{"id":865846,"date":"2019-01-29T13:28:11","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T19:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=865846"},"modified":"2024-04-28T12:46:28","modified_gmt":"2024-04-28T17:46:28","slug":"why-you-should-preheat-cast-iron-before-baking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/why-you-should-preheat-cast-iron-before-baking\/","title":{"rendered":"The Secret Trick for Best-Ever Baking with a Cast-Iron Skillet"},"content":{"rendered":"
The best thing you can do for your cast-iron pan<\/a> is pretty simple\u2014use it! But for best results, you still need to make sure you're using it properly. Master cast iron cooking with our guide.<\/a>\u00a0When baking, knowing how to preheat cast iron can make a world of difference. Here's why.<\/p>\r\n (Don't own a cast-iron skillet yet? Here's our Test Kitchen's favorite.)<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n We love baking in cast iron for a number of reasons. The skillet holds heat better than other materials, is incredibly versatile and actually adds a bit of iron to your diet. But despite some popular cooking myths, cast iron does not heat evenly\u2014or quickly.<\/p>\r\n That's why preheating is such an important (and often overlooked) step. Whether you're baking, searing, frying or roasting in the oven, preheating the pan will help your food cook faster and more evenly\u2014but that's not where the benefits end.<\/p>\r\n Preheating will also keep dough from sticking, help to caramelize the bottom of a tart or cookie, and create a bit of char on protein (like this gorgeous steak<\/a>) if you're going savory. Plus, it's a super simple step!<\/p>\r\n\r\n While you preheat the oven for your recipe, just put the pan inside as you prepare the recipe. When it's time to remove the skillet, do so carefully\u2014it'll be scorching hot. (These handle hot pads will help.)<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n First, find out if your stovetop will support cast iron<\/a>. Heat the pan gradually\u2014about 10 minutes is recommended\u2014and rotate it on the burner every few minutes so the heat is evenly applied. Same with the oven-heating method: Be careful!<\/p>\r\n If you get distracted and forget to rotate the pan, let it cool down and start again. Remember, cast iron retains heat beautifully\u2014whether you want it to or not\u2014so it'll take a bit to lose the hot spot.<\/p>\r\n So, now that you know the secret, go bake up one of these amazing cast-iron skillet treats!<\/a><\/p>\r\n \t\t\t Not getting the desired results when baking with cast iron? This smart tip changes everything.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7006,"featured_media":1861420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[304158,304162,304021,303966,304020,304005,304150],"categories-v2":[310461,309438,309439,308599,308481,308495,308594,308549,309434],"coauthors":[51520],"acf":{"long_pin_file":false,"ncv_override_generic_settings_option":false,"ncv_autoplay_option":"","ncv_stickyplay_option":"","ncv_ads_option":"","ncv_mute_option":"","ncv_comscore_option":"","ncv_autoplay_mobile_option":"","ncv_viewable_threshold_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_option":"","ncv_autopause_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_mobile_option":"","ncv_autopause_mobile_option":"","ncv_sticky_mobile_option":"","ncv_remove_player_option":false,"ncv_moat_option":""},"yoast_head":"\nThe Benefits of Preheating<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
How to Preheat Cast Iron<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
In the oven<\/h4>\r\n
On the stovetop<\/h4>\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Pecan Cheesecake Pie<\/a>This creamy pecan cheesecake pie, studded with crunchy nuts and a rich sauce, is the ideal dessert to elevate any special occasion.<\/span>
<\/a><\/div>Peach Blueberry Cobbler<\/a>A big spoonful of warm peach blueberry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream is the perfect dessert for a summer evening.
