Cast Iron Cooking 101

I’ve cooked with many different fabrications of cookware throughout my career, and one day I sat down to think about how I choose which type of cookware to use on any given day. While I found that I often chose cast iron based on what it was I was cooking, I also discovered that I pick cast iron for those special occasions when I’m cooking for those I love, for holidays or for those occasions when I have all the time in the world to sit back and enjoy cooking. There’s just something about cast iron, the way the aroma of slow cooked stews fills the house, the beautiful sear that it gives to meats, the solid sturdy temperament of the cookware which you know will be with you for years to come that makes you feel you have a real partner in the kitchen.  

So, what is it about cast iron cookware that makes some home cooks swoon? Why do so many cooks know they can rely on cast iron to hold up its end of the deal in the task of making dinner?  It truly comes down to the construction of the cookware and the main property of iron, which is how it not only conducts, but also maintains heat. Now, it’s this same property – how cast iron conducts heat and holds onto that heat – that makes using it a challenge for some new cooks, or cooks who are used to cooking with aluminum. The following article will give you some insight into cooking with cast iron, but let’s start at the beginning.

How is Cast Iron Cookware Made?

Cast iron cookware is just that – iron that is cast in a mold into a shape. To do this, molten iron and steel are combined and poured into a mold made of sand, water and powdered clay. Once the iron has cooled and solidified again, the mold is broken to release the cookware and then smoothed down so there are no rough edges. At this stage, the pot is classified as “bare cast iron” and is what you may have seen in the kitchens of those generations who came before us. It is plain black in color and made of one solid piece of metal, including the handle. Lodge is one of the oldest American manufacturers of bare cast iron cookware.

The other type of cast iron cookware that has become very recognizable is “enameled cast iron”, made popular by companies like Le Creuset or Staub. These pots and pans come in beautiful colors on both the inside and outside, adding a pop to any kitchen decor. Enameled cast iron starts off as bare cast iron, but has a vitreous enamel glaze applied to the surfaces, creating a non-porous surface that is not only easier to clean than raw cast iron, but has better non-stick properties as well. It’s no wonder it has become so popular, although the price of enameled cast iron can be three or four times as much as bare cast iron.

Almost any type of pot or pan can be found made of cast iron, but the most common shapes by far are the skillet and the Dutch oven. 

Why Cook with Cast Iron?

There are tons of reasons to cook with cast iron.

• Durability. First of all cast iron is incredibly durable. It can last for at least your own cooking life and probably that of the next generation as well. As a result, it couldn’t be more economical, even if you choose a high-end brand, but especially if you go with raw cast iron.
• High Heat Resistance. Cast iron can withstand extremely high temperatures on the stovetop, in the oven and under the broiler. 
• All Stovetop Types. Cast iron can be used on any type of stovetop – electric coil, glass, gas and even induction. That means that no matter what type of range you have now or in the future, this cookware will work for you.
• Open Flame Cookware. Raw cast iron can be used in an open fire, so your camp dinner fantasies can be achieved. 
• No Non-Stick Concerns. You don’t have to worry about using cast iron over high heat as you do with non-stick coated pans because cast iron has extremely high heat resistance.
• Easy to Maintain. With enameled cast iron, clean up is very easy (see below). Even raw cast iron is easy  to maintain if you season the pan regularly and clean properly (again, see below). 

More than all of the above, however, the reason to use cast iron comes back to that property that we identified earlier – cast iron conducts heat effectively and holds onto heat. Unlike copper that gets hot quickly and also cools quickly, cast iron takes a little time to get hot, but once hot, it holds onto that heat or takes quite a while to cool down. This is great for some cooking methods. For instance, when you want to sear a steak you need high, constant heat. You want to use a pan that will get hot and hold that heat rather than cool down when you put a cold steak into it. Cast iron is your friend in this instance. Cast iron is also helpful when you want to cook on lower heat too. By holding onto whatever heat you give it, it creates a constant, steady environment that keeps braised foods cooking at a steady rate without a lot of variation. You just have to be the master of how much heat you give the cookware.

Cast iron is not for cooking methods that call for immediate temperature changes, like candy-making or caramel. Where most cooks run into trouble with cast iron is when they heat it too much and are then stuck with a hot pot that needs a fair amount of time to cool down. If you accidentally heat cast iron too hot, you will find yourself in a bind. So, to avoid this predicament and to get the most out of your cast iron cooking, check out the tips below.

