An Elevator-Pitch for Cast-Iron Cookware
The mere mention of cast iron pans typically evokes either pure joy or an audible eye roll, there are only two camps (unless, of course, you don’t know what they are yet, in which case, welcome to the conversation!). They’ve become something of an identity, an emblem of culinary purism or hipsterdom if you will. Personally, I find this to be a bummer! It creates a whole mystique and lore around them, making them seem inaccessible and even inconvenient. My sole mission here is to convince you otherwise (and no, I don’t own any stock in “Big Cast Iron”).
Cast iron cookware (though we’re usually just dealing with pans of various sizes here) is by and large one of the most sustainable, affordable, versatile pieces of cookware you can buy. It gives you an incredible amount of control, holds heat like a champ, and will literally last generations. Let me explain:
Image courtesy of Field Company
Sustainability
Pieces of this point will be echoed throughout, so pardon any redundancy, but when you consider the longevity of these pans, their notable lack of chemical enamels, the fact that they’re made of one of the most abundant natural resources on our planet (iron), and their ability to be recycled into new pans (!!), their sustainability alone makes them a winner in my book.
Performance
Sustainability aside, day in, day out, you need cookware that works and works well. Cast iron gets a totally unfounded bad rap for being difficult to cook with. I suspect this rap comes from people who have seen these thick, heavy pans and thought, “yikes, no thank you.” Cast iron pans require seasoning to perform— essentially a layer of fat that has carbonized and fused with the iron (this is what gives them their iconic black appearance). This seasoning, when maintained, makes cast iron pans non-stick, which is amazing! The fats you add to the pan, and those that leech out of the food you cook, literally make the pan better with each use. Additionally, the heavy, durable material that is Iron makes these pans great at retaining heat and fit to take on any heating condition. Need to deep-fry? No problem. Need to sauté something low and slow? No. Problem. Need to literally throw the whole thing in the oven?? No. Problem. Show me another pan that can gently cook an egg and sear up your camping dinner over a live fire. Do I rest my case? Not yet.
Longevity & Maintenance
Image courtesy of Field Company
Cast irons will last you a lifetime. In fact, they’re often kept as family heirlooms, passed down over the generations, lasting several lifetimes. Not only does this make them vessels of sentimental value, but it makes them incredibly sustainable, considering you don’t need to keep buying new products over the decades. Now, there is a caveat. This longevity requires that you care for them. This shouldn’t come as a total surprise, but the status quo seems to be that any amount of care for your cookware is considered “too fussy.” Let me break down what adequate maintenance of a cast iron pan looks like. You need to make sure you clean and dry it after each use, with emphasis on the “dry”, as long exposure to water can result in degradation of the seasoning and, pushed to the extreme, cause rusting (which can be cleaned off before re-seasoning, nbd). You also need to make sure it’s seasoned as often as possible. This is typically done automatically by cooking with fat (oil, butter, etc.), or cooking fat-rich foods, but if not, you just apply a small amount of fat to the surface of the pan from time to time in order to retain that non-stick layer. That’s it! People overcomplicate the whole process, saying you can’t let them touch water, or you can’t use soap, it’s all a myth. In fact, a friend who works for a cast-iron cookware company revealed that this no-soap myth dates back to when soap contained lye, would in fact damage the pans, but we don’t use it in modern soaps! Yay!
Image courtesy of Field Company
I’m rambling, I’m just a big fan, ok? I encourage you to invest in a cast iron if you can. For you, for the environment, for your food, heck maybe for your future family! Need a place to get started? These companies are classic:
Or, you can thrift them second-hand from a local yard sale, county fair, or digital marketplace. I’ve actually gotten all but one of mine second-hand, they’re gems that I know have a history of bringing delicious food to families and individuals, and I can feel it every time I use ‘em.