Cast Iron

Cast Iron Pans

I love cast iron pans.  They are the universal pan that you can use on your stovetop, put in your oven, put on your grill or throw into a fire.  I’ve even used them as an oil fryer.

There is something about cast iron and wooden utensils that just speaks to me.  I’m a fan of the ruggedness of things like this.

I have acquired quite the collection of cast iron cookware over the years and thought it warranted a blog post.

Griddles and Cookie Sheets

One of my absolute favorite pans is my 15 x 12 cast iron griddle.  This pan gets used for just about everything in my kitchen.  I use it on my stove top as a griddle to make everything from bacon to pancakes to quesadillas.  I also cook garlic breads on it in the oven, bake meats in the oven and my wife even uses it to make cookies.  It’s the most versatile pan I own.

I accidentally got it’s baby brother this year for Christmas when I attempted to order the same pan I have for my mother in law for Christmas.  Amazon drops off this package at my door, I open it and literally laughed out loud as I saw this tiny little version of the pan I use so often.  I looked into it to order the right one and found out that I can’t even get the big one from Lodge’s website.  So I decided to keep this one and got my mother in law the “new version” that has the grill ribs on the backside of it.  I’m still trying to figure out what baby one will be best for but I like having it.

I have buttered and greased my griddle so much that these things is basically completely non-stick now and just works great.  That said, don’t leave your pans with food stuck on them or water in them.  Scrubbing last nights food off of them or letting them soak in water isn’t good for them.

Dutch Oven

I also have a cast iron dutch oven that I purchased with the intent of using for camping.  This pan is my biggest mystery in my collection.  I have had a harder time getting this thing properly seasoned and non-stick than my other pans.  I did slow cook some bacon I found on sale one day.  Not only did it make my house smell fantastically of bacon, but it did help.  This pan is just an odd thing to cook anything that contains any dairy or sauce so far.  Perhaps if I get it better seasoned.

Additionally, I have purchased over the years a variety of sizes of your typical cast iron frying pans.  These too I have had relatively good success in seasoning just by using regularly.

I purchased a “sportsman grill” a few years back as well.  This thing is fun for camping.  It’s basically a small bonfire pit that is built for charcoal.  It’s small, but it’s heavy and works great at a campsite for grilling on cast iron.