Caring For Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron cookware can stand the test of time if properly cared for, but many people don't know the few simple steps needed to wash, dry, and store cast iron cookware.
Wash in hot water Hot water is more effective at washing off dirt and grease from your cast iron cookware. Hot water also will dry more quickly, preventing your cast iron cookware from rusting.

Don't over scrub. Over scrubing cast iron cookware removes the healthy coating it has developed. Of course sometimes a piece of cast iron cookware will need to scrubbed. Follow the last step to reseason if you must scrub the cookware.

Dry over heat. Turn a stovetop burner on and place the cast iron cookware on it. The heat will cause the pan to thoroughly dry. Be careful when touching the hot pan.

Reseason the cast iron cookware. Rub a thin layer of shortening or cooking oil into your cast iron cookware to season it, keeping it from deteriorating and rusting. Then place the cast iron cookware into a warm oven that is off and allow it to sit there overnight.
Be wary of acidic foods. Acidic foods can spell damage for cast iron cookware. The acidic will dissolve the seasoning of the pan and create a mettalic taste on your food. Don't use cast iron cookware to store foods.

Take care of rust. Store your cast iron cookware with the lids off to prevent condensation and rust. If despite your best efforts, rust does appear. Try washing the pan with shortening. In some cases you may have to scrub and reseason a pan.

Theses steps can help you have generations of use for your cast iron cookware.
Cast iron cookware information Posted by: Blueshoots.com

Cast Iron Cookware Facts

Iron is durable, relatively cheap, non-toxic, easy to cast (mold) and shape, and has excellent heat retention and diffusion. These properties make cast iron a natural choice for cookware. The cast iron used to make cookware is itself made from pig and scrap iron, with a small amount of silicon and graphite.

Because cast iron will react with or stain many foods, bare cast iron cookware must be seasoned. Cast iron cookware is also available with an enamel coating - this cookware doesn't need to be seasoned, but loses some of the other desirable properties of bare cast iron.

Some of the types of cookware made out of bare cast iron include dutch ovens, frying pans, deep fryers, woks, and griddles.

Bare cast iron cookware requires seasoning—impregnation of the cooking surface with oil—to prevent rusting, and to create a non-stick surface. New cast iron must be seasoned before use. Some companies now offer pre-seasoned pans, but, like "home-seasoned" cast iron, these may need to be re-seasoned if they are washed with strong soap or allowed to rust.

Cast Iron Cookware Information Posted By: Blueshoots.com