coated with two layers of smooth, beautiful enamel which makes them extremely durable and also easy to clean. Both the Chasseur and Color Cast brands are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and beautiful colors at Your Smart Kitchen.
Both Mary Lorainne & Terry Retter are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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