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Cast Iron

Enameled Cast Iron Cookware Vs. Cast Iron

Enameled Cast Iron vs Cast Iron

Many people read or hear about cast iron cookware and are surprised to find that there are various types available. You may have decided that you want to begin cooking with cast iron pots and pans but you may not know where to begin.

While bare, uncoated cast iron and enameled cast iron cookware do have similar features and provide comparable benefits, there are a few key differences to note when deciding to purchase the cookware. The goal of this post is to compare Enameled Cast Iron vs Cast Iron.

How to Season Cast Iron (Bacon Grease & more)– The Definitive Guide

two seasoned cast iron pans top view

Seasoning cast iron is a process and it is literally the foundation on which you cook your food. It is critically important to prolong the longevity of your cookware and protects it from the elements, namely moisture.

If you ask 5 cast iron enthusiasts how to season cast iron, then you will probably get six answers. And, if you ask the right person, he or she may have six answers all on their own!

Most likely, each answer is partially correct and will get you a pretty darn good foundation to cook on.

The 5 Best Dutch Ovens for Baking Breads

bread in dutch oven

  Do you love a freshly-baked loaf of bread? Bread always tastes better when it’s fresh out of the oven. Instead of heading to the supermarket for a loaf of “fresh baked” bread that has probably been sitting out for days, why not bake your own? So what is the best dutch oven for baking … Read more

History of Wagner Cast Iron

These are all Wagners - I got them for $13!

The use of cast iron for cookware is centuries old and many of the vintage pieces can still be used today. For example, cast iron Dutch ovens were used by the settlers of the United States as they traveled westward. Without their wood burning stoves, the camp Dutch oven provided a way for the travelers to cook their meals over an open fire.

Best Cookware For High Heat Cooking

wagner cast iron skillet

We’ve all heard the phrase, “if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” right?  High heat cooking produces some of the most delicious and flavorful dishes you can imagine, so it’s a great technique for your cooking repertoire.  So what’s the best type of cookware to use when cooking with high heat? Generally, … Read more

Best Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

White and Red Le Creuset Cast Iron Dutch Ovens

To be considered an excellent cook, you need to be able to have a certain versatility in the kitchen that allows you to make a wide array of different meals. In order to do that, you need to be able to reach in your arsenal of cookware and pull out the correct tool to complete … Read more

Best things to Cook in Cast Iron

Make a deliciously seared steak with your cast iron cookware.

So you’ve done the research, you looked at the pros and cons of all the cooking materials and surfaces that you can choose from, and you’ve decided that cast iron is the best fit for you. Want to find out why? But what do you do now? Surely you can’t just continue cooking the same … Read more

Best Pan To Cook Steak On Stove

medium rare steak sliced on cutting board next to knife and fork

  The weather isn’t cooperating, or you don’t have a grill. But you’re craving that perfectly seared steak dinner. What’s the best way to cook your steak on the stove? Use one of the pans on my list to make a pan-seared steak. Spoiler alert! My favorite is the Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan from … Read more

Best Stovetop Kettle

woman's hands holding white mug of tea with lemon slice

  Brewing a cup of tea or can give you a nice pick-me-up, or settle you down at the end of a long day. While some people gravitate towards new countertop electric tea kettles, a stovetop kettle is still a great addition to any kitchen both for function and aesthetic. Me? I like the T-fal … Read more

Best Cast Iron Skillet for Steak

Make a deliciously seared steak with your cast iron cookware.

Cast iron skillets are one of the most versatile and durable kitchen tools you can own as a cook. They are an affordable alternative to stainless steel, and they also let you reap the benefits of nonstick pans without the short shelf life. Don’t want to read any further? Check out our favorite skillet here … Read more

Best Cookware for Ceramic Glass Cooktops

Stainless, stainless everywhere. And so much stuff to cook.

