Cast Iron Pan

Most individuals that are considered young are not familiar with a cast iron pan unless their parents or grandparents cooked with them. Due to all the fancy cookware and non-stick pots and pans that are out on the market, the cast iron pan got lost along the way. Years back, most people took the time to season the pan by rubbing cooking lard on the entire pan and baking it in the oven. Once the pan was seasoned, it was ready to be used. This tradition was usually passed on from generation to generation.

The cast iron pan is very durable and hardly ever does anything stick to it when seasoned properly. There are different types of skillets and pans to chose from. There would be no need for any other types of pans in the kitchen. Some companies boast of non-stick pans but the coating will eventually come off the bottom and it must be disposed of. With the cast iron pan, once the pan is seasoned, it can be used for years.

There is a difference in the taste of the food that is cooked in the cast iron pan. Many individuals have questioned as to whether iron is being passed from the pan to the food and is this a health issue. There have not been any type of government warnings regarding the use a cast iron pan, therefore they are used every day especially in the Southern States. When the first piece of fish that has been cooked in a iron pan has been tasted, it is like a slice of heaven.

The iron pan normally distributes the heat evenly so the food will be cooked properly. It may take some time to get used to the cooking speed of the food. Food is cooked much slower but thoroughly. Sometimes, other types of pans will cook the outside of the food but the center of the food is not done. This presents a health risk especially pork or chicken. Therefore, the cast iron pan has some major benefits.

Every kitchen should have at least one iron frying pan. In the years past, many mothers used to make what was referred to as pan bread. To most, it was the traditional corn bread. This cornbread was cooked in the cast iron pan on top of the stove. It looked like a big pan cake but the taste was something to die for. The cornbread could not be fixed in a regular non-stick pan because the taste would be altered. Old fashioned cornbread is considered a cast iron pan specialty.

Whenever recipes are being followed and the iron pan is being used, the cooking time must be adjusted. A dish requires a cooking time of 20 minutes using medium heat, may end of being cooked for 25 minutes using low heat. This may present a challenge at first. It may be wise to document the cooking time and type of heat that is being used for certain favorite dishes. The opportunity to place the frying pan in the oven is also a wonderful experience.

Cooking breakfast becomes more of a thing of pleasure than a chore when the food comes out in such a way that is appealing to the eye and the stomach. The tradition should be kept alive for others to enjoy.