Cooking with Cast Iron

I've decided to take a break from bombarding you with recipes and to talk a little about one of my favorite items in the kitchen - my cast iron skillet. I got my Pre-Seasoned Skillet from Emril's line of cookware at Bed Bath & Beyond.  At a cost of less than $20 this was a great investment! Especially for use in our one bedroom apartment where we can't have a grill this is now the go-to for cooking meats in our household. BAM!

Why cast iron? A cast iron pan is different from other pans made with thinner materials, such as aluminum, because it gets steaming hot and stays that way. Therefore, it is ideal for meats that need to be cooked at high heat. Meats that need a hard sear to hold in the flavors, but not burnt cook perfectly in this pan. Great for cooking steaks or getting a good braise on a roast before it goes into the oven. We always make our steaks in this pan starting on the stovetop for 3-4 minutes on each side with a little bit of olive oil. After getting a good sear I just toss it in the oven for a few more minutes to continue cooking at high heat. 

It's not just meats that can be made in here. The possibilities are endless. Check out some of the delicious meals below!

As delicious as that last one looks I haven't tried it yet because the cast iron skillet has very specific cleaning and care instructions that I imagine being quite difficult after a dish as gooey and sticky as that. Here is a good YouTube video on how to care for a cast iron skillet by the one and only Martha Stewart.

It might be a pain. but caring for this correctly is very important and will help your skillet last you a very long time. I highly suggest everyone investing in one or two of these bad boys to step up your cooking game. And if you happen to be making that delicious marshmallow dessert dip with yours, let me know and I'll come help you finish it!