I did not grow up with Cast Iron. My parents always used non-stick Teflon pots and pans. My first encounter with a cast-iron skillet was after I graduated from college. The sheer weight of it caught me off guard. However, I figured it was probably something my grandparents or great-grandparents would have used. It never occurred to me that cast iron would eventually become my preferred cookware.
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We registered for non-stick cookware for our wedding. Unfortunately, they were not the lifelong pans we had hoped for. The coating eventually scratched, chipped, and peeled off. We also became concerned about the health impacts of Teflon. We tried to replace them with greener, non-toxic pans, but those ended up having some of the same downsides as other “non-stick” pans. After a while, we finally worked up the courage to try Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron skillets.
We had read about how to use and care for cast iron, but the seasoning process initially seemed intimidating. Fortunately, Lodge provides a simple step-by-step guide to seasoning cast iron. Through trial and error, we eventually realized that seasoning our cast iron was not as important as using a good cooking fat and avoiding dish soap when cleaning. We’ve had the most success using a stainless-steel scouring pad and drying immediately with paper towels to prevent rusting.
A major game-changer for us was this Dexter-Russell Pancake Turner. This turner has a much thinner edge than typical plastic turners, making it effective at preventing food from sticking to the pan. We have realized over the years that we need at least two of these turners to keep up with the amount of cooking we do. While these turners are not as indestructible as the cast iron itself, they have typically lasted us 5-6 years of heavy, daily use. We utilize them whenever we use our Lodge cast iron for stir-fries, burgers, eggs, pancakes, etc. Here is one of our favorite weeknight skillet recipes
We love our Lodge Cast Iron skillets and Dexter-Russell turners. Made in the USA, Lodge Cast Iron will last a lifetime. Cast iron is a must-have for serious cooks, and a great addition to any gift registry!