{"id":398801,"date":"2018-05-09T00:00:24","date_gmt":"2018-05-09T00:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=398801"},"modified":"2024-09-30T11:08:06","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T16:08:06","slug":"heres-best-thing-can-cast-iron-skillet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/heres-best-thing-can-cast-iron-skillet\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s the Best Thing You Can Do for Your Cast-Iron Skillet"},"content":{"rendered":"Cast iron is back! Twenty-first-century cooks have rediscovered the workhorse of Grandma's kitchen, and while the mysteries of seasoning cast iron<\/a> and safely cleaning it<\/a> are known, Grandma knew how to care for cast-iron skillets the best and easiest way. She used them\u2014a lot.\r\n\r\nShe didn't have to remove rust from them<\/a> because they were always on top of her stove or in her oven. Caring for cast-iron skillets was as easy as frying a batch of chicken or crisping up some bacon for breakfast. By doing so, she wasn't just showering affection on her family and friends; she'd be giving her skillets a little love as well. The frequent heating of oil in cast iron keeps the protecting seasoning intact, darkening to a beautiful black patina over prolonged use. With frequent use and proper care, your cast-iron skillet will be just as nonstick as any Teflon-coated skillet.\r\n\r\n \r\nWhat to Cook in Your Cast-Iron Skillet<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nSo, in order to keep the skillet I inherited from my grandma at its best, I often cook these recipes in it. Each one helps restore its seasoning and keeps my skillet in tiptop shape.\r\n\r\n \tGentleman's Whiskey Bacon Jam:<\/a> This sweet and savory jam should be slathered on everything. I mean everything<\/em>.<\/li>\r\n \tGram's Fried Chicken:<\/a> Anytime your pan needs a little seasoning boost, make fried chicken.<\/li>\r\n \tPork Schnitzel:<\/a> You don't need a lot of fat to make your skillet happy. I often make this schnitzel for a quick and easy dinner my family (and my skillet) will love.<\/li>\r\n \tPotato Latkes:<\/a> Is anything better than crispy golden brown potatoes? A cast-iron skillet keeps the frying oil<\/a> hot, resulting in amazingly crisp potato pancakes.<\/li>\r\n \tSage-Rubbed Salmon:<\/a> Cooking fish in cast iron is one of the best ways to seal in flavor and moisture without overcooking. Start it on the stovetop and finish it in the oven.<\/li>\r\n \tSkillet Steak Supper: Ready in less than 20 minutes, this one can be served right from your trusty skillet.<\/li>\r\n \tSkier's Skillet:<\/a> The aromas of sausages and apples sizzling in a cast-iron skillet are sure to wake even the sleepiest family member.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nI could go on and on. In fact, here are 35 more recipes<\/a> to keep you cooking.\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nObsessed with your cast-iron? We went behind the scenes to see how they're made.\r\n\r\n[dam-video dam-id=\"44320\"]\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nImpressive, right? Once you have a well-seasoned piece of cast iron, you can cook just about anything in it. Ooey-gooey mac and cheese<\/a> will slide right out, and cornbread ends up golden brown and super moist. Even something as sticky as banana upside-down cake<\/a> is no match for it. Isn't it time to show your cast iron some love?\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tOur Best Cast-Iron Skillet Recipes<\/div>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t1 \/ 64<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n[dam-video dam-id=\"31826\"]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nSkillet Hasselback Sweet Potatoes<\/a>\r\nTreat your sweet-salty tooth! Sweet potatoes dressed with buttery, herby, garlicky goodness make for a stunning, delicious side dish. \u2014Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin\r\nGet Recipe<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Buttermilk Biscuits<\/a>You can make biscuits any day of the week with this simple 3-ingredient buttermilk biscuits recipe.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>One-Skillet Pasta<\/a>This recipe was given to me 25 years ago and remains a family favorite. It's a tasty twist on traditional spaghetti, and making a one-skillet pasta saves time on prep and cleanup, too. \u2014Susan Spence, Lawrenceville, VirginiaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Cornbread Dressing<\/a>This cornbread dressing starts by baking a batch of homemade cornbread. It\u2019s then crumbled up with a myriad of woody and savory herbs, vegetables, broth and even more bread, and baked to golden, crispy perfection.