Granny Opal's Cast Iron Skillet
Oct 18 '01
The Bottom Line Cast iron cookware can become a family heirloom to your great-grandchildren. It is simple to season, easy too maintain and cooks like a dream.
Cast Iron Seasoning and General Care
Sitting in my Granny Opal’s kitchen was one of my favorite past times as a little girl. My first steps into the world of good southern cooking were generally in her country kitchen and the king of that kitchen had to be her cast iron skillet. That skillet had a full time job in my granny’s kitchen. It was the bread pan, the chicken fryer, the roaster and even a cake pan at times. There was hardly a cooking challenge that cast iron skillet could not handle. If it was not large enough, there were many other cast iron pans in the kitchen that could handle the job.
Caring for the cast iron cookware was something I learned by example. Later on in life when purchasing my very own set of cast iron the rush of memories and well learned tasks came back to me like a warm hug in an autumn chill.
Taking great care of your cast iron cookware is simple and rewarding. It is very possible that your cast iron skillet will last many generations. My mother still uses my Granny Opal’s skillets and these will be given to me to hand down to my children when the time is right.
The First Step
SEASONING YOUR CAST IRON COOKWARE
The seasoning process creates a wonderful non-stick surface for your cookware.
Preheat oven : 350 degrees
1. Remove any labels from the cast iron you plan to season. Wash in hot soapy water, using a mild detergent and a stiff non-metal brush.
2. Oil the cookware, inside and out, with softened vegetable shortening using your fingertips or a paper towel. It is not necessary to use animal fats, but of course it is acceptable. It is possible to use olive oil and even mineral oil, just choose what you have on hand.
( I prefer shortening or mineral oil, it keep the pan from getting sticky in the seasoning process.)
3. Place your skillets and lids if you have them upside down on top of foil to catch drippings. Make sure the oven is at 350 degrees. Let the cookware bake for one hour, then let it cool to room temperature inside the oven.
4. Store uncovered in a dry place when cooled.
I recommend repeating this process 4 times before using the skillets. It gives a good first coating before you begin to use it regularly.
Your cast iron can work just as well as your non-stick cookware if seasoned properly. Cooking fried food for the first few uses can also help the seasoning process along, giving it just a little more help to perfect the non-stick surface. Your cast iron can work just as well as your non-stick cookware if seasoned properly.
RUST SPOTS
If you notice rust spots on your cookware, scour with a piece of steel wool, until all traces of rust disappear. Wash, dry and the repeat the seasoning process.
HELPFUL HINTS
Never leave food in the cast iron sitting, take it out when it is finished cooking, or keep the food on a low heat until it is time to serve. Leaving the food in the pan can give it a metallic taste. If you have not let the food sit in the pan and it still taste funny, the pan has not been seasoned properly.
For baking food always preheat your cast iron cookware in the oven with a little oil or shortening to keep the food from sticking. This is a very common practice when baking cornbread.
INTERESTING FACT
Cast iron cookware adds a significant amount of dietary iron to your food in the cooking process. Basically, you are cooking with the healthiest cookware you can buy.
COOKING TIPS
Cast Iron pots get hot, always have oven mitts handy when using your cast iron cookware.
Cast iron cookware gets very hot, you may need to adjust cooking temperatures to a lower level to prevent burning.
STORAGE
Always store your cast iron cookware in a warm, dry place. You may even place a paper towel on top to absorb any moisture. Store the lids to your skillet pots separately, this will keep them dryer during storage.
If you do not own cast iron cookware I feel it is a very worthy purchase. It is a gift that can become a family heirloom to your great-grandchildren. It is simple to season, easy too maintain and cooks like a dream.
Thanks for reading and God Bless America!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
pamelita3099
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 90
Trusted by: 124 members
About Me:
Loving the Web!
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.