Cast iron pans have a reputation as some of the best cookware out there and we have to agree! This durable material just cooks food differently than stainless steel or teflon pans and you can taste that in the finished product. In fact, there is a pretty long list of foods that many people agree just taste better when made in a cast iron pan.
The earliest cast iron pieces date back to the 5th century BCE in China and the first mentions of iron kettles and cauldrons in England date to the 7th century CE. But, it wasn’t until the 1700s that these pans caught on in Europe and the US. The hard-wearing iron was ideal for rugged cooking situations and as long as they were kept oiled and away from standing water, they were extremely long-lived cooking items.
Cast iron, though heavy to transport, was perfect for Early American settlers since they didn’t have elaborate brick ovens or other helpful cooking aids. Instead, all food was cooked either on an open hearth or a fire in the ground. If you wanted something baked then a Dutch oven was your friend. By placing hot coals above and below the batter or dough, your cake or bread would bake almost as if you had an oven, hence the name Dutch oven.
Towards the end of the 20th century newer materials for pans became more popular, in part due to their weight. Newer steel and teflon pans were much lighter and easier to maneuver around the kitchen than their hefty cast iron predecessors. By the 1980s they had fallen from favor in the US, leading to the closing of nearly all the domestic cast iron manufacturing facilities. Today, made in USA cast iron cookware is rare and collectible. Griswoldd, Wagner, and Lodge are the 3 biggest brands of American cast iron, the latter of which is still in business.
With all that history out of the way let’s get to the grub! Here are the foods that many agree are best when made in cast iron…and a few reasons why.
7) Deep Dish Pizza
These weighty pizzas can be made in steel pans, but are better in cast iron. Iron retains the heat of the oven better and results in a crispy crust that can withstand the loaded toppings of this more-is-more style of pizza. Plus cast iron won’t bend or shift with the weight of a heavy pizza inside. And, these sturdy pans do well in the oven since they can withstand high heat.
6) Cornbread
Cornbread isn’t nearly as heavy as deep dish pizza, but the same principles of the heat apply here. The way cast iron holds onto heat gives cornbread a solid base, almost crunchy, that means it can withstand being cut into pieces without falling apart.
5) Potatoes
Let’s face it, there’s really no wrong way to make delicious potatoes. They go with just about anything. But, there’s something really special about them when they are fried in a cast iron skillet. The intense and even heat gives them that crispiness on the outside that makes them extra tasty somehow.
4) Dutch Babies
This puffy, almost pancake-like treat requires that you heat up the pan first so that the batter starts cooking immediately before finishing cooking in the oven. A cast iron skillet is the best for this because you get a proper texture right away.
3) Chili
Traditionally cast iron pans were not washed. It was believed that using soap on your pans removed the seasoning, a baked-on layer of grease that makes the pan essentially non-stick. Pans would be wiped out or rinsed with water then set in a warm place to dry quickly as any moisture could lead to rust pretty quickly. This meant that all the things you cooked in the pan contributed to the flavor of the next things you cooked. For chili this means that you get more flavor.
2) Griddle Cakes
Pancakes, corn cakes, and Johnny cakes all taste great from a cast iron skillet. The super hot pan means they get flash cooked and get a little crispy around the edges. A well-seasoned pan will mean you can slide them from the pan easily, too.
1) Bacon
The strong heat of cast iron makes cooking bacon a breeze and keeps the bacon fat melted, which in turn cooks the bacon evenly. And, a bonus is that the bacon grease helps to keep the cast iron seasoned.