What Is Cast Iron Cookware?
- This is part 3 or 3 Part series on Cast Iron Cookware.
Kitchen Cookware has so many brands and type of materials, that sometimes it can be difficult to know which cookware to choose for your kitchen. We all want cookware that is long lasting and helps us with quick cooking.
Cast iron is one type of cookware material that is popular in cooking outdoor and indoor. Cast iron cookware are made of cast iron hence the name. It can retain high heat during the cooking process which is great for even cooking and retains the heat longer.
Most of the cast iron can used on stove top as well oven too as they are oven safe. They are not great for searing and sauteing food too. What I like best about using cast iron is that even when outside temperature fluctuates, cast iron pan or pot holds its heat well, making a great for camping cookware.
If you season the bare cast iron well, it will work almost as nonstick pan without the Teflon chemical peel and fear of peeling it away.
You can check out Cast Iron Advantages and Disadvantages: Part 1 of the Series
You can check out How to Season a Cast Iron Cookware here in Part 2 of the Series.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Cast Iron Cookware?
How to Properly Use Your Cast Iron Cookware? If you use, clean and maintain your bare cast iron cookware, it can last you long time. As you read in part 1 of cast iron learning series, we have seen the advantages and disadvantages of cast iron cookware and how to season the bare cast iron cookware in part 2 of the series.
First of make sure that you bare cast iron cookware is properly seasoned. If you have not done it, check out how to season your cast iron hub for more information. Once your bare cast iron cookware is seasoned it will be glossy and almost like nonstick surface and even more darker shade of black.
You may have to keep using a little oil in the beginning during cooking until it becomes fully seasoned to maintain the nonstick surface.
Tips on Using the Cast Iron Cookware:
- If your bare cast iron does not have wood or rubber handle bar, do not forget to use kitchen towels to hold the pan, as it can get super hot!
- Cast Iron pan can be heavy, so be careful when you are lifting or flipping the cast iron pan.
How to clean cast iron cookware?
Bare cast iron cookware can not be washed or cleaned in dishwasher as the process can remove and damage the seasoning the cast iron pan has.
- Water can be harsh on bare cast iron can rust the iron and soap can dry out cast iron cookware. I clean my bare cast iron with hot water and sponge without any soap and dry off the pan right away. Make sure there is no any moisture left on pan.
- Cast Iron cookware are not dishwasher safe so do not use to clean your cast iron pan.
- Expert suggests to simply wipe off cast iron pan with paper towel or cloth napkin after each use.
- Some expert suggest scouring with coarse salt and clean it with clothe towel.
- If some food has stuck on cast iron pan, use steel wool first and wipe it off with clean cloth towel right away, making sure it is completely dry.
- Once pan is dry, spray with oil and rub it on all over with paper towel or cloth napkin.
- Store your cast iron pan in pot rack to it can breath air. Never stack up your cast iron pan with other pans or skillet. Contact with other pan can scratch or rust the cast iron cookware.
Conclusion:
Not using a dishwasher can be extra work for many cooks, but it is worth the time for many bare cast iron aficionado cooks.
For those who like the ease of cleaning with benefit of cast iron heat conductivity can use enamel based cast iron pan that can be used in dishwasher. Check your manufacture guide before putting your enamel cast iron cookware in dishwasher just to make sure.
Inexpensive Cast Iron Cookware
Enamel Coated Cast Iron Cookware
Enamel coated cast iron is much easier to clean, maintain and does not need seasoning. It has all the benefits of cast iron cookware without the extra work. Only thing you need to make sure is not to use high heat when cooking in enamel coated cast iron cookware. In addition, they come in various, beautiful colors.
