Ode to a cast-iron pan, or Why I would never trade my old lady for newfangled utensils

As the saying goes, “Give a man a fish and he will be fed one day.” Give a man a fishing rod and he will be fed all his life.” To paraphrase it in a new way: give a woman a cast-iron pan and everyone around will never be hungry. Such a pan should be in the arsenal of every self-respecting mistress. Why you should pay attention to cast-ironWe are talking in today’s article.



The use of cast iron pan is a strong and reliable material that is ideal for cooking. Cast iron pan is a universal assistant in any kitchen. With its help, you can prepare delicious juicy dishes, preserving the maximum benefit of all products.



Cast iron pans have a huge number of advantages. Then we talk about all the advantages in more detail.

1. The iron pan can be heated without fear that the material will begin to emit harmful impurities. It is environmentally friendly and does not affect human health.
2. The porous structure of cast iron contributes to the creation of a natural non-stick coating in the pan. This works thanks to vegetable oil, which penetrates deep into the pores of the material.
3. Cast iron has a high conductivity and heat capacity, so it heats evenly. But at the same time, such a pan gives warmth to dishes more slowly, due to which the food seems to languish inside, and its taste becomes much better.
   
   
   
   
4. Strong and reliable cast iron is not afraid of any heat load. Tableware from this material can be put on the stove, and in the oven, and in the oven, and even on the fire.
5. During cooking in a cast-iron pan, you can use a metal spatula or other utensils made of metal. Non-stick coating can be easily restored at home.
6. Buying a cast-iron pan once, you will provide yourself with a reliable assistant for life. It is very durable and is made, as they say, for centuries. In many families, pig iron kitchen utensils are passed down from generation to generation. For example, my mother still has a small cast-iron pan that her grandmother used.

The first use of cast iron pan The first use of cast iron pan is a responsible business. So that the pan will serve you faithfully for many years, follow these recommendations. First, after the purchase The pan needs to be cleaned of machine oil. With them, manufacturers treat the surface of the cast iron to protect it from damage.

To get rid of the protective substance, it is enough to wash the pan well. soapy solution under running water. Aggressive detergents and metal sponges should not be used.



Second, you need a pan. calcinate. To do this, you need to wipe it dry and put it on a medium fire. The frying pan may start to smoke - that's normal. This will evaporate the remaining machine grease. Don't forget to turn on the hood!

The next step is calcination. To do this, you need to cover the bottom of the pan with a layer of salt and stir it from time to time for 30-40 minutes. Then remove the salt from the dishes and let the pan cool completely.



When the pan is completely cooled, wash it again, wipe it dry and put it on the fire. Then lubricate And heat it up for 10 to 15 minutes. Ideally, this procedure should be repeated twice.

There is also a slew of sleeves that have their drawbacks. For example, it's quite heavy. If your cast-iron pan is very light, maybe it's a fake. Cast iron could be alloyed with another metal.



In addition, in cast iron utensils should not store ready-made dishes. Due to contact with food, the material can oxidize and rust. Also, such dishes are not recommended to be washed in the dishwasher. The detergent will destroy the non-stick coating, and it will have to be done again.

If you are going to buy your first cast-iron pan, pay attention to a couple of things. First, weight. Kitchen utensils made of cast iron can not be easy and cheap. Secondly, in such a pan should not be chipped or cracked. This affects the operation of the dishes.



The thickness of the walls of a really high-quality cast iron pan is at least 4 mm. This must also be taken into account. In addition, it is not superfluous to study the market and manufacturers. The best are considered such countries: the United States, France, Ukraine and Russia.

Tell me, do you use a cast-iron pan to cook? Share your honest feedback in the comments!