This Well-liked $20 Forged Iron Skillet Is the Most Versatile Device in My Kitchen

Now, if you understand me, you understand that I’m a sucker for an amazing, single-use software, so long as I do know I’m going to make use of it on a regular basis and get my cash’s price. (Taking a look at you, citrus juicer.) Nevertheless, since my cupboards and drawers are already brimming with cookware, kitchen devices, and occasional makers, I are likely to search for versatility when searching for new items so as to add to my culinary arsenal. And, once you speak about versatility within the kitchen, you actually can’t have that dialog with out speaking about forged iron. From the beautiful, stovetop-worthy, enameled items from cookware establishments comparable to Le Creuset and Staub to your on a regular basis, built-to-last items which you could snag on a budget, there’s actually no materials that’s higher for all-around cooking than forged iron. Not too long ago, I picked up my new favourite piece, however one which is likely to be formidable to some: a non-enameled cast-iron skillet from Lodge. 

You’ve in all probability heard all about other ways to prepare dinner with, clear, and look after forged iron — otherwise you’ve no less than seen the memes about by no means utilizing cleaning soap — and whereas there are many colleges of thought on the topic, the one factor I’ve realized from years of utilizing forged iron is that you just shouldn’t overthink it. First off, you may positively use dish cleaning soap on forged iron cookware, however you don’t should. There are many guides on-line that go into deep element on find out how to care to your skillet, however I’ve discovered that so long as you employ them usually, and wipe them down with a skinny layer of oil earlier than placing them away, they maintain their seasoning and prepare dinner like a dream. (If it labored for our grandparents, it really works for me!)

Now, again to the skillet. The ten.25-inch pan from Lodge comes pre-seasoned, and is just about the right dimension for any kitchen — sufficiently big to sear a steak, bake cornbread and biscuits, fry veggies, and (my private favourite) whip up an ideal breakfast scramble. Yep, the factor I exploit my skillet most for is breakfast: Particularly, laying down a couple of strips of uncured bacon or breakfast sausage, rendering out the entire scrumptious fats inside, and utilizing the grease to prepare dinner my eggs and fry my toast. (Speak about a one-pot meal!) Then, as soon as I’m achieved utilizing it, I simply wipe out the pan — after a couple of makes use of, it primarily turns into a non-stick — give it a fast rinse and scrub with a cast-iron scrubber or sponge, warmth it on the range to dry it off, then rub a skinny layer of vegetable oil throughout it. After it cools off, I cling it from an previous, sq. nail that was conveniently pushed into the brick wall of my condominium close to my range years and years in the past. 

I additionally discover loads of different makes use of for my skillet within the kitchen, most of which should do with its hefty, 5-pound building. It makes a wonderful weight to make smashburgers; maintain down bacon on the griddle; or smush hen and pork into skinny cutlets; set on high of tofu to assist it drain; use as a “brick” for brick hen; and loads of different instances the place a skinny, light-weight pan simply wouldn’t get the job achieved. 

Whereas the works tremendous effectively, and is an excellent versatile piece of cookware — I imply, you may convey this sucker tenting and set it immediately on the coals — the nostalgic mixture of cooking an old-school breakfast utilizing an old-school pan, then hanging it on an old-school nail that stands out of a brick wall simply will get me each time. And, at simply 20 bucks, this skillet is the right piece of cookware to purchase now, use without end, and cross down from era to era.