subject: Advantages of Cast Iron Cookware [print this page] Advantages of Cast Iron Cookware Advantages of Cast Iron Cookware
Even Cooking - Cast iron is an incredibly dense metal that heats very slowly as compared to metals like copper and aluminum. But once heated, Cast Iron Cookwarewill hold that heat for a long time. The metal also gives a steady heat that helps foods brown beautifully and cook evenly.
Strong and sturdy-Cast iron cookware will definitely last a lifetime and then some. Just try and put a dent in one of these things! Seasoned cast iron is impervious to rust and will actually improve during years of use. Even if you let your cast iron get a little rusty, all you have to do is scour off the rust, re-season the pan, and you're off and running.
Nonstick Cooking without Nonstick Coating - The seasoning on a cast iron skillet does more than protect it from corroding, it also gives the surface a naturally nonstick coating. We can cook pancakes, omelets, skillet breads, and a host of other delicate foods without fear that they will stick. A newly seasoned cast iron skillet might still have some sticky spots, but the surface will become more nonstick as the pan is used over time.
Inexpensive - With prices on just about everything creeping steadily upwards, it's nice to find an honest-to-goodness real deal out there. You can find a large skillet for around $30, and other products ranging above and below depending on what they are. Check out Lodge Cast Iron Cookware for some good products.
Multi-Tasking Tool - Cast iron can wear a lot of hats in the kitchen. We've used our big skillet to replace a roasting pan, to make pizza on the stove top, and as a burner plate when simmering something on very low heat. We even once used it to improvise a cooling rack for bread! If you have limited storage space in your kitchen, investing in just a few pieces of cast iron can help cut down on the clutter.
Stove Top to Oven - We also love the versatility of Cast Iron Cookware. We can use it over the highest flame on the stove top, keep it at a medium heat in the oven, or stick it in the coals of a campfire. This kind of flexibility is ideal for recipes that start on a burner and then finish in the oven, like seared steaks or frittatas.
Ok, those are all the reasons we can think of why we love cast iron. What about you?