1. Wash the pan thoroughly. The goal here is to remove any residue, pre-existing oil and rust, so using steel wool and warm water is appropriate.
2. Dry the pan completely. You don’t want any excess moisture on the pan, so heat it on the stovetop for several minutes to ensure it is fully dry.
3. Pre-heat the oven to 300ºF and place a sheet pan on the very bottom rack.
4. Rub either grapeseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil or flaxseed oil on the surfaces of the pan. Start with about a teaspoon of oil and use a paper towel to rub the oil into the pan in concentric circles. Then, use a clean paper towel to rub off any excess oil – you want a very thin coating.
5. Place the pan upside down on the middle rack of the oven and leave it there for 10 minutes.
6. Remove the pan and rub it again with a clean paper towel. This will remove any excess oil and ensure you have a thin coating.
7. Increase the heat in the oven to 400ºF and return the pan (upside down) to the oven. Leave it there for an hour.
8. Remove the pan from the heat (carefully) and let it cool. 
9. Cook with the pan following the cleaning instructions below between cooking sessions and re-season the pan as needed or every couple of months.

Cleaning Raw Cast Iron

Once you have seasoned your pan, it’s important to use minimal detergents or abrasive metals to clean the pan – that will just remove the seasoning you’ve worked so hard to apply. Instead, wipe the pan clean and wash with just a drop or two of detergent, using a chain mail scrubber or green scrubbie, but no steel wool. Then run under hot water before drying thoroughly. If food has stuck to the bottom of the pan, scrape it with a flat spatula or spoon or for really stubborn stains boil water in the pan and then scrape the bottom. I can’t over-emphasize how important it is to dry the pan completely after you wash it. Do this by heating it on the stovetop (or in the oven) for several minutes. Then, leave it on your stovetop to cool before putting it away.

Cleaning Enameled Cast Iron

Enameled cast iron is much easier to clean than raw cast iron. Although many brands claim their cast iron cookware is dishwasher safe, I prefer to wash my enameled pans by hand. They clean up very easily with soapy water and a sponge. If, however, you do have stubborn stains, just soak the pan in a 5:1 bleach to water solution for 15 minutes and then clean normally.

Tips and Tricks for Cooking with Cast Iron

• Pre-heat the pan before adding any food, including oil. Remember, cast iron pans take longer to heat than other pans, so you need to have a little patience when pre-heating. Pre-heating the pan without oil will allow it to reach a higher temperature quicker than if you have oil in it. Plus, when you add oil to a hot pan, it will be hot instantly and ready for your next ingredients.
• Pre-heat on medium heat only. Cast iron gets hot and then stays hot, so the last thing you want to do is over-heat the pan. Heat it for several minutes on medium heat only. If you try to rush things by heating the pan on high, you will over-heat it and have to wait for it to cool down. 
• Use the right sized burner. This is important for any pan that you are using, but even the great heat conductivity of cast iron can’t make up for a small burner. Use a burner that is about the same size as your pan.
• Use caution. Because cast iron pans are almost always made with one piece of metal, the handle will get HOT. Get into the habit of always having a towel or oven mitt in your hand when handling cast iron pots and pans. 
• Listen to your food. Many cooks have a fear of food sticking in pans and panic when they try to turn foods over. Food needs time to properly sear in a pan. If your steak, or chicken or other protein is resisting you when you try to flip it, it’s trying to tell you it’s not ready to be flipped. Wait a few more minutes and then try again. Once the food has created a seared surface, it will flip more easily.
• Deglaze. Deglazing might be my favorite culinary technique. It refers to adding liquid to a pan and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom surface. This technique is used when making pan sauces, but it also helps in cleaning up the bottom of the pan as well. Try deglazing with just water, even if you’re not making a pan sauce. It will save you when it comes time to do the dishes.
• Resist Temptation. Although it is tempting to check on your food to see how it is coming along, try not to lift the lid too often when you’re cooking with your cast iron Dutch oven. Every time you lift the lid, you lose a lot of heat and break the consistent temperature of the cookware. Check to make sure you have the right temperature, and then let the cast iron do the rest of the work for you. 
• No ice water. Most cast iron can handle thermal shock, but every once in a while a pan can actually crack. It’s ok to add cool water to a hot pan, but never add ice water to a hot pan. 
• Use cast iron as a cooler. Cast iron holds its temperature, whether that temperature is hot or cold. Fill a cast iron Dutch oven with ice water for 30 minutes, then drain and dry it well, fill it with cold salads or foods that you’d like to keep cold. It’s great for outdoor entertaining.
• Use cast iron as a warmer. You can also use cast iron to keep foods warm, even if you haven’t cooked the food in the pot. Boil water in the cast iron for several minutes, drain and dry well and then use it to keep warm foods warm – like mashed potatoes, for instance.