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If you love to cook, then you need a cast iron grill pan in your kitchen. All cast iron pans are perfect for cooking all kinds of dishes, from simple stir-fries to complex roasts.
If you're looking for a cookware option that will last a lifetime, then cast iron pans are the way to go. Not only are they incredibly durable, but they also conduct heat evenly, making them ideal for cooking. And because they're made of iron, they'll develop a natural non-stick surface over time with proper care.
Check out all my favorite Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Recipes that are great foryour family's weekly meal plan.
If you're looking for a way to step up your cooking game, then look no further than cast iron pans. These versatile pieces of kitchen equipment can be used for so much more than just frying up some bacon. With a little bit of creativity, you can use them to whip up some truly incredible dishes.
So what are the benefits of cooking with cast iron pans? For starters, they're great for browning and searing meat. They can also be used for baking, so if you're looking to add some variety to your cooking repertoire, cast iron is a great option. Additionally, they're perfect for dishes that require long cooking times, like stews and casseroles.
Table of Contents
- How to Use Cast Iron Grill Pan
- Seasoning Tips
- How to Cook Chicken in a Cast Iron Skillet
- Other Recipes for a Cast Iron Skillet
- How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Pan
- Cast Iron Pan Care
- 💬 Comments
How to Use Cast Iron Grill Pan
Some people are extremely blessed to have cast iron pans that have been around for generations. I mean, some people pass their cast iron pans on to their children, then to their grandchildren and on and on. However, I wasn't as fortunate.
I purchased my firstcast iron grill pan about 12 years ago. Since it's a grill pan, I use it primarily to cook steaks and hamburgers and the taste is amazing. Let me say that again, the taste is amazing.
Seasoning Tips
But what many people don't know is that these pans need to be properly seasoned before they can be used. It's easy to do and only requires a few household ingredients.
Seasoning is simply the process of creating a protective layer on the pan that prevents rusting and sticking. It's easy to season your cast iron pan at home, and we'll show you how below:
- Wash the pan first with hot soapy water and dry completely.
- Then place the pan in a preheated 375 degree oven for 10 to 15 minutes to make sure the pan is completely dry.
- Remove the pan and then using a paper towel, or even your fingers, coat the entire pan with about 1 tablespoon of vegetable shortening. Some people use vegetable oil, I prefer to use shortening.
- Place the pan back in the oven for another 10 minutes, remove and pour out any excess fat.
- Place the pan back in the oven but this time turn it upside down and bake for one hour.
- Then turn off the oven and let the pan cool completely.
Tip: Place a large piece of aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven to catch the drippings when you're seasoning a pan in the oven.
How to Cook Chicken in a Cast Iron Skillet
They're also incredibly durable, so you'll be able to use them for years and years to come. And of course, let's not forget the fact that they give your food a lovely sear that just can't be replicated with any other pan.
Searing and cooking chicken in a cast iron skillet really helps bring out the flavor of the meat and sear in the juices so the chicken is never dry.
If you're looking for an easy, foolproof way to cook chicken in a cast iron skillet, this is the recipe for you:
- First, preheat your oven to 400°F.
- Then, heat up your skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.
- Season your chicken with salt and pepper, and then place it in the hot skillet.
- Cook for about 4 minutes per side, or until golden brown.
- Finally, transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Other Recipes for a Cast Iron Skillet
- You can also cook eggs, hamburgers, steak and fish.
- Baking cornbread and biscuits gives the best results!
- Individual sized pizzas are delicious. The crust of the pizza dough gets really crispy.
- You can even cook desserts using a cast iron skillet. I used a mini round pan to make askillet chocolate chip cookie. And I baked a blueberry crumb coffee cake in my 12-inch round skillet.
How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Pan
A few things to remember are do NOT let your pan soak in water and do NOT put your cast iron grill pan in the dishwasher.
- What I like to do is rinse the pan with very hot water.
- Then I'll use a sponge, stiff brush or chainmail scrubber to clean.
- If the cast iron grill pan is really greasy, I'll add a drop or two of dish soap.
- If you have some tough bits and pieces that won't come off, you can pour kosher salt into the pan and then try scrubbing again with a damp sponge, paper towel or the stiff brush.
- Rinse the pan with hot water to remove the excess salt when you're done.
- Dry the pan completely after you have cleaned it.
- You can also rub a very small amount of oil or shortening all over the inside of the pan.
- I like to place my pan in the oven that is still warm from cooking.
Cast Iron Pan Care
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Here are just a few of my favorite tools to use to help care for cast iron pans, skillets and grill pans.
- Cast Iron Chainmail Scrubber - oh my word, this works amazing. I just started using it and I love it.
- Another great tool is this Chainmail Scrubber with Sponge.
- Cast Iron Cleaning Set - this is a great set to get whether you're just starting out with cast iron pans or you've been using them for awhile.
- Cast Iron Silicone Holder - new to me over the past year is this However, you can only use it while you're cooking on top of the stove. Do not put the pan in the oven with this attached.
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Tried any of my cleaning tips? Let me know in the comments!
This post has been updated since it first appeared in 2018 with new information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!
