HouseWife XtremePOTS & PANS

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January 6, 2009

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Household Tips

Kitchen - Pots and Pans

Cast Iron

New cast iron is grey. It will only turn black after proper seasoning and use.

Seasoning

1. Heat your new cast iron pan to a safe handling temperature.

2. Thoroughly clean using hot water and a scrubbing pad. It is not recommended to use soap.

3. Lightly coat the entire pan with bacon grease for best results. You may use a vegetable shortening or lard. Do not use a vegetable oil as it will leave a sticky surface and the pan will not be properly seasoned.

4. Place the pan into 300-degree oven.

5. Using an oven mitt and caution remove the pan after 15 minutes and pour off all excess grease.

6. Place the pan back into the oven for 2 hours.

For best results repeat coating and cooking up to three times.

Re-Seasoning

You may need to re-season your cast iron pan if food sticks to the surface or there is rust.

Heating your pan before cleaning helps open the pores of the metal and makes it easier to clean. Once heated and thoroughly cleaned, repeat the above procedure for seasoning.

Caring for cast iron

For the first couple of uses, try frying bacon or other foods cooked with fat. The grease from these foods will help strengthen the seasoning of your pan.

You should avoid cooking acidic foods such as tomatoes and beans, as well as foods with a high water content, the first few times of use.

If you use a lid, remember to remove it after cooking because steam may remove the protective coating.

Clean your cast iron while the pan is still hot, using only hot water. You should never use any soap, detergent, or a scouring pad, as the will break down the seasoning.

After washing your pan dry it on the stove set on a low heat.

Never store food in the cast iron pan as the acid in the food will breakdown the seasoning and take on a metallic flavour.

Store your cast iron cookware with the lids off, especially in humid weather, because if covered, moisture can build up and cause rust. Should rust appear, the pan should be re-seasoned.

Remember
Cast iron heats evenly, therefore it is not necessary to use extremely high cooking temperatures. Best results are obtained with medium to medium-high temperature settings. Note you should always allow the utensil to heat as the burner does.

If you would like to add, request or suggest some tips or topics please e-mail me at householdtips@housewifextreme.com.

Tip of the Week

You can place sugar cubes in the container with your cheese to help keep the cheese mold free.

***Food Guide***