<\/a><\/div>Skillet Stout Brownies<\/a>These stout brownies are so rich and fudgy. I love how quickly they come together. They're perfect for a busy weeknight. \u2014Mandy Naglich, New York, New York
<\/a><\/div>Pizookie<\/a>Bake up the ultimate shareable cookie. For variety, replace the chocolate chips with an equal quantity of M&M's or chocolate chunks. Or go super fancy by mixing the chocolate chips and pecans into the dough, then gently folding in 1-1\/2 cup fresh raspberries.\u2014James Schend, Taste Recipes Deputy Editor\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Skillet Blueberry Slump<\/a>My mother-in-law made a slump of wild blueberries with dumplings and served it warm with a pitcher of farm cream. We\u2019ve been enjoying slump desserts for 60 years. \u2014Eleanore Ebeling, Brewster, Minnesota
<\/a><\/div>Rustic Honey Cake<\/a>Serve this sweet, moist honey cake with ripe berries and a sprinkle of crunchy pistachios.
<\/a><\/div>Skillet Brownies<\/a>Skillet brownies boast a rich, chocolaty flavor and the perfect velvety, fudgy texture. Serve them warm with ice cream, whipped cream or strawberries, and you'll be more than pleased.
<\/a><\/div>Blood Orange Caramel Tarte Tatin<\/a>I never had blood oranges until I moved to California. The season is short, so I use them in everything while I can get them. That sweet orange flavor with some brown sugar is a perfect combination. Whenever I have something to go to, my friends demand that I bring this dessert. \u2014Pamela Butkowski, Hermosa Beach, California
<\/a><\/div>Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake<\/a>For a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe. \u2014Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas
<\/a><\/div>Cherry-Peach Dumplings<\/a>You can make this fruity dessert on your stovetop, but to really impress your guests, simmer it in an electric skillet right at the dinner table. There\u2019s no more convenient way to enjoy the fruits of the season. \u2014Patricia Frerk, Syracuse, New York
<\/a><\/div>Peach Upside-Down Cake<\/a>Get ready to flip for this peach upside-down cake! It's easier than you think to prepare, and when it's finished it will look just as good as you'd hoped.
<\/a><\/div>Bluebarb Pie<\/a>If you're a fan of strawberry-rhubarb pie, you'll want to try this twist on the classic. Here, blueberries provide the sweet counterpoint to the tart rhubarb, with mouthwatering results. \u2014Steve Gyuro, Franklin, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>Berry Whirligig<\/a>Blackberries are an Oregon treasure. We love to go out and pick our own. Whatever we don\u2019t eat fresh, we freeze to enjoy whenever we start dreaming of this irresistible treat. \u2014Pearl Stanford, Medford, Oregon
<\/a><\/div>Giant Buckeye Cookie<\/a>I\u2019m from Ohio, and we love our buckeye candy! Buckeyes are a delicious combination of peanut butter and chocolate, which is exactly what this cookie is. All you need is a box of cake mix, a few common pantry ingredients, and voila\u2014you have a tasty dessert ready for family and friends in under an hour. You can customize it, too, by substituting other mix-ins for the chocolate chips. We serve it warm with ice cream or whipped cream. \u2014Arianna Harding, Cincinnati, Ohio
<\/a><\/div>Tillie's Ginger Crumb Cake<\/a>This recipe goes back at least as far as my grandmother, who was born in the early 1900s. Our sons and I enjoy eating it in a bowl with milk poured on it\u2014much to the dismay of my husband, who prefers it plain! \u2014Kathy Nienow Clark, Byron, Michigan
<\/a><\/div>Cast-Iron Cherry-Berry Peach Pie<\/a>I had an overabundant supply of cherries one year, so I adapted several recipes to use them up. I knew this one was a keeper when I received phone calls from my mother and grandmother complimenting me on this pie. \u2014Amy Hartke, Elgin, Illinois
<\/a><\/div>Pear Crumble<\/a>No time to make a pie? This pear crumble recipe is quick and easy, and just as delicious!