If you are lucky enough to have a ceramic glass cook-top in your kitchen, then you know you have one of the most modern, state-of-the-art stove tops around. You probably also know that this beautiful stovetop dream comes with some quirks. My favorite set? Here’s the ultimate All-Clad set at Amazon. Glass ceramic cooktops look great and … Read more

Best Way to Clean Cast Iron Griddle

Cast iron griddle on a marble background

    There’s a lot of debate surrounding the best way to clean cast iron skillets. Do you use soap? Can you clean with oil? Should you even clean it at all? Part of this debate stems from the fact that how you should clean your cast iron griddle depends on how dirty it is … Read more

How to Clean a Cast Iron Teapot

Cast iron teapots are the best teapots. But how do you clean them?

    Brewing tea in a cast iron pot is probably the oldest method still in use today. In fact, I don’t think there’s a method older than cast iron outside of ceramic pots. It has been around for hundreds of years, with its birth in Japan during the Sencha period. These pots have been … Read more

How to Remove Rust From Cast Iron Tools

    Cast Iron will last pretty much forever. You can use it on the stove top, in the oven, on your grill, and even right into the coals of a campfire. And that’s just cast iron for cooking. There are tons of cast iron tools out there, some relatively new and some really old.  … Read more

Best Place to Buy Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron lasts forever. This one is 100 years old!

Buying cast iron cookware can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there, with such a wide price range. It can be tough to decide what’s best to fit your needs. While some people will go to a store to try to find the perfect cast iron pan, I found that when I visited … Read more

Best Way to Get Rust off Cast Iron

You can't make your ziti in a rusty cast iron pan.

Finding rust on a beloved or forgotten piece of cast iron can be an unpleasant experience. Maybe it’s a piece that has been in your family for a while and everyone forgot. Maybe you finally cleaned out that back cupboard in the kitchen and found an old cast iron skillet that you haven’t used in ages. No … Read more

What are the Best Oven Mitts for Cast Iron

Traditional oven mitts might not protect you when working with very high temperatures!

When you’re cooking with fire, there’s a chance you could get burned! To minimize this risk and keep your hands and arms from sustaining an injury, you’re going to want a quality pair of oven mitts. These are my top picks. They’ll keep your hands (and arms) nice and safe when cooking with this high … Read more

Restoring Antique Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron is an awesome material. It’s able to withstand extremely high cooking temperatures, which makes it ideal for frying and searing. Over time, cast iron naturally develops a non-stick surface which also adds a rich, savory flavor to anything cooked in it. Cast iron pots and pans are generally made of a single solid … Read more

Wagner versus Griswold Cast Iron

griswold dutch oven bottom

WagnerWare vs Griswold. It’s like choosing Chevy or Ford. It probably has to do with what your family uses… (We drove Fords around here!) When it comes to vintage cast iron cookware, Wagner and Griswold are the brands to look for. These two companies were the most popular manufacturers of cast iron cookware during their … Read more

Cast Iron Maintenance: Caring For Cast Iron the Smart Way

Cast iron has been used to make cookware for more than two thousand years, dating back to as far as the Han dynasty in China. Cast iron is prized for its heat retention, durability, and the natural non-stick surface created by its seasoning. In America, cast iron cookware had its heyday from the 1850s until the … Read more

History of Griswold Cast Iron

When you’re collecting cast iron cookware, it’s easy feel overloaded by the vast amount of information available out there. After all, if you’re looking for a cast iron piece that will appreciate in value over the years, you’ll want to consider not only getting a piece that’s in good condition, but also one made by … Read more

What’s the Best Cast Iron Teapot?

black cast iron teapot

Looking for the best cast iron teapot? Well you are in the right place! I looked far and high for the best one out there, and tried NOT to break the bank at the same time. Cast iron teapots, known as tetsubin in Japanese, originated in Japan sometime between the 17th and 18th century where … Read more

