What do you think of when you think of pots and pans? Do you think of the latest chef endorsed cookware? Well you are not alone most people do. However, if you go to your local kitchen store you will find a great find that has been around for 100's of years, cast iron. Most people see cast iron cookware as rustic and out dated but it is no longer for camping and trail rides any more.
If you do not know what cast iron is than let me explain. This type of cookware is made out of an iron composite this makes a very durable cooking vessel it also makes it porous. This means that if you do not season the pot you are cooking in it will pick up the taste of the food. To season your cookware you need to heat your oven to 250 degrees. Coat the pot and lid with a layer of cooking oil put both in the oven and let it "cook" overnight. You need to do this only once after that all you have to do is wipe it clean. Using dish soap will take the seasoning off and you will have to start the process over. Unlike other cookware, it only gets better with age. The more you use it the better the seasoning gets. Also the more you use it the blacker it will get this is normal, the blackening makes these pots nonstick. I recommend that you always use a little oil and nonstick utensils. This just keeps them seasoned.
Cast iron pots and pans are very durable and heavy this is what makes this type of cook wear so practical. These pans can last for many years if treated correctly. Mine were my husband's grandmothers and given to me because she could no longer lift them. I use mine at least three times a week to make soup, chili, and roasts. You can cook corn bread, cobbler, or brownies in a 10" frying pan on top of the stove. I cook on a gas stove and can cook anything in my cast iron. It cooks evenly and completely and best of all the food tastes great. The cook wear is comparatively inexpensive compared to other cookware.
Cast iron vessels have been around sense about 1100 AD these pots and pans originally had three legs because cooking was done over an open fire, or in the hearth of the home. When stovetops started to become a common place in every household most of the pots and pans lost their feet, this made them more stable on top of the stove. If you look at all the old westerns you will see that what their cooking on is cast iron. This is true the most important piece of equipment. You could say that cast iron cookware helped and settle America In the 1900's cookware evolved into what you see today, aluminum Teflon, copper core, and more. With all the news coverage about the possible health hazards of these pots and pans, there is resurgence in the cast iron cookware.
Some of the things you will love about your cast iron are that your food tastes better. You can bring your cookware in your RV or camping. Other cookware is not made for the high heat of the campfire and might burn either the pot or your food.
Cast iron cookware lasts a very long time. Some cookware only lasts 10 years but cast iron cookware can last for generations. Having cookware that you can pass along through your family is a wonderful tradition.
There are very few drawbacks of cast iron cookware. This type of cookware is heavy and can be hard to keep seasoned correctly. These pots and pans are very substantial which mean they are very heavy. This can be a problem for people with back or other problems lifting. If you do not season store or clean these pots correctly they can rust or grow mold. To clean it correctly you can do one of two things, you can wipe it out and let it air dry or you can clean it and put it in the oven on a low temperature. Until it dries, Do not store it with the lid on this can cause moisture to build up and make the pot rust. If this happens then you need to season you pot again. To prevent this from happening again you need to store them in a dry place.
Another thing about cast iron is that you can get corn on the cob forms for your cornbread you can get chili peppers for it too. There are 9 and 10" frying pans there are stockpots, caldrons and a variety of others to choose from. You will not be sorry for choosing cast iron.
Once you start cooking on cast iron, you will not want to cook on anything else. If you're still not sure about cast iron then just buy one pot and try it out if you don't like it you really didn't lose anything. If you like the pot then you can gradually build up you collection. Once you have everything you want you can start getting rid of your other pots that you do not want.
Author Resource:
Elaine Smith is a writer providing advice on Kitchen Cookware and Cookware Guides if you have time drop by her site for some tips and information.
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