Do you know how to season and then cook with a cast iron skillet? Most people don't know how to use this versatile cooking vessel, which is a shame. Using a cast iron skillet will help you to turn out some spectacular meals that your family will enjoy. Skillets are enjoying a rebirth and there are quite a few websites dedicated just to recipes for foods to be prepared in a skillet.
Maybe you have a skillet that has come from your mom, and before that your grandmother. You have it now and want to use it, but where to start. How do you clean it, what is seasoning and what type of cooking tips do I need to follow to make tasty food with it?
I love my cast iron skillet and the memories that it brings back. It has been passed on down from my Mom. I remember her using it to help make delicious breakfasts, first the bacon and then the eggs fried in bacon grease. She also made the most amazing fried chicken, sometimes in the same day in the same pan. The one thing I can't remember is just what she did to help keep this skillets clean and ready to use. I remember her drying it carefully after wiping it out with a cloth or paper towel, than placing it on the stove for a few minutes with some oil or grease added.
Seasoning Your Cast Iron Skillet
That is known as seasoning and is also important in the treatment and utilize of cast metal to avoid rust and make a all-natural non-stick cooking surface. Even if your inherited skillet or Dutch oven has been neglected and rusty, you can restore it by seasoning it again. The greater you use your cast iron the better experienced it might be (that's a good cooking tip!) . A black shiny skillet is a well-seasoned utensil and the one that will give the best flavor. Seasoning is done both for the inside and the outside of your cast iron, and even the lid must be seasoned. Here’s a hint to make your cast iron shiny again is to fry bacon and similar fatty meats. It will help it become seasoned faster and give you that shiny black non-stick interior you are working for. Listed below are the actions to seasoning your cast metal tools. 1. Very first, rinse with hot, soapy water and inflexible clean. 2. Rinse and dry 3. Apply a thin coat of shortening both inside and out 4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line oven rack with foil to catch drips 5. Put cookware upside down on the upper rack of your oven and bake for one hour. 6. Let the cookware cool before taking it out of the oven. 7. Store it in a cool, dry place and allow air to circulate around it 8. Never wash in a dishwasher.
Once you are done using your cast iron skillet, rinse with warm water without any soap. Dry it thoroughly and coat it with a think coat of cooking oil, shortening or pan spray. You might want to put it into a 200 degree oven for 30 minutes, although this is not needed after every use. Think of your skillet as a type of cookware and bakeware. It is the most rugged dish you will ever use and if you are dieting you can cut down on the amount of fat used. Many recipes give you other options to help with a low fat diet.
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