<\/a><\/div>Plum Upside-Down Cake<\/a>Since my husband liked pineapple upside-down cake, I decided to give this recipe a try one night when we were expecting guests for dinner. Everyone pronounced this cake \"Delicious!\" and asked for seconds.\u2014Bobbie Talbott, Veneta, Oregon
<\/a><\/div>Caramel-Apple Skillet Buckle<\/a>My grandma used to bake a version of this for me when I was a little girl. She would make it using fresh apples from her tree in the backyard. I've adapted her recipe because I love the combination of apples, pecans and caramel. \u2014Emily Hobbs, Springfield, Missouri
<\/a><\/div>Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake<\/a>Upside-down cakes always bring a little wow factor to baking, but this rhubarb upside-down cake brings some surprises too. It\u2019s juicy, tart, sweet and a world away from everything you probably expect from rhubarb.\u00a0
<\/a><\/div>Black Forest Upside-Down Cake<\/a>The divine flavors of this simple Black Forest cake will impress your guests and leave you with many requests for the recipe! \u2014Kimberly Campbell, Wheeling, West Virginia
<\/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 Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>Gingerbread Cake<\/a>Indulge in the ultimate warming treat with a homemade gingerbread cake. Rich, spiced flavors are paired with a velvety caramel sauce for a truly decadent dessert.
<\/a><\/div>Berry Bliss Cobbler<\/a>A little bit sweet, a little bit tart and topped off with golden sugar-kissed biscuits, this cobbler is summer perfection. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
<\/a><\/div>Skillet Chocolate Dumplings<\/a>Why bake when you can make an entire dessert on the stovetop? These dumplings are often requested by my family for special events like birthdays.\u2014Becky Magee, Chandler, Arizona\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Date Pudding Cobbler<\/a>There were eight children in my family when I was a girl, and all of us enjoyed this cobbler. I now serve it for everyday and special occasions alike. \u2014Carolyn Miller, Guys Mills, Pennsylvania
<\/a><\/div>Upside-Down Apple Cake with Butterscotch Topping<\/a>This cake is a favorite of mine. I love the smell of the apples and butterscotch as it is baking. It fills the house with a perfect autumn aroma. \u2014Sabrina Haught, Spencer, West Virginia
<\/a><\/div>Strawberry Buttermilk Skillet Shortcake<\/a>This scratch-made strawberry buttermilk cake is a family favorite. The recipe is over 100 years old, and I remember my grandma making it. We still carry on the family tradition by making this old-fashioned recipe each summer. \u2014Claudia Lamascolo, Melbourne, Florida
<\/a><\/div>Cinnamon Apple Pie<\/a>Whether baked in a skillet or a deep-dish pie plate, a hefty cinnamon apple pie is a real stunner.
<\/a><\/div>Blueberry Crumble Pie<\/a>Whether you use wild or cultivated fruit for blueberry crumble pie, expect a sweet burst of flavor in every bite.
<\/a><\/div>Banana Skillet Upside-Down Cake<\/a>My grandmother gave me my first cast iron skillet, and I've been cooking and baking with it ever since. Sometimes I add drained maraschino cherries to this banana skillet dessert and serve it with a ice cream. \u2014Terri Merritts, Nashville, Tennessee
<\/a><\/div>Chocolate Chip Dutch Baby<\/a>I modified a traditional Dutch baby recipe given to me by a friend and came up with this version that my family thinks is terrific. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to make. \u2014Mary Thompson, La Crosse, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>Hot Milk Cake<\/a>Travel back in time with this easy, old-fashioned hot milk cake recipe. Moist and tender, like a sponge cake and pound cake hybrid, it's the perfect snacking cake!
<\/a><\/div>Skillet Chocolate Chunk Walnut Blondies<\/a>Put these beauties out at a potluck and you\u2019ll find only crumbs on your platter when it\u2019s time to head home. Everyone will ask who made those scrumptious blondies, so be sure to bring copies of the recipe! \u2014Peggy Woodward, Taste Recipes<\/I> Senior Food Editor
Cast-Iron Peach Crostata<\/a><\/h2>\r\nWhile the crostata, an open-faced fruit tart, is actually Italian, my version's peach filling is American all the way. \u2014Lauren Knoelke, Milwaukee, Wisconsin\r\n