Cast Iron skillet? (/ intro)

Nova726

Hi all, I've been an on-again-off-again lurker on WC for a few years but rarely posted unless I had a question. Anyway, since it seems to be the time for all the lurkers to come out of the woodwork,  I decided I'd get in line and try to start posting more often. 

I was never much of a cook but I love to bake. I'm trying to do more cooking but DH being a picky pain in the a$$ usually limits what I'll actually make.

Anyway, I've had a pre-seasoned cast iron skillet in my cabinet for 5 years now that I've never used.

When do you use your cast iron instead of your SS or non-stick? Anything else special I need to know about it?

MrsWindyCity

I use mine A LOT. At least once a week, if not more. You can use it for pretty much anything, honestly. I'm sure if you search for "cast iron" in my blog, a lot will come up.

I especially use it for searing meats (love to sear a pork tenderloin, then throw some veg or sweet potatoes into the pan and throw the whole thing in the oven to finish cooking), burgers, cornbread, some casserole type things, just cooking chicken breast, steak. It's the most versatile cooking vessel out there IMO.

Nova726

Thanks MWC!  I pinned a couple recipes from your blog, I can't wait to try them.

adelerose

I have a cast iron skillet and I use it about once a week- usually for cooking meat or fish besides on a grill.  I sear it and then put it in the oven.  H uses it to make pancakes because he says it's "manlier" than the nonstick.

spongebobsquarepanties

MrsWindyCity:

I use mine A LOT. At least once a week, if not more. You can use it for pretty much anything, honestly. I'm sure if you search for "cast iron" in my blog, a lot will come up.

I especially use it for searing meats (love to sear a pork tenderloin, then throw some veg or sweet potatoes into the pan and throw the whole thing in the oven to finish cooking), burgers, cornbread, some casserole type things, just cooking chicken breast, steak. It's the most versatile cooking vessel out there IMO.

My answer is the same as this.

Also, excellent for frittattas.

One thing about the cast iron skillet - you can't use it on just any stove top. I haven't used my cast iron since I got my new stove - it is a glass top. Aparently it will shatter the glass. That being said, it can be used in the oven as well. I also use it for cooking over a fire when I'm camping (wrap in tin foil first).

Nova726

spongebobsquarepanties:

One thing about the cast iron skillet - you can't use it on just any stove top. I haven't used my cast iron since I got my new stove - it is a glass top. Aparently it will shatter the glass. That being said, it can be used in the oven as well. I also use it for cooking over a fire when I'm camping (wrap in tin foil first).

Thanks, I'm not worried about the stovetop. Mine is an old school gas cooktop and the burner covers (or whatever those things are called that the pot/pan actually sits on) are all cast iron. My kitchen is totally outdated but it's strong, lol.

maeghan21

Same thing. I swear by my cast iron if I'm pan-searing steaks or making a roast beef. If I'm stir frying something just for me I may use that rather than drag out my big wok. I also use it to make biscuits, corn bread, blueberry pie, and gravy. I use it for other things as well, but those are the things I only make in my cast iron

PoliticsChick

I find myself turning to my cast iron more and more these days, even with a rack full of All Clad. Everything from searing meats, to roasting a whole chicken in the oven. They're so versatile.

UDscoobychick

Mr regular non-stick pans have plastic handles, so they're not oven-safe, so I use my cast iron skillet and/or cast iron dutch oven (LOVE!!!) for anything that needs to go stovetop-to-oven.

MaineWifey

The only thing I don't cook in cast iron is my over easy eggs for breakfast.

I love roasting vegetables in cast iron.  Potatoes are always a good choice.  I have a griddle pan that I use for grilled asparagus. 

We do breakfast skillet in the pan on the weekends sometimes.  We slice potatoes for the skillet and brown those in the pan really well, then do the sausage & veggies, eggs and cheese.   

starlily313

spongebobsquarepanties:

MrsWindyCity:

I use mine A LOT. At least once a week, if not more. You can use it for pretty much anything, honestly. I'm sure if you search for "cast iron" in my blog, a lot will come up.

I especially use it for searing meats (love to sear a pork tenderloin, then throw some veg or sweet potatoes into the pan and throw the whole thing in the oven to finish cooking), burgers, cornbread, some casserole type things, just cooking chicken breast, steak. It's the most versatile cooking vessel out there IMO.

My answer is the same as this.

Also, excellent for frittattas.

One thing about the cast iron skillet - you can't use it on just any stove top. I haven't used my cast iron since I got my new stove - it is a glass top. Aparently it will shatter the glass. That being said, it can be used in the oven as well. I also use it for cooking over a fire when I'm camping (wrap in tin foil first).

I've been using my cast iron stuff on a glass top stove for the past year without any issues.

spongebobsquarepanties

starlily313:

spongebobsquarepanties:

MrsWindyCity:

I use mine A LOT. At least once a week, if not more. You can use it for pretty much anything, honestly. I'm sure if you search for "cast iron" in my blog, a lot will come up.

I especially use it for searing meats (love to sear a pork tenderloin, then throw some veg or sweet potatoes into the pan and throw the whole thing in the oven to finish cooking), burgers, cornbread, some casserole type things, just cooking chicken breast, steak. It's the most versatile cooking vessel out there IMO.

My answer is the same as this.

Also, excellent for frittattas.

One thing about the cast iron skillet - you can't use it on just any stove top. I haven't used my cast iron since I got my new stove - it is a glass top. Aparently it will shatter the glass. That being said, it can be used in the oven as well. I also use it for cooking over a fire when I'm camping (wrap in tin foil first).

I've been using my cast iron stuff on a glass top stove for the past year without any issues.

When I bought my stove, the salesperson told me not to because it would crack my stove top. I just took her word for it since I don't want to have to replace mine. It may just be the type of stove top I have. I don't know.