A Cook’s Best Friend
What you are looking at is the single most essential piece of cookware any cook should own. The indispensable, indestructible, absolutely amazing cast iron skillet. Want to make a perfect omelette? Use a cast iron skillet. Need to fry up a bunch of bacon? Use a cast iron skillet. Do you have a hankering for a pan-seared ribeye? You guessed it, use a cast iron skillet.
Now I admit, I get excited when I walk through a kitchen store and see the latest nonstick Calphalon or All-Clad pans. After all, they work great, look cool, and signal that you are a serious kitchen master to those in the know. But… there is the issue of price. An 8-inch nonstick All Clad pan will cost something in the $75-$100 range, whereas a brand new 8-inch cast iron skillet can be had for less than $20. If you have the energy and willingness, cast iron skillets are popular garage sale items and you can pick one up for pennies on the dollar.
So what is so great about cast iron? Well that “even-heating” that all the fancy pans tout as one of their selling points is also one of the chief advantages offered by cast iron skillets. Cast Iron skillets are damn near indestructible, they won’t chip, warp, or require frequent replacement. If something does happen to your skillet, all that is required to revive it to its former glory is a scrub down, a quick towel dry, slather some Crisco on it, and bake it upside down in a scorching hot oven for an hour. The end product is amazing. And when properly seasoned, no pan has a more non-stick surface than a cast iron skillet.
Makin’ Bacon
Did I mention flavor? After some preliminary seasoning, a cast iron skillet will begin to take on the flavor of the food that is cooked in it and will actually provide good seasoning and flavor in subsequent cooking sessions. Ever wonder why Grandma’s fried chicken tasted so good? It’s probably because she’d been making it in the same cast iron skillet every Sunday for the last 20 years.
In short, a cast iron skillet is the best friend any cook can have. It can take your abuse and with just a little bit of love you can patch things up and be better than ever. It will grow old with you and as it acquires that beautiful shiny black patina it is known for, you can recount all the wonderful meals you’ve made with it.
So for a tiny investment of money and a little bit of time and grease you can get the best cookware money can buy. The next time you find yourself staring daggers at those fancy pans, just remember what Grandma used.
Sip & Snack 