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Muenster Bread<\/a>Many years ago my sister and I won blue ribbons in 4-H with this bread. The recipe makes a beautiful golden loaf with cheese peeking out of every slice. \u2014Melanie Mero, Ida, MichiganGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Rhubarb Crisp<\/a>Make rhubarb crisp with strawberries in spring and apples in fall to enjoy a simple, year-round dessert.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Gnocchi Chicken Skillet<\/a>Stovetop chicken and gnocchi recipes like this one make for a homey dinner in a hurry. Personalize it with your own favorite sauce and seasonings. \u2014Taste Recipes Test KitchenGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Corn Cakes<\/a>These buttery corn cakes are bound together by wholesome, gritty cornmeal and bursting with whole corn kernels, pungent scallions, sweet red peppers and subtly spicy green chiles. A drizzle of maple syrup may seem out of place, but its caramelly tang ties everything together.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Hash Brown Pork Skillet<\/a>Add potatoes and veggies to leftover pork tenderloin for an easy, creamy weeknight supper in minutes! \u2014Taste Recipes<\/i> Test KitchenGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pizookie<\/a>What's better than a chocolate chip cookie? How about a giant<\/em> chocolate chip pizookie!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Beef Skillet Supper<\/a>Sometimes I'll make extra of this comforting, noodle-y supper to guarantee leftovers. It's a great take-along dish for work or school. Trim calories from the entree by substituting ground turkey for the beef and low-fat cheese for the full-fat cheddar. \u2014Tabitha Allen, Cypress, TexasGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Skillet Pork Chops<\/a>Skillet pork chops are the kind of hearty, comforting, fuss-free meal everyone needs to have in their repertoire. With just a handful of ingredients and one pan to clean up, it's an ideal weeknight meal.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Potato Pan Rolls<\/a>My family loves these rolls and requests them often. They don't take long to make because you use quick-rise yeast. \u2014Connie Storckman, Evanston, WyomingGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>German Apple Pancake<\/a>If you're looking for a pretty dish to make when having guests for brunch, try this. Everyone I've served it to has enjoyed it\u2014except for one time, that is, when my husband tried to make it following my recipe, which I'd written down incorrectly! If you don't leave out the flour as I did, it'll turn out terrific! \u2014Judi Van Beek, Lynden, WashingtonGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Old-Fashioned Baked Macaroni and Cheese<\/a>Classic old-fashioned baked macaroni and cheese comes together with just a little patience and a lot of butter, milk and cheese. Let it bake until bubbly for the most comforting meal ever.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Macaroon-Topped Rhubarb Cobbler<\/a>Crumbled macaroons are a surprising addition to this cobbler\u2019s topping. We love that you can make the sweet treat in a baking dish or a cast-iron skillet. \r\n\u2014Taste Recipes Test KitchenGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Honey Walleye<\/a>My state is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes, so fishing is a favorite recreational activity here. This recipe is a quick way to prepare all the fresh walleye hooked by the anglers in my family. \u2014Kitty McCue, St. Louis Park, MinnesotaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chicken Burrito Skillet<\/a>We love Mexican night at our house, and I love to re-create dishes from our favorite restaurants. This burrito-inspired dish is ready for the table in almost no time! \u2014Krista Marshall, Fort Wayne, IndianaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pizza Rolls<\/a>This cheesy, pepperoni-studded pizza rolls recipe is so much fun to make! Serve the handheld snacks with warm marinara as a party appetizer, or pair each roll with a side salad for pizza night with the family.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Skillet Herb Bread<\/a>We had a lot of family get-togethers while I was growing up. My grandmother, aunts and mom were all good cooks, and each had her own specialty when it came to bread. Mom's was my favorite\u2014she created this recipe more than 40 years ago. The flavors call to mind the taste of cornbread stuffing! \u2014Shirley Smith, Yorba Linda, CaliforniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Eggs and Potatoes<\/a>Loaded with tender potatoes, semi-runny eggs and gooey cheese, this skillet eggs and potatoes recipe captures the perfect combination of flavors and textures. This recipe uses a single skillet to whip up a hearty meal in only 30 minutes.