{"id":90,"date":"2019-10-29T17:07:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-29T17:07:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/?p=90"},"modified":"2019-10-29T17:08:04","modified_gmt":"2019-10-29T17:08:04","slug":"top-4-tips-for-using-cast-iron-skillets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/top-4-tips-for-using-cast-iron-skillets\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 4 Tips for Using Cast Iron Skillets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Cast iron has played a major role in our world\u2019s history, with the earliest cast-iron artifacts dating back all the way to 5th century BC. Throughout the centuries, cast iron pots and cauldrons became popular because they were highly durable, cooked meals evenly, and made food taste better. Fashioned with thick handles and long legs, they were specially designed for cooking over a hearth or fire, which was the most common form of fuel in a home during those times. But eventually, stoves were introduced into residential kitchens, logically eliminating the need for legs and handles. As a result, the flat-bottomed cast iron pot was invented, and eventually dubbed the skillet<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, cast iron skillets are still among the most popular methods of high-heat and heat retention cooking for these same qualities. Even better, innovative advances in the cookware industry have further improved the natural science behind cast iron cooking! There are even several sizes, colors, and shapes to choose from on the market, so there is one for every cooking need! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in improving your cast iron cooking skills, it all starts with cast iron skillet best practices. Continue below to learn the top 4 tips for using and caring for a cast iron skillet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Downtown
Downtown Indianapolis Eatery 317-822-5070<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u2776 Do Not Wash It<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Your cast iron skillet is special and more delicate than you think. It cannot withstand the astringent properties in dish detergents, let alone the abrasive textures of scrubbing pads and sponges. This means they cannot be washed in the same way as conventional cookware. You see, it gets naturally \u201cseasoned\u201d with a light coating of oil every time you use it. Not only does this enhance the flavor of your meals the more you use your cast iron, the congealed oil settles within the minuscule holes of the skillet, thus creating a natural seal that protects against burning, rusting, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2777 Periodically Deep Clean It<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Just because you are not supposed to wash your cast iron\nafter every use does not mean you never clean it at all. Periodically clean\naway the caked on remnants of past meal preps by adding one cup of water to the\nskillet, and then putting it on high heat. This will boil off any solid debris\nstuck to the surface. If this does not do the trick, use kosher or sea salt and\na paper towel to gently scrub the gunk away, and then repeat the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2778 Store Cast Iron in a Safe Spot<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

You do not want to dent, chip, or nick your cast iron\nskillet because it can cause rust formation, and negatively affect the quality\nof sear you get on your food. Be sure to store your cast iron skillets flat so\nthey cannot topple over. You can also store them in between your other pots and\npans so long as you use layers of felt or paper towel to prevent scratching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2779 Avoid Using Metal Utensils<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Unless using extreme care and focus, avoid using metal\nspatulas, spoons, and other utensils while cooking in a cast iron skillet. The metal\ncan be too abrasive, and potentially scratch the surface of the skillet. And as\nmentioned before, scratches can lead to rust and uneven cooking. Instead, stick\nwith a trusty and safe wooden spoon or plastic spatula. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delicious Food and Great Drink Specials in Downtown Indianapolis!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Contact English Ivy\u2019s at 317-822-5070<\/strong> to hear about our delicious food and drink menus <\/a>we\u2019re offering this fall! We gladly accept wall-ins, reservations, and even carryout orders. From classic wings and beer, to prime rib, cocktails, stage entertainment, and more, we have exactly what you are looking for in both flavor and fun! With neighborhood prices and the kindliest service around, you will be fully-satisfied with every moment you spend at our Downtown Indianapolis bar and restaurant! We look forward to being friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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317-822-5070<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cast iron has played a major role in our world\u2019s history, with the earliest cast-iron artifacts dating back all the way to 5th century BC. Throughout the centuries, cast iron pots and cauldrons became popular because they were highly durable, … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":91,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,39],"tags":[68,69,70,47,67,46],"class_list":["post-90","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bar-restaurant","category-food","tag-cast-iron-skillet-cleaning-tips","tag-cast-iron-skillet-cooking","tag-cast-iron-skillet-tips","tag-downtown-indianapolis-bar","tag-downtown-indianapolis-eatery","tag-downtown-indianapolis-restaurant"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":93,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90\/revisions\/93"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishivys.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}