Top 6 Cast-Iron Cookware Brands

Choosing the right cast-iron cookware can be a challenge for people just starting their search for this specific style of cookware, or even for those that are looking to add more pieces to their current set.  Cast iron has been a durable and reliable kitchen appliance used by everyone from cooks on cattle drives to … Read more

Best Cast Iron Cookware for the Money

vintage cast iron dutch oven

Choosing the right cast-iron cookware can be a challenge. There are so many different types, and being that cast-iron has been the choice for many chefs for many years, there are often many used cookware on the market as well. Which one is for you? If you’re lucky, the cast iron chose you…meaning it was … Read more

History of Wagner Cast Iron (page 4)

The use of cast iron for cookware is centuries old and many of the vintage pieces can still be used today. For example, cast iron Dutch ovens were used by the settlers of the United States as they traveled westward. Without their wood burning stoves, the camp Dutch oven provided a way for the travelers to cook their meals over an open fire.

History of Wagner Cast Iron (page 3)

The use of cast iron for cookware is centuries old and many of the vintage pieces can still be used today. For example, cast iron Dutch ovens were used by the settlers of the United States as they traveled westward. Without their wood burning stoves, the camp Dutch oven provided a way for the travelers to cook their meals over an open fire.

History of Wagner Cast Iron (page 2)

The use of cast iron for cookware is centuries old and many of the vintage pieces can still be used today. For example, cast iron Dutch ovens were used by the settlers of the United States as they traveled westward. Without their wood burning stoves, the camp Dutch oven provided a way for the travelers to cook their meals over an open fire.

Why you should be using cast iron cookware…

egg in cast iron pan

I am a bit of an evangelist for cast iron, and if you are a regular reader then you already know that. I tell people about my cast iron whenever I get the chance. I recently wrote an article for my friends, Bre and Ree, that run the Bump & Run Blog. It is called, … Read more

Deep Frying Bacon

strips of bacon on wire rack over pan lined with aluminum foil

It’s not a surprise that almost all of us love bacon. No matter what day or time it is, week day or weekend, we’re always delighted to see bacon on our table. The next time you make bacon, if you feel curious and want to experiment with how else you can prepare bacon, why not … Read more

Why Cook with Cast Iron

steak in cast iron skillet

One of the main reasons why people choose a cast iron skillet for cooking is because cast iron cookware can be used for almost anything.

Whether you want to sear potatoes, bake a cake or stir-fry vegetables, one cast iron frying pan is all you need. However, because cast iron cooking can be a lot of fun, especially for someone new to the idea, you may find yourself with more than just a single pan.

Here are some other reasons why you may consider cooking with cast iron:

Great Accessories for Cast Iron Skillets

multiple cast iron skillets

Here are a couple of very convenient accessories for your cast iron skillets. Lodge Polycarbonate Pan Scraper See Lodge SCRAPERPK Pan Scrapers at Amazon. A great accessory is the Lodge Polycarbonate Pan Scraper from Amazon. This little tool allows you to clean your cast iron cookware well without using soap or compromising the sought after non-stick … Read more

Top 20 Cast Iron Recipes for the Super Bowl

superbowl cast iron recipes on 50 yard line

There isn’t anything more American than the Super Bowl. And, when I think about the hot competition on the Gridiron, my mind wanders a bit to other hot iron. CAST IRON. Our Founding Fathers settled this land with their wagons loaded up with provisions and cast iron. Let’s honor them this Sunday by using some cast iron.

Recipe: Calzones on the Grill on a Cast Iron Skillet

calzones on the grill on a cast iron skillet

I love pizza. Or, pretty much anything that has most or all the components of pizza, such as a calzone. Today, I will be sharing my experience making calzones on the grill and some reasons why you might want to do this. About 50% of the time, you can see a ball of dough in my refrigerator resting, slowly rising, and developing great sourdough like flavors, waiting to be kneaded (pun intended).

I might bake a loaf of bread, na’an, pita, pizza, or flatbread. Once, I even made some cinnamon rolls with Nutella spread over the top. The recipe for the dough that I make varies slightly but our cast iron pizza recipe has a good one to start with.

