- Cooking with a cast-iron skillet isn't for everyone, but those who love this type of pan swear by it.
- If you're ready to try cast-iron cooking for the first time, or if you want a high-quality cast-iron skillet, the Victoria Cast Iron 12-Inch Skillet Fry Pan is a versatile option that's perfect for all kinds of cooking tasks.
The idea of living simply has become popular again. Search Google for home improvement, and you may see results about living in tiny houses, reducing your carbon footprint, running a family game night, or having electronics-free time.
Another option for simplifying things is to reduce clutter. If you're like most people, you've collected quite a lot of stuff over the years. Reduce the number of things you have, and you're sure to feel freer. (Plus, you'll actually be able to find things.)
If you want to start in the kitchen, we have an idea for you. Rather than having specific pans for many different types of cooking techniques, go back to a cooking surface and design that's been extremely popular for more than a century - cast-iron skillets. This material works great for cooking any kind of food using any kind of heat source.
Advantages of cast-iron pans
Cast iron seems old-fashioned and strange in an era filled with shiny nonstick cookware, but it's much more durable and long-lasting than Teflon. Cast-iron pans also add a tiny amount of iron into the food as you cook, which can increase your daily iron intake.
The cast-iron material will absorb all of the materials cooked in the pan over time, which adds flavor and seasoning to your pan. Although some may find that off-putting, for true cast-iron fans, this feature is what makes the skillet a great cooking tool. It's also what makes the cast-iron skillet completely nonstick. Here are some other great features of cast-iron pans.
- Even heating: One reason why cooks and chefs love cast iron is that it heats far more evenly than pans made from thinner materials. It maintains its hot temperature, even when you add a cold steak to the pan, according to Serious Eats, which allows it to cook faster than a thin skillet. Foods will also cook more evenly.
- Indestructible: Cast-iron pans will last for decades and still continue to work perfectly, as long as you take care of them properly and season them before use.
- Naturally nonstick: As long as you care for the skillet properly and have it seasoned, food will not stick to the cast-iron pan. According to Lodge, the renown maker of cast-iron cookware, you can use metal utensils to cook on these pans without having to worry about scratching the surface.
- Take it anywhere: You can use the cast-iron skillet in your kitchen, over a campfire in the middle of nowhere, and anywhere in between. Of course, the heaviness of a cast-iron pan needs to be considered.
- Versatility: You can cook almost any kind of food in a cast-iron pan, oftentimes multiple foods simultaneously. It will work on a surface burner of an oven, it'll cook over heat from an outdoor grill, it works with a campfire, or it can be placed inside the oven for baking.
Some people don't like how heavy a cast-iron pan is. Admittedly, you will have to use your muscles to move this pan around. But think of it this way: You'll be able to work off some calories before you eat by carrying around a cast-iron skillet.
Additionally, because this pan is one piece, the handles will become hot over time. You'll want to have gloves or oven mitts available to handle the cast iron pan. Some companies also sell silicone handle covers to protect your hands, so it's worth buying some.
Here are the best cast-iron pans for your kitchen you can buy:
- Best cast-iron pan overall: Victoria Cast Iron 10-Inch Skillet Fry Pan
- Best miniature cast-iron pan: Lodge Miniature Skillet
- Best professional cast-iron pan: Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet
- Best cast-iron pan set: Simple Chef Cast Iron Skillet 3-Piece Set
- Best cast-iron wok: Lodge 14-Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Wok
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