Advantages of Cast Iron Frying Pans

Cast iron is one of the most convenient and reliable materials, with almost no drawbacks. Cast iron frying pans are among the strongest. Many housewives prefer to use cast iron kitchen utensils. This type of kitchen tool is indispensable in the kitchen. The main thing to remember is that to prepare a decent dish, you need to use decent cookware.

Pros and Cons of Cast Iron Pans

Like all other cookware, these types of frying pans have both advantages and disadvantages.

1. Many people consider the large weight of the products to be the main and most common disadvantages. And this disadvantage is really present. It is very problematic to fry pancakes on such dishes, since it is difficult to evenly fill the frying pan with liquid dough.
2. Many people complain that this type of frying pan is very difficult to clean, because the material practically does not allow you to do it completely. But the thing is that cast iron does not require this due to the fact that over time, oil gradually begins to be absorbed into the material. And if you overdo it and try to get rid of it completely, then you will only ruin the product by damaging the non-stick layer.

But it would be quite logical to completely get rid of the specific smell of a certain product, for example, fish. To do this, you do not need to use strong cleaning agents, it is enough to use a regular soap solution for washing dishes.

Some may complain that this material has the ability to rust, but this only happens with rare use or if the rules for using oil are not followed.

If you haven't used your kitchen tool for a long time, it may happen that food will stick to the bottom. To avoid this, just warm the pan with salt, rinse with water and grease with oil.

If you listen to these simple tips and follow them, then this tool will be a great helper in your family for more than one generation.

Features of cooking in a cast iron frying pan

This type of cookware is one of the most preferred among both professional chefs and ordinary housewives.

Using a cast iron frying pan has its own characteristics.

1. All dishes prepared using such products retain all their taste qualities due to the properties of the material.
2. An alloy of iron and carbon with the addition of silicon and phosphorus make the frying pan an ideal kitchen tool.
3. All walls, as well as the bottom, are heated evenly, having the same temperature in each area.

This is one of the most important features. When preparing a dish, you should not wait for it to be fully cooked, but rather remove it from the stove and leave it to simmer. Under the influence of temperature, the food itself will reach the full state of a ready dish.

Please note that if you want to increase the durability of your kitchen appliance, it is better not to cook various sauces with the addition of wine or vinegar in a cast iron frying pan. This will only damage the surface of the kitchen tool. Cooking such culinary masterpieces will only lead to the fact that the frying pan will be spoiled, and the dishes will have a metallic smell and taste.

How to Properly Prepare a Frying Pan for First Use

First of all, the kitchen tool must be thoroughly washed and then cleaned. This procedure must be carried out to avoid rust. Before being released for sale, the frying pan is covered with a sealant, so with immediate use it will begin to absorb all the harmful substances that will soon lead to a malfunction. And some people may develop an allergy or poisoning. In order to avoid such adverse effects, it is necessary to remove the protective layer on the surface.

It won't take much time or effort. All you need to do is rinse the item under hot water. After this step, your utensils will be completely disinfected. If desired, you can add a little detergent. If there is rust, you can remove it using a metal sponge. Then wipe and dry the item well.

The next step is calcination. Many manufacturers write about this procedure on labels and packaging. This step is designed to fill the pores with oil. The temperature will allow the oil to turn into a non-stick coating. Calcination can be done with salt and odorless oil.

The first step is to sprinkle the bottom of the pan with salt, then place it on the stove, turning the heat to maximum. It is the salt that will absorb all the grease applied during the creation of the product. Then get rid of the salt and let the pan stand until it cools down. Then wash it under hot water, without using any detergents. Next, all you need to do is dry it and wipe it with a rag soaked in oil.

The last step is to fill the pan with vegetable oil and put it on medium heat. This is where you begin the actual calcination, which will take about 20 minutes.

Well, then just pour out the oil, wash your kitchen tool, and wipe dry with a simple towel.

Can you bake in a cast iron skillet using the oven

There are many recipes that require the use of an oven, but can a cast iron skillet handle them?

