Do you have or will you get cast iron cookware?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

After reading the article on Cast Iron Cookware (http://www.momsmenu.com/cookware/cast_iron_cookware.shtml), will be getting or do you already have cast iron cookware? If so, what type?

[dallasalice1]

Only way to make great cornbread is in iron skillets.

Alice

[DeBora4BobbyL]

I love my cast iron. I have a small frying pan, a large frying pan, and a dutch oven. The dutch oven is great to use while camping.

Cast iron also makes terrific French fries!

[barbszy]

I answered "yes" because I do own a cast iron skillet, but I never use it.

So here's your opportunity to convince me that I should!!

[Audrey]

I don't even own one :(

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, cast iron doesn't have to be washed! You just wipe it out and oil it down. It cooks more evenly and quickly than other cookware. The one I use all the time is kept, covered on the stove. The rest are put away. All you have to do it keep the water-free and oiled.

[sweetnell3]

I have a dutch oven & a big square cast iron skillet though I don't use them much. Oh I almost forgot I got two cast iron corn shape muffin pans that belonged to my mama [dad's mom] I do still use them some.

[Sammi1961]

I own several cast iron frying pans in different sizes, a cast iron dutch oven and a fw other cast iron pieces. I love cooking in them and it is also a way to add iron to your diet. Unfortunately, I bought a new ceramic top stove last fall that you cannot use cast iron on. Apparently cast iron pans can damage the top. That totally bummed my dh out as he loves to cook things in the cast iron frying pans. Oh well. They can still be used for camping.

[cat lover]

I cook almost completely in cast iron cookware. I have a homemade pot rack above my stove and all of it except my indoor dutch oven is hanging from it. I have two legged outdoor cast iron dutch ovens that we use on the firepit.

I love cooking with it nothing else can cook food he way it does. Did you know that you actually obtain some iron into your food from using it? It heats evenly, and after you have it well seasoned it works as well as that teflon stuff that over the years has been known to cause all sorts of health problems. And it wears off! It will not warp, no special cookware is needed to use in it, you can cook on the stovetop or in the oven. I wouldn't give up my cast iron for any cookware set on hte market today at all. And it lasts forever----- several of my pans were actually my grandmothers;I'm not sure if they went any further back than that. Canpt say that about any other cookware around today.

[Bilby]

I have a med sized frying pan, a square ripple bottomed frying pan and have just recently bought a dutch oven.
The dutch oven is good when you want to put a pot on the table to serve yourself as it keeps the food warm as you eat. Also like it goes from stove top to oven, and you can use camping.
I like the meat cooked in the ripple bottomed pan and the other is good for the extras that don't fit. I do have a small non stick frypan for eggs and stuff.
Here it's cheaper to buy scat iron stuff at the camping shop rather that the cookware stores.

[barbszy]

If you don't WASH it, how do you get it clean? :confused:

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, it depends on what you've cooked as to how you clean it. When I make Grillades to pour over grits, I have to wash my dutch oven in hot soapy water. Afterward, I place in the oven for a few to cook off the water and then I re-season with oil. If I am just cooking something in a little oil, I just wipe it down with a paper towel or something.

The most important thing is to not leave it wet as it will rust. Once washed, you must make sure all the water is gone and you must make sure a small amount of oil is wiped on the surface.

Here is one site that tells you how to care for cast iron. (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_properly_clean_cast_iron_pots_and_pans)

[cat lover]

Most things wipe out with newspaper waded up. If you find something got left behind you can scrape it with a spoon and then wipe out with newspaper. Another way of cleaning it is to use kosher salt sprinkled in it and wipe out with newspaper and continue till the paper is no longer brown. The general purpose of not using soap and water is that you KILL the seasoning. If after a long while you get black crusty on the outside you place the entire cast iron piece in a roaring fire in a firepit and let it burn all that off. Once it is cool you would have to reseason it just as you would have to do if you use soap and water to clean it. If you do use soap and water be sure to "dry" the piece on a hot burner to be sure it is totally dry; just a towel dry won't work. Some people would die if they knew their cast iron had been washed with soap and water! LOL

[sweetnell3]

My dutch oven is rusty now because Audrey tried to be helpful & wash it, she did'nt know not to use soap & water.How the best way to get the rust off?

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Nell, if the rust is too bad, I saw on a news program that you can use a sander to sand the rust off. Then you will need to re-season it.

[sweetnell3]

Thanks I will give that a try.

[boggsZ]

I have a large skillet med skillet and a round grill and long grill love cast iron

[sky_40]

I have had cast iron cookware for years. My mom gave me many of them. I use them a lot

[mammajigglypuff]

they can damage the new non-burner ranges if not careful

[cat lover]

I have taken a steel wool pad (not the kind with soap in it, the kind you use when refinishing furniture) and take all the loose rust off. Then reseason it and it should be fine after a couple uses. Let us know what you do.

[VicRae]

Sammi1961 is there a way you could get a cover or wire plate to put over the top of your stove so your husband could stiil cook in your cast iron pots?

They use to have the wire plates to use on the electric stove tops for glass pots and pans.

I have 4 cast iron skillets, a 4 quart dutch oven and two sauce pans with lids, and a rectangular roasting pan with the lid. I use the skillets all the time on my stove. The others we use if we go camping. The lid to the rectangular pan I have used as a griddle on the top of my electric stove burners.

[Rbeccers]

I have a large cast iron skillet that I used to use exclusively until we moved and I ended up getting a ceramic top stove. I know that they do not recommend using cast iron on them but I have found if I am very careful it does okay, just have to remember not to use too high a heat or things are more likely to burn then before.