When I was a child I imagine every single spouse and children in the neighborhood experienced a solid iron skillet. The skillets were quite a lot the exact same, but the meals that arrived from them were being as varied as the family members. Our future door neighbors had been from St. Paul, MN and they fixed Swedish Meatballs in their skillet.
My household came from German and English stock and our foods reflected this heritage. Frequently my mother fixed German Fries, sliced onions and potatoes fried to a crispy brown. When I try out hard I can see the German Fries in the skillet and scent the scrumptious odor that permeated the residence.
When German, Swedish and Europan immigrants came to The us some brought their solid iron skillets with them. These skillets accompanied them on the Westward migration. Later, chuck wagon cooks utilized cast iron skillets, baking pans, and Dutch Ovens to resolve meals.
A solid iron skillet seems dated when when compared to modern electrical appliances. But solid iron skillets are earning a comeback and for fantastic factors. Take into account these attributes.
Toughness. Cast iron skillets have stood the exam of time. They are so durable they’ve been handed down from mom, to daughter, to grandaughter.
USABILITY. You may well use a forged iron skillet on your stove major, in the oven, about an open fireplace, on charcoal or gasoline grill. Far better however, modern solid iron skillets appear with a non-stick coating.
Assortment. A 6-inch skillet is great for repairing a meal for a single. The greater 10-inch skillet is just right for loved ones foods. Grill pans – skillets with ridges on the base – are also obtainable.
Price. You may lookup significantly and wide ahead of you uncover a superior benefit. A 6-inch skillet fees about $8 and a 10-inch skillet expenses about $17,not undesirable for a life time financial investment. The value of a grill pan varies, depending on no matter if the exterior has an enamel coating.
You can will need to re-year your skillet if you have experienced it for a long time. Lodge, the primary manufacturer of solid iron cookware, suggests you should really clean the skillet in scorching soapy drinking water first. Dry the skillet and let it stand on the counter for a couple several hours.
Up coming, Lodge suggests to preheat your oven to 350 levels. Coat the skillet with sound or liquid shortening. Put the skillet on a jelly roll pan to capture any drips. “Bake” the skillet in the oven for a single hour. Transform the oven off and permit the skillet cool wholly in advance of you open the door. Past, wipe off any residue with paper towels.
In no way clean a skillet in soapy drinking water or scour it right after it is been re-seasoned. Instead, rinse the skillet underneath incredibly hot drinking water and swish away foods residue with a stiff brush. Make positive the skillet is dry in advance of you place it away. You might also rub the skillet with salt to cleanse it. Rinse the salt off with scorching drinking water.
In excess of time a darkish coating will acquire on the bottom of your skillet. Really don’t fret, this is accurately what you want. In reality, some professional cooks assume this coating offers food items extra (and possibly secret) flavor. A nicely seasoned skillet desires only a coating of baking spray for shortening. Some recipes may possibly not will need shortening at all.
I have two skillets, a plain a person and a griddle pan. What do I fix in them? A much better problem would be, “What don’t I correct in them?” Wonderful meals comes from these skillets: chunky applesauce flavored with cinnamon, stir-fried onions, peppers, mushrooms, and pea pods, fried brown rice with tons of veggies, hen scallops with lemon sauce, lean hamburger patties, grilled asparagus with a hint of garlic, and additional.
Cooking healthy? Forget about those people fancy, shmancy pans. Get out the cast iron skillet and repair balanced meals for on your own and your household.
Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. For far more details on her do the job be sure to go to http://www.harriethodgson.com.