My Love/Hate Relationship With Cast Iron Cookware

 

  For years, I have had an ongoing love/hate relationship with the cast iron cookware handed down to me from my grandmother.  Whenever she used it, the cookware never rusted and everything turned out perfect...for me it was a different story.

I was never taught how to take care of it, and when I complained of the rust ( I would wash it in the dishwasher), I was told to season it...season it?   What herbs was I supposed to use on it?  In my twenties I didn't know what she was talking about, and after she passed away, I didn't cook as much as I used to...I let my job take over my life.

Anyway, this past Christmas I updated the appliances in my kitchen...new dishwasher, new oven/stove and new micro hood!  I was so excited!!  I got a convection oven/stove combo and my love/hate relationship with cast iron came to an end...I didn't want to take a chance on scratching my stove top so I decided I would just get rid of the cast iron cookware and buy some earth friendly pots and pans...

Only, I couldn't bring myself to throw away that link with my grandmother, so I put it on some shelves in my garage.  I started using my earth friendly cookware, and I liked it...but something was missing.

It didn't heat like the cast iron, and meat cooked on it tasted...different, so in April I gave up and decided I couldn't take it anymore...I brought the cast iron back in the house and started using it again.  Food tasted better, and finally this summer a light bulb clicked on over my head and I understood how to use it and properly take care of it!

So the hate relationship has come to an end, and it is a full on love affair...the rust is gone and I finally understand how to properly clean it...

The trick is to use real oil, not cooking spray...and after scrubbing it in the sink, pour some oil on a paper towel and rub it into the pot or pan.

So my advice is this:

Toss out that non-stick cookware that isn't healthy and get yourself some cast iron cookware...take care of it and you will enjoy years of great cooking!