When you buy a cast iron skillet, you can feel confident knowing that your kitchen is equipped with one of the most versatile tools available. The best cast iron cookware retains heat like a champion and is versatile enough to be used from the campfire to the cooktop.
Of course, when you buy cast iron skillets you don't automatically become a pro chef or baker. Here are a few cast iron cooking tips you can use to help boost your game in the kitchen.
Even the best cast iron cookware needs to be preheated before you start cooking. Preheating ensures everything is cooking at the same time and at the same temperature. Preheating also allows you to get a great sear on meats.
Whether your cast iron cookware is coated or not, it's important to make sure that you give your cookware ample time to cool down on its own when it comes out of the oven or off the stove. This is because placing your cast iron skillet onto a cold surface or under cold water before it has time to naturally cool can cause your skillet to crack.
Dish soap isn't actually a problem when washing your cast iron skillet. To keep GRIZZLY's beautiful luster, it's best to avoid putting it in the dishwasher or leaving it to soak in water. Handwashing the skillet with a mild dish soap is the best way to go.
It’s important to select the right size skillet for your recipe. As Lucy Vaserfirer highlights in her book Not Your Mother’s Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook - “The skillet should be large enough to avoid overcrowding but not so large that it will be filled too sparsely. (If you don’t have a skillet that’s large enough, cook in batches.”
