Cast Iron Cookware

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The Best Cooking Utensils

First of all, I'm not a cook but I have a working experience in household products.  Hopefully, this blog can be a good source of information and can be your guide to choose the right cookware for your family.

Material 

What is your cookware made from?

It is important to know the material of your cooking utensils since it will have a direct contact with the food you are preparing for your family.

In this blog, I only discuss about cookware with metal as the basic material. Can we use all metals and turn it into cookware? Of course not. The metal must have the ability to deliver heat evenly and not having a chemical reaction at the same time.

Is the material of cookware affecting the food quality? Well, some cooks I met believe the material you choose for your cookware can make a very big difference since every material conducts heat differently. The rate at which a material conducts heat determines how long it will take to cook your food. While the length of time you need to cook will affect how the food will actually taste.

Cast Iron 

The major advantage of cast iron is its capability to retain and evenly distribute heat. It heats slowly but once it is hot it holds the heat well. This cookware material is excellent for browning, frying and baking various foods. Another beauty of cast iron cookware is it can be used on top of the stove and in the oven.

Cast iron cookware can also help ensure that eaters in your house get enough iron-which the body needs to produce red blood cells-as it seeps off the cookware into food in small amounts.

Unlike the metals that can come off of some other types of pots and pans, iron is considered a healthy food additive by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

However, similar to other cookware materials, cast iron also reacts with foods and can absorb the flavors of what was cooked in it unless the cookware is seasoned. Consumers should beware, that most cast iron cookware needs to be seasoned after each use

Traditional Cast Irons are still one of the favorite cooking equipment in modern kitchen.

Care & Use 

For Cast Iron Cookware

  • Always season your cast iron before using at all time
  • Always preheat your cast iron before using
  • Seasoning prevents rust on your cast iron, avoid the food stick on the pot and make it easy for you to clean up after cooking
  • Let the pot cool down naturally after use
  • Do Not pour cold water into hot pot which can cause a breakage on the pot
  • Always use dish washing soap and tap water to wash the pot
  • Do Not soak or let the soapy water on the pot
  • Rinse and dry it thoroughly

Warning 

Things you should aware about Cast Iron

  • The pot's handle is hot during and after cooking. Always use potholders to hold the handle
  • Cast Iron is not dishwasher safe
  • Never store any food in the cast iron pans & pots as the acid in the food will breakdown the seasoning and take on a metallic flavor

 

If you never use Cast Iron Cookware before, you may need these books for your reference

The Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: Recipes for the Best Pan in Your Kitchen

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Griswold and Wagner Cast Iron Cookbook: Delicious and Simple Comfort Food

Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Cast Iron Cooking for Dummies

Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Cast Iron Cooking: 50 Gourmet-Quality Dishes from Entrees to Desserts

Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Cooking in Cast Iron: Yesterday's Flavors for Today's Kitchen

Amazon Price: $12.21 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Recipe 

The experts reveal the secret of their cooking

The New Best Recipe: All-New Edition

Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl

Amazon Price: $11.50 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

Michael Symon's Live to Cook: Recipes and Techniques to Rock Your Kitchen

Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

New York Cooks: 100 Recipes from the City's Best Chefs

Amazon Price: $19.77 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

The "I Don't Know How to Cook" Book: 300 Great Recipes You Can’t Mess Up!

Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 12/27/2009) Buy Now

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