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

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I can't help you. I don't use pans – all of my food is cooked in the skulls of my enemies.

Boru

[Crossless2.0]

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.

[RetiredArmy]

Great post above Shell B. I'm a cast iron fan, and I like to use it over med-high heat so as to not create too much gristle over time. When you do get that black, burned stuff, just scrape it out. Now comes technique and preference... either rinse with hot water or not. Too much hot water loosens up the oil and washes away the yummy. I like to leave the cast iron seasoned and do believe it adds to successive meals. Rinse or no-rinse, very lightly coat with shortening, and I mean VERY lightly. Oven should be preheated to 400 F, then turned off when you're ready to cook-in the shortening. You've just turned off the oven from the 400 setting, pop the iron in the oven, and let it stay there overnight. There's plenty of heat during cool-down to make a nice, seasoned, yummy-makin' piece of iron for the next recipe.

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And oh yeah, don't forget to take that iron out before turning the oven on again

[Crossless2.0]

I can't help you. I don't use pans – all of my food is cooked in the skulls of my enemies.

Boru

Perfectly understandable. Satisfaction in the kitchen comes in many forms.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Yup, revenge is a dish best served over rice.

Boru

[Thumpalumpacus]

I season my cast-iron about once a year. It's pretty old and doesn't need much. A little bit of bacon drippings and into the oven for 30 minutes at 375F.

[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...

[Crossless2.0]

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...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5i1cJIwE7M

[Shell B]

I got all of my grandfather's cast iron, but he didn't have a skillet. That's okay, though. I have my own and his utensils go along with it nicely.

[The Grand Nudger]

@Pop

The breadpan/soup pot/deep fryer/rice steamer/tofu press/only thing you need or can stomach carrying when camping, lol. Bonus, it stays cold too, so you can pack it with ice and bacon and ham and whatnot like it was a mini cooler.