HOW TO: CAST IRON SKILLET NON-STICK AND LASTS A LIFETIME (STA BREAKING NEWS and ARCHIVES)

by STANews , Friday, September 26, 2014, 13:35

<SOME THINGS I DISAGREE WITH: #5: A GOOD CAST IRON SKILLET WILL NOT CRACK FROM HEAT UNLESS PUT IN COLD WATER WHEN SKILLET IS HOT. I GREW UP WITH THEM. IF YOU CAN ONLY FIND THE SKILLETS THAT ARE ROUGH IN THE COOKING AREA, HAVE SOMEONE USE SAND PAPER AND SAND IT UNTIL IT IS SMOOTH. SMALL ELECTRIC SANDER IS BEST FOR THIS.
PROBABLY USES A FAIR AMOUNT OF SANDPAPER, BUT IT WORKS. I PREHEAT MY OVEN TO 450, LINE THE BOTTOM OR THE BOTTOM RACK WITH ALUMINUM FOIL TO CATCH THE DRIPPINGS BECAUSE I HAVE COATED THE ENTIRE SKILLET WITH ANY BRAND OF LARD, INSIDE AND OUT.HELPS TO HAVE AN OPEN WINDOW OR DOOR, TOO. TURN THE SKILLET UPSIDE DOWN ON THE RACK AND LEAVE IT FOR ABOUT 2 1/2-3 HOURS. SOME OLD PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HOT FIRE GOING IN THE FIREPLACE OR OUTSIDE, STICK THE SKILLET IN THERE. LET THE SKILLET COOL THEN RINSE REALLY WELL. WHEN DRY, SPRAY THE COOKING AREA WITH PAM, OR USE ANY KIND OF OIL OR LARD TO LIGHTLY COAT THE SKILLET IN THE COOKING AREA ONLY. IT IS READY TO USE. RE-DO WHEN THE OUTSIDE BUILDS UP IN A FEW YEARS. IF LEFT IN WATER FOR A LONG TIME, THE WATER WILL TAKE OUT THE SEASONING AND THE SKILLET WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO STICK. HOWEVER, IF SOMETHING IS HARD TO CLEAN, PUT ABOUT 1/4 INCH OF WATER IN THE SKILLET, TURN ON THE FIRE UNDER IT AND AS THE WATER WARMS, A SPATULA CAN SCRAPE OFF WHAT IS INSIDE EASILY. WHEN DONE, POUR OUT THE WATER, RINSE AND DRY WITH A PAPER TOWEL. AND I PREFER THE SPATULAS THAT ARE NOT ROUNDED ON THE CORNERS.AS TO USING SOAP, IT WAS FOUND THAT CREWS ON THE OLD SHIPS SPENDING MONTHS AT SEA HAD SCURVY BECAUSE THE IRON SKILLETS WERE WASHED IN SOAPY WATER.>

cast iron cookware in a nutshell:

1) use a good cast iron skillet with a glassy-smooth cooking surface (Griswold or Wagner). The new cast iron with the rough cooking surface is gonna be frustrating (Lodge Logic).

2) keep it dry!

Using water short term (minutes, not hours) has its uses. When the time comes to put the cast iron cookware away, give it a few seconds on a hot stove, just to make sure all the water is out.

3) use a little oil or grease

4) a little smoke is a good thing

MORE...

http://www.richsoil.com/cast-iron.jsp