Cast iron is the most suitable option for cooking any dishes in the oven. This conclusion was made by experts due to the fact that they easily tolerate high temperatures, while heating evenly, transferring heat to the dish being cooked. Damage to this kitchen item is excluded due to the fact that the material has natural non-stick properties. Their resistance to high temperatures allows you to bake dishes of varying complexity. Due to the fact that the utensils have their own non-stick layer. This allows the dish to cook and bake evenly. The properties of cast iron allow you to bake even bread.

The most important thing is to pay special attention to the handles. Models with cast handles will be the best solution. In addition to being convenient and practical, they will not be able to deform at high temperatures.

How to care for and clean a frying pan

All the charm of cast iron has one side effect, which is special care. Following all these rules will not cause much difficulty, but if you refuse them, then no one guarantees the durability of your utensils.

After use, make sure you rinse the kitchen item very well and thoroughly, as the pores have very good absorbent properties. Next, you just need to wipe the dishes well and lubricate with a small amount of oil.

During the use of the item, food residues appear on it, which gradually accumulate and form a layer that emits an unpleasant odor. In order to get rid of such a surprise, one of two methods is used. The most radical method is to put the frying pan in the oven for two hours at a high temperature. Then, all the resulting carbon deposits are removed with a brush or metal sponge.

The second method allows for banal cleaning under warm water with the same metal sponge until your kitchen tool is in perfect condition. After completing the procedures, it is necessary to lubricate the surface of the cast iron with oil, which will provide a natural protective layer.

When rust forms, it is worth using a special vinegar solution, soaking the dishes in it, they will become like new. After half an hour of soaking, you should use a sponge and salt, which together will help get rid of rust. The final stage will be calcination.

Few people know, but experts recommend using the same liquids as for the stove as a cleaning agent for cast iron. They contain the least amount of harmful chemicals that can damage the material.

Rating of the best manufacturers of cast iron frying pans

Any store will provide you with a wide selection of cast iron pans, but which manufacturer will be the most preferable? How to make the right choice? Therefore, it is very important to familiarize yourself with the list of market leaders.

BergHOFF

This Belgian manufacturer has long been considered a professional in its field. This company has a wide range of kitchenware. The company cares about its customers and does everything to constantly raise the bar for their growth. On the shelves of stores you can find more than one kitchen item from BergHOFF. This company simply cannot disappoint its customer.

Fissman

This company has not been around for very long, but in a very short time it has managed to achieve such impressive results, taking a leading position in the world market. Their wide range of models will make you choose for a long time.

KitchenAid

A company that creates all the necessary items for your kitchen. Their wide range will not make you doubt their professionalism. The choice of frying pans is limited to a small but the highest quality product. The price of their products may seem colossal to someone, but it is really worth it.

Le Creuset

A French brand that has made many people fall in love with cooking. The quality of their products is truly amazing. You can even find special devices for making donuts in their assortment. Buying such a kitchen appliance will become a real memorable date, and the utensils themselves will be a source of pride. Cooking will be done with a smile on your face.

Biol

This company has been in business for an impressive period of time, which has reached 17 years. The range of their goods looks really rich. Here you will find various models, shapes, sizes. But, despite this, standard round frying pans are very popular. Domestic housewives have never complained about the quality. And the best thing here is that all this is sold at an affordable price.

Seaton

This company has specialized in the production of cast iron products since its inception. Their many years of experience play a decisive role in the production of utensils today.

Dobrynya

Dobrynya is a domestic company specializing in electrical engineering. Therefore, the production of cast iron frying pans is not the main activity that brings in large income. There are many analogues on the market that can surpass the Dobrynya model.

Rondell

This company does not look at its competitors and has been doing its business for a long time. Their motivation is to satisfy the whims of the client. The company uses high-quality material for the production of products, which is environmentally friendly. Adequate assessment of their own work allows their products to have a constant flow of buyers.

This type of material is one of the best for a frying pan. It will become an ideal tool in the hands of any housewife. The range of dishes that you can cook will be the widest and most diverse. You can use the cookware for both frying and simmering. The type of stove does not play any role when cooking. And for maintenance, you do not need to do anything too heavy and energy-consuming. Such a tool should be in the inventory of every housewife.

VIDEO: Creating a non-stick coating on a frying pan.