How to Restore Cast Iron

This post will be similar to our post on how to season cast iron, but from a slightly different starting point and focus.

Here we will discuss the process by which the seasoning on a piece of cast iron cookware may be completely removed, followed by a guide on how to re-season the cookware with flaxseed oil.

How To Restore Cast Iron: First of all, why would you want to restore cast iron cookware?

Dating Wagner Cast Iron

cast iron skillet on wooden table

I hear the question all the time: How old is my Wagner cast iron skillet? Is there a way to date my Wagner cast iron dutch oven? Or even my Griswold skillet?

It is not an easy answer and there are a few factors to consider. So, first off there is a line of demarcation for collectible cast iron cookware.

Roughly after 1960, the cast iron cookware that was made in the US is not considered a “collectible” item. It just means it the collectors don’t hold those pieces of cookware as high as the other pre-1960 pieces.

Wagner Cast Iron Skillet: My First Vintage Cast Iron Cookware

These are all Wagners - I got them for $13!

In this case, I won the auction for $12.05!

A great bargain if you ask me! “How much was the shipping?!” you say.

The shipping for the lot of 3 skillets was $15.85. Yep, the shipping cost more than the goods.

Each of the skillets was less than $10 a piece, they can pretty much last for a few lifetimes if you take care of them right.

I felt great about this deal overall.

This may be an exception as far as the pricing but I think if you lurk around and take your time while monitoring the auctions, you too can find a good deal.

Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

cast iron skillet pizza

Do you want to make some homemade pizza but you don’t have the “required” pizza stone?

Don’t worry!

Just make a Cast Iron Skillet Pizza instead.

There are a few alternatives to help you get your pizza fix without having the requisite pizza stone and we’ll discuss how to use a cast iron skillet or griddle.

How to Season Cast Iron With Flaxseed Oil

cast iron seasoned with flaxseed oil

So you’ve got yourself a new, nude piece of cast iron cookware and you’re ready to put a fresh coating of seasoning. In our previous post, we mentioned that really any type of fat will work, with vegetable oil or shortening being the most commonly used (due to their near-ubiquitous presence in modern kitchens).

However, in the past few years, rumors of excellent cast iron seasons using flaxseed oil have caught our ears, and we were anxious to try it out.

If you have not yet tried to totally strip and re-season a piece of cast iron, please consider the process…and check out this other post to provide some context about the process, benefits, and why one may consider stripping the existing seasoning.

Black Iron – Cast Iron Dutch Oven

When the earliest white hunters and settlers came to Louisiana, one important piece of equipment they carried was a cast iron Dutch oven.
This highly practical cooking utensil was essential in the kit of even the lightest traveling adventurer in early America. In fact, long before Columbus began his quest of discovery, hunting parties around the world depended upon some form of the classic Dutch oven to handle a multitude of cooking chores.

How To Cook a Steak In A Cast Iron Skillet

One of the best ways to cook a steak if you can’t make it out to the grill is on a cast iron skillet. You can’t beat the sear from the massive surface area that the skillet provides.

It is really nice to cook over a live fire, whether is charcoal or a real stick burner, but if you’re limited and must stay indoors this method is the way to go. In fact, this method might be the preferred method if you’re in a pinch for time.

And, I would say this cast iron steak recipe would beat out a gas grill – sorry!

But you may as well broil your steaks if you’re going to use a gas grill (in most cases anyway), and there isn’t anything wrong with that but the point is that a gas grill is not ideal.

Recipe: Colossal Sea Scallops (Seared on Cast Iron)

scallops in cast iron pan

Get some fresh Colossal Sea Scallops (more information below on selecting the right scallops).

Remove the scallops from the refrigerator, unwrap them, rinse them in very cool tap water and allow them to drain on a fresh paper towel. Gently dry the scallops and set them on a plate, leaving space between each scallop.

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