3 health reasons to cook with cast-iron By Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D., Associate Nutrition Editor at EatingWell Magazine Cast-iron skillets may seem like an old-fashioned choice in the kitchen. But this dependable cookware is a must in the modern kitchen. Cast-iron skillets conduct heat beautifully, go from stovetop to oven with no problem and last for decades. (In fact, my most highly prized piece of cookware is a canary-yellow, enamel-coated cast-iron paella pan from the 1960s that I scored at a stoop sale for $5.) As a registered dietitian and associate nutrition editor of EatingWell Magazine, I also know that there are some great health reasons to cook with cast iron. 17 Healthy Recipes for Cast Iron Skillets 1. You can cook with less oil when you use a cast-iron pan. That lovely sheen on cast-iron cookware is the sign of a well-seasoned pan, which renders it virtually nonstick. The health bonus, of course, is that you won’t need to use gads of oil to brown crispy potatoes or sear chicken when cooking in cast-iron. To season your cast-iron skillet, cover the bottom of the pan with a thick layer of kosher salt and a half inch of cooking oil, then heat until the oil starts to smoke. Carefully pour the salt and oil into a bowl, then use a ball of paper towels to rub the inside of the pan until it is smooth. To clean cast iron, never use soap. Simply scrub your skillet with a stiff brush and hot water and dry it completely. Must-Read: The 2 Healthiest Oils to Cook With (and the Worst to Avoid) 2. Cast iron is a chemical-free alternative to nonstick pans. Another benefit to using cast-iron pans in place of nonstick pans is that you avoid the harmful chemicals that are found in nonstick pans. The repellent coating that keeps food from sticking to nonstick pots and pans contains PFCs (perfluorocarbons), a chemical that’s linked to liver damage, cancer, developmental problems and, according to one 2011 study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, early menopause. PFCs get released—and inhaled—from nonstick pans in the form of fumes when pans are heated on high heat. Likewise, we can ingest them when the surface of the pan gets scratched. Both regular and ceramic-coated cast-iron pans are great alternatives to nonstick pans for this reason. Must-Read: 7 Simple Ways to Detox Your Diet and Your Home 8 More Products to Help You Green Up Your Kitchen 3. Cooking with cast iron fortifies your food with iron. While cast iron doesn’t leach chemicals, it can leach some iron into your food...and that’s a good thing. Iron deficiency is fairly common worldwide, especially among women. In fact, 10% of American women are iron-deficient. Cooking food, especially something acidic like tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet can increase iron content, by as much as 20 times. Find out: Are You and Your Family Getting Enough of the Nutrients You Need? Do you cook with cast-iron? By Kerri-Ann Jennings
yeah but ive been eatin off castiron my whole life im aint gonna change cuz some city wimp that dont know no better says so....lol
I always thought you needed to put oil and bake it on. I've got a few pans and a griddle I need to season, I'll try it with the kosher salt. Any recommends about which oil to use?
i only season with bacon grease i even season my woodstove with bacon grease keeps it black n pretty and rust free not to mention i can drop a steak or somesuch right on top as its going and cook it without a pan
And a cast iron skillet makes for a great improvised weapon. Ahem....you wanna broken nose with that bacon and egg?
Are you speaking from experience there Chell? Pays not to insult the cook, or the cooking, I think......
my dad used cast iron all the time, up until he was diagnosed with hemocromotosis. it does fortify your food with iron, but if you have high blood iron to begin with it can be a bad thing. personally i use olive oil to season my cast stuff. i need to get more.....
Thanks for the posting, Beast! Lots of good info. I have a 100-year-old cast iron frying pan which has been handed down in my late husband's family and I used it for many years. However, when the Teflon pans came out I was one of those who got sucked in to the ease of cleaning etc., so the cast iron pan was stored away. My recently deceased daughter had planned to move into the bush this year and would have been using woodstoves so I bought her a couple of secondhand pans which of course, have now reverted back to me. I think your posting is a sign for me to get cracking and fix all of these up and start using cast iron again. I will certainly need them if TSHTF and there is no power as I will be cooking on a woodstove. I'd better get prepared! Your posting is very timely, methinks!
Canola oil supposedly has a higher flash point, so one could "assume" it is suitable. I like olive oil for seasoning the CI if it needs it between bacon fryings..
one thing i considered long ago about seasoning pans when TSHTF where ya gonna get fancy oils? olive, peanut and sunflower are the only easily home made vegetable oils, everything else requires major processing same for bacon grease and lard, you can make em while ya cook
And remember the report that teflon leaches into your food when the pan is heated. Idjits gave us this and many used it.
After it's properly seasoned, my understanding is that any oil will do to keep it up, and the likelihood of having to re-season is low if you take proper care.