So you wanna live in the south (not S. Florida, that doesn't count, he he!)?
Well there's a few things you just must know. First, grits. They are just like their name sounds (Princess, what's that type of word called?). They don't grow on bushes and we don't pick them. Second, corn bread. It's not a health food but it's soul food! Go ahead, have a slice. Smother it in butter, then enjoy! Finally, cast iron pans, dutch ovens and griddles. Have some? Use them! They're wonderful!
Rant: Soap and detergents remove oils. That's their job. Food particles are removed with elbow grease. Cast iron is designed to be used with a nice coating of oil baked onto the surface. That surface, while non stick does absorb certain things. Soap and detergents are primary on that list of certain things. So, the conclusion, class, is to NEVER EVER apply soap or detergents to cast iron cookware. If for some reason you have violated the only cast iron rule in the world, not to worry, there's a rememdy.
First, visit LODGE. They have explicit care instructions for your cast iron cookware. Second, hot boiling hot water. We had an accident with our cast iron recently. I didn't mind really. I ran hot tap water over the pans hoping to remove the soap that had found it's way to our corn bread pans. That didn't work. Well, we decided they needed hotter water. I wasn't in the mood to handle boiling water all over the kitchen and the idea didn't hit me until I started writing tonight (this morning!) anyway! So we heated the pans in the oven for about an hour and they still smelled like soap! UGH. Not to worry. A little tap water (cold) onto the hot pans and viola, the offending chemical was lifted away. No more smell. What a relief.
We have pans that we inherited from my MIL who had them for years. They are all well seasoned and very well worn. Non stick is no issue for me. I never did like teflon coated pans. I know I can repair the finish on my cast iron any time I want to. I love our cast iron.
Southern tradition: Enjoy cast iron and all it's wonders!
There you have it folks, another remedy from the river.
Friday, June 20, 2008
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4 comments:
Great tips! Perhaps I'll acquire a cast iron skillet at some point in my life?
I hear you sister! I love my cast iron and my stoneware (similar care instructions)and will miss them this summer.
Soooo...you're supposed to COOK in them? That must be why I don't have any!!! That would really ruin my image!
But I will always remember my Grandaddy's skillet cornbread. I think they called it "Cracklin Cornbread". My grandmother NEVER made the cornbread, only Grandaddy! Ummmm...it was sooo good. Probably had a gazillion calories, but nobody cared. But it was a 'Fryin Pan'...not a skillet!
I second that! My cast iron skillet practically never leaves my stovetop. Plus, there's the added bonus of greater iron in your diet. See this article http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information/IronCastIron.htm
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