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If you are new to cooking or just looking to upgrade your cooking skills, the equipment you use is crucial. This includes getting some top-quality pans and definitely having at least one cast iron skillet in the home. Here are some things to know about cast iron skillets and why you should start using them.
It is a Lifelong Investment
Cast iron skillets are unique in that they can last a lifetime or longer. They might cost a little more, but you are getting a pan that you should never have to replace. If you find one at a garage sale or antique sale, buy it! If your grandmother passed a set down to you, definitely accept them. These will work just as well as when the cast iron skillet was new. In fact, there is really no reason to buy one new since you can probably find one secondhand and it will be of amazing quality.
Your Food Will Taste Better
There is no doubt about it; food cooked in a cast iron skillet just tastes better. This is a very high-quality type of pan where the more you cook on it, the more it gets seasoned. When you do that, everything else that gets cooked in it gets those unique flavors, and it brings out the natural flavor of foods so much better. Try cooking fish or meat in your cast iron next time and see if you notice a difference in how it tastes.
They Are Naturally Non-Stick
When you “season” a cast iron skillet properly, it becomes non-stick naturally, and therefore you don’t need to grease it or use oil spray before cooking something in it. When you are using less oil, not only do you not change the flavor of your meal, but you also keep it a little lighter. Nothing wrong with that!
It is Much More Versatile
There is a lot you can do with a cast iron skillet, not just in what food you can cook in it, but where it can be used. They actually work great with any type of heat, even bringing it camping with you and cooking food right over a fire. You can start cooking your meal on the stove, then transfer the cast iron to the oven. It works great for desserts in addition to main dishes, veggies, and so much more.