As I was scrolling through social media, an advertisement caught my eye. Lodge Cast Iron, a cookware company, had done a collaboration with THE Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton is an American country music icon that shows what hard work, kindness, and a positive attitude can achieve, and she is also one of my favorite artists and idols. I have been wanting a cast iron skillet for a few years now and thought I would take the opportunity to purchase this perfect piece. After the excitement of purchasing, I asked myself, do I even know how to use this? So, I began researching best practices to keep it in great condition while making new recipes!
Cast iron skillets are in many households, at yard sales and in thrift stores, and they can withstand a lot of use! There are many ways to restore old, rusted pans with some elbow grease and TLC. Rust can happen when pans are improperly stored and not seasoned correctly. A pan or dish being “seasoned” refers to coating it in oil and then heating the oil past its smoking point so it may undergo a chemical reaction that forms a water-resistant coating on the pan. North Carolina Extension provides a great step by step process on how to season your pan for the first time or if you have deeply cleaned it.
A big question that comes up in maintenance is can you use water, or not? There are many schools of thought when it comes to using water when cleaning. If you are going to use water, make sure it is hot and you have a scrubbing tool like steel wool or an abrasive sponge to get stuck on food off. Steel wool can cause micro abrasions on the pan as well as fall into the pan creating a hazard, so use your discretion when deciding on a cleaning tool. Dry it IMMEDIATELY to prevent rust. This can be done by wiping the pan dry and sticking it in the oven for a few minutes at 550 degrees. Remove the pan with potholders and put a light coat of vegetable or canola oil on it. Put the pan upside down in the oven for at least an hour and repeat the oil process until it is nice and shiny!
Cast iron skillets preform best when cooking meat and baking items such as bread, pie, cobbler, Dutch babies and more. Unlike thinner pans, cast iron gets hot and stays hot providing a consistent cooking temperature. Cast iron is an ideal choice for meats that need seared such as steaks, roasts, or chicken. Additionally, they naturally provide iron into whatever you are cooking, so for those with low iron this can be an added benefit. So, whether you are just starting out and looking for a long-lasting pan or wanting to dust off a family heirloom, the options are endless for food your family will love.
Written by: Alexus Masterson, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Muskingum County
Reviewed by: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension Franklin County
Sources:
Kansas State University Research and Extension: Johnson County., (2023, July 11). , Cooking with Cast Iron., K-State Research and Extension. https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/health-food-safety/agents-articles/cooking-with-cast-iron.html
Snyder, Christa. (2023, February 17)., How to Season and Maintain a Cast Iron Pan., NC Cooperative Extension: Polk County Center. https://polk.ces.ncsu.edu/2023/02/how-to-season-and-maintain-a-cast-iron-pan/