Idiot's guide to taking care of a frying pan?

[popeyespappy]

-cast iron dutch oven...you can use it as a skillet when you want, and as a baking pan when you need.  Plus, it doubles as a half assed pressure cooker by virtue of the weight of the lid.  

I use a chicken fryer like this one the same way.



About the only thing I use my enameled Dutch oven for is sourdough bread. The sourdough requires preheating the pan at 500 F for 45 minutes. Oiled cast iron smokes too much at that kind of temperature so the enameled works better, but most of the time I prefer the straight up cast iron.

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You can make everything from bread to pot pies in a cast iron skillet. You will love it.

Cast iron is the best.

As undignified a scene as it was, a fist fight nearly broke out over who was going to get Grandma's cast iron skillet (lovingly seasoned for years) after she passed. Things had reached a fever pitch, and it was clear that someone had to be the adult in the room . . . so I struck first, grabbed the skillet, and ran like hell.

Ok, actually my sister got it without any blows being thrown, and I bought my own. But damn! There's nothing like an old, well-cared-for skillet.

There will be no fighting over mom's cast iron (some of which belonged to dad's grandmother and mom's great grandmother) when she's gone. My brother doesn't cook, and mom caught my sister washing some of her's in the dishwasher once. It's mine all mine...