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Italian Sausage Veggie Skillet<\/a>We love Italian sausage sandwiches, but because the bread isn't diet-friendly for me, I created this recipe to satisfy my craving. If you like some heat, use hot peppers in place of the sweet peppers. \u2014Tina Howells, Salem, Ohio\r\nGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Sweet Potato and Egg Skillet<\/a>I try to incorporate nutritious sweet potatoes in meals as often as possible, especially with breakfast. I came up with this recipe to feed my family a healthy, hearty breakfast\u2014and it worked! \u2014Jeanne Larson, Rancho Santa Margarita, CaliforniaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Spicy Veggie Pasta Bake<\/a>My dad cooked with cast-iron skillets, so when I do, I remember his amazing culinary skills. I keep the tradition going with my veggie pasta. \u2014Sonya Goergen, Moorhead, MinnesotaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chicken Fajitas<\/a>Sizzling chicken fajitas are super easy to make and full of flavor. The secret is in the skillet, which can go from stove to table for restaurant-quality presentation.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Cinnamon-Sugar Apple Pie<\/a>Cinnamon apple pie baked in a cast iron skillet<\/a> is a real stunner. This beauty, with its flaky, tender crust, also works in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. \u2014Renee Schettler Rossi, New York, New YorkGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Sweet Potato Hash<\/a>Sweet potato hash might be the ultimate breakfast-for-dinner recipe. Loaded with sauteed vegetables, browned ham, soft eggs and cheese, it has all the flavors and textures you want, whether it's morning, day or night.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Turkey Biscuit Stew<\/a>This chunky stew makes a hearty supper, especially in the fall and winter. It'salso a great way to use extra turkey during the holidays. \u2014Lori Schlecht, Wimbledon, North DakotaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake<\/a>Make this pineapple upside-down cake and learn how simple ingredients like cream cheese, brown sugar and canned pineapple create a visually stunning and delicious dessert.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Kaiserschmarren<\/a>The story goes that when Austrian Kaiser Franz Josef's chef noticed that he always broke his pancake into small pieces before eating it, he began serving it that way. \u2014Erika and Peter Durlacher, Whistler, British ColumbiaGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Grilled Catfish<\/a>Grilled catfish boasts a delicious flavor, especially when it's infused with spices and served with lemon and parsley.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Butternut Squash Rolls<\/a>These butternut squash rolls will add some subtle vegetable goodness and fun fall color to your dinner table.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Salmon Linguine<\/a>Our salmon linguine recipe is incredibly delicious and just as easy to make and takes less than 30 minutes to whip up the entire thing. This tasty linguine dish features bites of broccoli, salmon, capers, garlic and basil in a scrumptious homemade cream sauce. Parmesan cheese adds a little extra tang to the dish for added flavor. Enjoy!Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza<\/a>My grandma made the tastiest snacks for us when we stayed the night at her farm. Her wonderful pizza, hot from the oven, was covered with cheese and had fragrant herbs in the crust. Now this pizza is frequently a meal for my husband, our family and me. \u2014Michele Madden, Washington Court House, OhioGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Deconstructed Pear Pork Chops<\/a>You\u2019ll be tempted to eat this main dish right out of the pan but try to resist. These chops are sure to wow guests at the dinner table. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, WisconsinGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Sausage Patties<\/a>These quick and easy-to-make sausage patties are loaded with flavor thanks to ground sage, spicy peppers and just enough sugar to balance everything out.Go to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Pinwheel Steak Potpie<\/a>On cool nights, nothing hits the spot like a steaming homemade potpie\u2014especially one you can get on the table fast. The pinwheel crust on top has become my signature. \u2014Kristin Shaw, Castleton, New YorkGo to Recipe<\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/div>Chicken Cacciatore<\/a>This chicken cacciatore recipe is simple\u2014it\u2019s just chicken simmered with onions, bell peppers and mushrooms in a robust tomato sauce. But the ingredients combine to create a rustic stew with hearty, rich, complex flavors.