Don’t Be Intimidated by Cast Iron Cooking

By Jamie Kaun

My husband’s eyes light up and his face conveys such joy when he shares memories of his grandparents making meals in their cast iron skillets. “Many early Wisconsin mornings, my grandpa and I would wake early and head to the lake. We took the blue gill we caught home and fried them up in a cast iron skillet.” 

Cooking memorable meals in cast iron was a regular part of my husband’s childhood. And although he had exposure to them and knew the benefits of cast iron cooking and the quality meals you can make, I did not.

Although my post title suggests you shouldn’t be intimidated by cast iron cooking, I’ll admit that I am for several reasons, including that food can stick more easily and that it can be more challenging to clean than non-stick cookware. But I’m also intrigued and want to become more acclimated to using cast iron.

So why use cast iron? 

1.    Health benefits – cast iron pot/pans contain, of course, iron. When cooking with them, they release iron (how much is debatable) into your food. In addition, when they are well-seasoned (which happens over time with the use of oil) they are non-stick, so you can also use less oil in them on a regular basis, lowering the fat and calories added to what you are cooking. 

2.    Inexpensive and indestructible – Your initial investment in cast iron can last for many years and can be passed down to other generations (like my husband’s family has done). Cast iron is sturdy and can handle a lot of use. However, this durability also means that they can be heavy compared to non-stick or stainless-steel cookware.

3.    Versatile – You can cook anything in them! They can withstand really high heat (and retain it) so they even function nicely as a grill. 

4.    Chemical-free – Popular non-stick cookware contains questionable chemicals. When the cookware is scratched, those chemicals are leached into your food at an even higher rate. 

5.    Easy to clean – Soap isn’t necessary (and not advised) for cleaning. Just hot water and a little scrubbing can clean them quickly. Just make sure to always dry them well (you can even place them on the stove for a few minutes to quickly dry them). Leaving them wet can cause rust. 

At the beginning of every year, many of us make resolutions. In 2019, why not make a resolution to experience the benefits of cast iron cooking? Happy, healthy cooking!