Cast iron cookware is ideal cookware for outdoor cooking; indeed I’d venture to say its the best. But why?

1. Cast iron cookware is inexpensive when compared to its alternatives, given the length of time it will be in use. Most well cared for cast iron will last a family for generations and in of itself it becomes an heirloom;

2. Cast iron cookware is a superb cooking medium to cook with outdoors. With its ideal heat conduction as well as heat retention and its lack of hot spots its an outside cooks dream tool;

3. Cast iron cookware can be used to cook nearly all types of food;

4. Its really healthy to cook with cast iron cookware. Why? Because you can cook fat free! …Impossible?… No! A properly seasoned skillet or pan is ‘stick-free’ so requires no oil for cooking. [Note: Seasoning means filling the cracks, holes and small cavities in the pan with grease in a hot oven. The grease then gets cooked in providing a smooth surface on both the inside and outside of the pan.

5. In cast iron cookware your food slides easily & freely in the pan.

6. You can use your cast iron pans & skillets freely in both the oven and on the grill, as such they are ideal for grilling, roasting and baking

7. Cast iron cookware is exceptionally tough and doesn’t warp; and

8. Cast iron cookware is very easy to clean.

We recommend at The Outdoor Cooking Store that all chef that love cooking outdoors should own a set of cast iron pans and a skillet. They are a great investment which your grandchildren will come to appreciate over time.

In the following points we outline some best practice guidelines to help you make best use of your cast iron cookware.

1. If you find that food sticks when cooking with cast iron cookware the cookware hasn’t been seasoned properly. Therefor you need to re-season it; this will stop the food sticking.

2. What size of cast iron skillet is best? The majority in our store go for the 10″ skillet; albeit when cooking for larger groups a larger version will be needed.

3. Don’t use your cast iron cookware simply to boil water.

4. Cast iron cookware performs great as Dutch Oven, an ancient form of cooking. This works so well because of the even spread heat, devoid of hot spots that can be attained within the pan.

5. You can use your dutch oven first on the stove then it can go straight into the oven, such is its versatility.

6. You should always preheat your cast iron cookware before cooking with it. The temperature’s right when drips of water sizzle then jump around;if its too hot water turns to steam immediately; if its too cold little or nothing happens.

7. Never pour lots of cold water into a really hot skillet as it may shatter.

8. Cast iron stove ware handles get really hot so keep a good pair of oven gloves handy;

9. Make sure that your cast iron cookware remains properly seasoned as then it cleans up really well.

10. To clean your cast iron cookware:

* when cooled use normal washing up liquid, rinse with water & dry with paper towels;

* don’t listen to those that say just wipe it out; this is not hygienic;

* don’t ever put cast-iron cookware in the dishwasher;

* when washed place your cast iron cookware back onto the stove to completely dry it out. Then before its cooled lightly oil it using vegetable oil; then leave it on the stove for a few minutes before removing it and wiping away any excess oil;

* once your cast iron cookware is well dried never store it with its lid on or rust can build up inside due to moisture, To avoid this still further place a paper towel inside the pan to absorb any moisture; and

* if you do get rust appearing, scour with steel wool then wash and re-season.

All done, now remember to take good care of your cookware and you’ll have the perfect inheritance for your great grandchildren, all in the goodness of time.

Enjoy your outdoor cooking.

Tags: cast iron cookware, cooking out doors, f, food & drink, g, garden, gardening, h, home, home;improvement, o, outdoor, outdoor cooking equipment, outdoors, skillets, u

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