Cast-iron fry pans need love

The Union-Leader ^ | Dec. 14, 2008 | JOHN HARRIGAN

[trisham]

My wrists will snap. :) Besides that, I don’t cook.

[OB1kNOb]

I didn’t know owning a cast iron pan was an art. I had a few, and sold them at a garage sale because I didn’t know how to use them.

If you happen to have sold any old cast iron skillets made by say , Griswold or Wagner at garage sale prices, you made someone very happy!

[Drawsing]

I don’t know about this idea of washing with soap and putting it away oiled. I think there is more to it than that. I went camping with the boy scouts one time and one of the dads brought his cast iron waffle iron that had belonged to his grandmother. He is of the “soap and oil” persuasion. He tried to cook waffles over a coal fire that morning. It took 4 horribly stuck waffles before they started to release themselves cleanly.

[vietvet67]

Had a friend years ago that said after arguing with the wifie she’d get real quiet to be followed by him waking up from a deep sleep after being hit in the head with the fry pan.

Story always cracked me up..

[ArrogantBustard]

I didn’t know owning a cast iron pan was an art.

Cooking is an art ... the cast iron pan/skillet/dutchoven/whatever are all artists' tools.

Now I feel like a barbarian.

A barbarian would know how to handle the cast iron. ;'}

< signed >

Bustard, the Barbarian

[Excellence]

I am going to go out and buy a cast iron pan just so I can make this cornbread.

[Osage Orange]

I eat watermelon with a sharp pointy knife.........

Yes, I'm a man....I can change. If I want to. Maybe.

[ArrogantBustard]

I don’t know about this idea of washing with soap and putting it away oiled. I think there is more to it than that.

There is more to it than that ... Cast iron is porous. It seems to me that several cooking sessions are necessary to get the porous surface properly filled with carbon ... the "seasoning" is a layer of carbon, and is renewed every time the skillet is used. That's why even if someone soaps the thing (horrors), it can be restored. It just takes time.

[Moose4]

I’ll see you the frying pan and raise you a cast-iron Dutch oven. We had one. Note the use of the past-tense.

Higher-maintenance than a ‘74 MGB, but like the MGB, when they do work, they’re pretty awesome.

}:-)4

[Chickensoup]

I used to cook with cast iron and have been looking for the great cast iron that I used to purchase at my hardware store. The cast iron with the glass tops. Cant find it anymore...anyone know where it still might be sold?

[cyclotic]

High maintenance? What is lower maintenance than a cast iron dutch oven?

Ya fill it with food and toss it on a campfire, scrape it out, oil it and put it away.

[pepperdog]

Here’s the one our family always makes, it’s from the 1950 Betty Crocker Picture Cookbook:

Southern Cornbread

Preheat oven to 450. Put about 5 TBS oil in an IRON skillet and heat in the oven while mixing up the cornbread.

2 eggs
2 cps buttermilk
1 tsp soda
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 tsp salt

Pour batter into the hot IRON skillet, it will kind of rise up on the edges ‘cause it’s already starting to cook. Bake 20-25 minutes. Best cornbread in the universe.

[Leo Farnsworth]

“I used to cook with cast iron and have been looking for the great cast iron that I used to purchase at my hardware store...”

Our local ACE hardware sells Lodge brand cast iron pans. I believe that Lodge is the only US manufacturer of cast iron pans in existence. They do not have glass tops, however.

The Lodge Logic pans are pre-seasoned.

Happy Holidays!

[Chickensoup]

There were these great pans that all had heavy glass pyrex like covers. The cast iron covers dont keep their seasoning because the steam wets them.

I have looked every where for them. No luck

[mylife]

I have one for fish and one for everything else

[OB1kNOb]

“Lodge” brand cast iron cookware is made in America and can be found in our local Wal-Mart. If you ever come across any old skillets at a garage sale, estate sale, or fleas market made by Griswold or Wagner for a reasonable price, grab them. They are the best.

[FreedomPoster]

Sure, why not?

[mylife]

http://www.elliottshardware.com/ Dallas Tx

[Smokin' Joe]

One of the reasons why I use cast iron, stainless steel and copper cookware is so that I don’t use tinfoil. I read some reports on tinfoil and it’s scary

I agree. Besides, according to some folks around here, tinfoil is for hats.

I think my wife married me for my 14" skillet...

[chesty_puller]

Can’t use them on a glass top stove. I miss ‘em.