When I was living with my wise old grandmother in Kingsville TX from December 1965 to May 1973, she forced me to do child labor, things like hanging the laundry outside, bringing the laundry in, clearing the table, cleaning the sinks and bathtubs, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the windows…….. oh, the list goes on……… that dastardly woman!
The one thing I hated the most, though, was washing and drying the dishes, especially her huge monster gigantic really really big and heavy cast iron frying pan. I promised myself that I would never have a frying pan like that.
Fortunately, Teflon came along about the same time, and I have been a Teflon fan all my life…. until last month when I bought a huge monster gigantic really really big and heavy cast iron frying pan.
I bought it because our new Samsung range that we bought in July 2017 came with a cast iron griddle. Finest thing ever for cooking pancakes and bacon. That encouraged me to think about a cast iron frying pan. They are expensive, more expensive than Zoey the Cool Cat’s prescription food.
However, while I was at my favorite outlet mall, Viejas Outlets, I went into Kitchen Collection and found a huge monster gigantic really really big and heavy cast iron frying pan for just $38. It came home with me.
Best. frying pan. ever.
You’ll love it and Grandma would be proud -if only for those biceps 😀
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Probably. I think I can do away with my 30-pound weights and just use the frying pan….
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My husband is a chef, so we have several cast iron pans. Our favorite is one that has been in my husband’s family since 1952, but as it came to them second-hand we don’t really know how old it is. It’s fabulous! I use it to make Dutch Babies, and he uses it for just about everything. Cast iron pans are so amazing!
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I had to Google “dutch babies” to see what they were. Not what I was expecting, but certainly sound like something I might try.
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They’re very tasty, and are surprisingly easy to make.
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They are on my “To Cook” list.
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Iron skillets (that’s what they call them back east) are the best. I have three sizes but I don’t think my biggest is that big!
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I like this one and my iron griddle so much that I will be buying another one, about half this size.
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Your wise old grandmother was right! Cast iron cooking is the best. I have a large one and a small one. You are lucky to have gas!
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I will have a small one by the end of January. I never liked gas. Still don’t. It heats unevenly, especially if the windows are open or the heating/cooling is on.
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I love mine and need to get it out for some winter cooking!! 💕
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You will explain the difference between winter cooking and other seasons, yes?
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I have several cast iron pans and a cast iron Dutch oven. I love them all!
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I had to Google “dutch oven” to see what it was. I don’t need one of those.
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Dutch ovens are great for cooking soups, stews, that sort of thing.
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Yes! Throw the Teflon out. Isn’t that stuff meant to kill you?
Seriously, my Mum gave me a set of cast iron cookware for my 21st birthday. I am still using it 45 years later. It cooks like a dream with steady, even heat and once it’s tempered, it gets its own non-stick surface with time and repeated cooking. So glad you changed your mind. 🙂
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I have been lucky to have my 3 skillets 2 dutch ovens and a cook pot all handed down from my mother and mother-in-law most are over 50 years old. The only thing I don’t use regularly is the cooking pot. So I turned it into a deep fryer and just set it a side when not in use. I love my skillets for anything but fried eggs and use them daily. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I have enjoyed mine for the last 20 years.
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So how did you successfully condition your new pan before using it???
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The instructions say that it’s “seasoned for a naturally, easy-release finish that improves with use.” Then it says to “hand wash, dry, rub with cooking oil” after using.
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I second your nomination. Cooking in Cast Iron is the BEST!!!
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The iron holds the heat so well the food can cook on, something I learned by my errors. I use an iron skillet, a griddle pan and two iron casseroles now. I, too, am a convert.
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They are awesome…and really, really heavy
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