Cooking with Cast Iron
Sustainable cooking
It has started to bother me that we do not embrace “old fashioned” cookware. We trade metal spatulas and wooden spoons for their plastic counterparts only for the latter to be wonky after just a few uses. The same goes for frying pans, out goes the cast iron ones and in comes the lightweight coated ones that start loosing their coating very quickly. What implications does this have on our health? And what are the implications for our planet.
I have inherited most of the stuff in the kitchen and my grandmothers whisk is just as lovely to use now as it was when she was making her cakes and sauces in the kitchen. I would love to make it cool to love these inherited cookery tools. Some of them even get better with age, one such example are cast iron cook ware. So why should we use cast iron cook ware?
Cast Iron Cook ware
There are many reasons why you should choose cast iron cook ware, let me take you through some of them:
- They last a very long time, most likely your great grandchildren will be able to use them in just as great condition as you are right now. Compared to a teflon coated frying pan that has to be discarded as soon as you have damaged the coating.
- By cooking in a Cast Iron skillet or frying pan, small amounts of Iron will enrich your food which is a big plus especially for women. The amount of iron will increase if you cook something acidic.
- If you have a cast iron casserole dish, you can put it in the oven and use it as a slow cooker. In fact you can bring your cast iron ware outside and cook over an open fire.
- Heat, your cast iron pan will take a little longer to heat up, but once it is hot it will keep the heat for longer, it can also withstand much higher temperatures. This is brilliant when you want to fry your steak to perfection. For even better results use a grill pan.
- Bread… Yes you can bake bread in your cast iron casserole dish. Grease the dish with oil and put the dough in, let it prove the last time under the cover of the lid. Bake in the lower part of the oven with the lid on. As all the moisture will stay in the dish the bread will get a crispy outer and a gorgeously soft inside.
- Use whatever spatula you like, and I know you love the metal ones! They keep forever, do not contaminate your food and easy to keep clean. They are of course also a lot easier to work with.
- No chemicals! A cast iron pot is just that – iron, no added extras and no hazardous chemicals. This is perfect if you feel like living a more healthy life.
- Looks! This is a piece that will only look better with time, perfect for a country kitchen but also for you who would like to embrace the rustic look.
Are there any cons?
As with everything there are some but also not really. A cast iron pot is heavier than its lightweight counterparts but hey didn’t you want to get a bit fitter?
If you leave a cast iron pot in water it may get a bit rusty. Fear not! It comes off really easily and is of no harm.
Price. A good cast iron piece of cook ware can be expensive. However over time you make that money up over and over again as it lasts forever. You may be able to find used cookware at car boot sales which can be very good value.
How to care for cast iron products
There is no need to use detergents when cleaning a cast iron pan, just use warm water. When cooking use either rape or sunflower seed oil, these oils can withstand higher heat that for example olive oil.
From time to time your pan may need deep cleaning. Do this with salt! Cover the surface of the pan with salt and heat for a few minutes. The smoke means that the salt is doing its job. Rinse with warm water and use a scourer if needed. Once clean you will have to season your pan. Grease the inside of the pan with rape seed oil. Leave the pan on medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the smoke settles.
Why seasoning? Seasoning your cast iron pan will help maintain the natural non stick surface of the pan.
You may think it sounds like hard work but it really isn’t. Most of the time a quick wash in warm water is enough. The pure thought that you cook with the same pots and pans as your grandchildren once will, is a heart-warming thought. I know I love to cook with my grandmothers cook ware, it is as if I can feel her around me. There is of course also the fact that I did a good thing for our planet. Try it!!
Brands and what to buy
I have been brought up with the Swedish brand Skeppshult, it is quality products that just keep on delivering. The quality is fabulous and everything is well made which in turn makes the products safe and easy to use. I also like the fact that they are not enamelled which to me defeats the object. I am adding pans as I go and will make do with what I have and car boot finds until I can get the real thing.
Links
