Let me start off by explaining that I didn’t always love it. I *wanted* to love it and tried to use it. I felt like a bit of a failure. The eggs would stick to the bottom and scorch. Pancakes were a fiasco and the meat was so smoky. I couldn’t figure it out.
Luckily, the internet is full of tips and tricks. The biggest thing? Use it. Learn by using. I know I know. When you burn the eggs and have to chisel them off, the last thing you want to do is burn the again. Besides the wasted food, I don’t like messing up. (Does anyone…?) To save you a little heartache and some burned eggs, here are my best tips:
It’s important to get a good coating of oil onto the cast iron. This doesn’t mean a thick layer. You need to add a bit of olive oil each time you use it and each time you clean it up. Think “baked in” not dripping off. This is part of why continuing to use it is important.
Let it heat up all the way
Cast iron pans are famous for their even heat. And it is true! However, the pan gets hot and then keeps getting hotter! It helps to wait a minute instead of plopping those eggs in right away. The hot, well-seasoned pan is pretty much non-stick. A cold pan with oil is just asking for oily, stuck on eggs.
Put oil in the pan before cooking
We kind of talked about this one above. Heat up your pan and your oil—stay close, it gets hot fast! And THEN add your eggs. With practice, you will learn the heat setting on your burner that works best.
Clean it!
I clean mine with coarse salt and a rag. Scrub out those bits and wipe it all out. If its wet (even a tiny bit) dry it thoroughly to prevent rust. Add a few drops of olive oil and rub it around with a clean rag.
My favorite use for my cast iron pan? Fried potatoes and a fried egg for breakfast. In the summer, I’ll add whatever is good from the garden—tomatoes, peppers, greens… Man I’m hungry! I have my eye on the “pizza beans” recipe from I Heart Veggies next!
And I’ve been inspired by the cooking of “Just the Bells” account on Instagram… She’s got me thinking about a bigger cast iron for my growing family!
