Cooking Green: Cast Iron Will Rock Your World

Have you ever cooked with a non-stick skillet and had the non-stick surface flake off after a few months? That super slick surface is made up of many harmful chemicals that should absolutely not be eaten! What's the alternative to cheap-o, toxic frying pans? Your grandma's grandma had the secret in her kitchen- Cast Iron! You might be thinking 'Hey isn't cast iron archaic cookware from the pioneer days?'. Well, yeah, but they had the right idea, cook with heavily oiled metal and never have nasty non-stick chemicals peeling off into your food. Cast iron cookware has been used for generations because it literally lasts that long! It's also fully recyclable since it's one big hunk of iron which can be melted down by a scrap yard. You can nab a high quality cast iron skillet for under $20 and it will probably have at least a 10 year warranty. What other frying pan can top that?

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Tags:

• cast
• iron
• cookware
• green
• cooking
• diy
• ryanishungry

[undermyumbrellah]

extra virgin olive oil and high heat is naughty. normal olive oil can handle relatively high heat.

[RyanIsHungry]

interesting, i didn't know that! good to know.

[ejbgunny]

Looks like a Lodge 10" chef skillet. Great skillet at a great price.

[RyanIsHungry]

you are correct! i think this was under $20. which is amazing for a pan that will literally last forever.

[gibsondan]

I'd also like to echo that you had the heat up too high. With a cast iron skillet, you rarely go higher than medium heat. Reason: Cast iron retains heat VERY well. So try cooking with the heat down lower. Oh...I see your comment now where you say you've mastered this. Well, Bravo! Also remember to never use soap on cast iron. Just scrape with a spatula and wash in plain water. That's also very green-friendly. Great video!

[RyanIsHungry]

yes, it's true, cast iron gets hot hot hot. i grew up using gas stoves where you could turn the heat down instantly too. so the combination took me a while to figure out. but now i'm solid!

[triggerhpy]

1) get a flat bottom dutch oven for your stove and you can use the lid on your 10" skillet.

2) buy a set of bambo utensils by far the best for cast iron.

3) have fun with the new addiction.

[DCFunBud]

Cast iron requires a lot of fat while cooking to maintain its non-stick properties. Seasoning after every use is very important. I use a little bit of Crisco heat the pan and let it cool on its own for a non-stick surface.

[MrMoneyHelper]

Thank you for the good lesson. Somewhere in my home is an old cast iron porcelain covered skillet that is chipping. I don't use it because it has those chips. It is flaking. Is this something than can be used safely or is it ruined?

[dragonflychainsaw]

i don't know why people have gotten away from cast iron they cook better they last really forever i think sometimes we are to smart for our own good and lazy we don't want to tote that heavy cast iron

[homemakingwisdom]

I think cast iron cookware is by far the best there is. I love mine I just added 2 cast iron bread pans to my set.

[DV8DEX]

HEY DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU JUST PUT SOME HOT OIL AND SOME SALT IN THE PAN AND BUB IT WITH A TOWEL. THAT WORKS TOO. AND YOU NEVER WET IT

[malcolmvanatta]

Turn the heat down! ahhhhh. Burning that egg LOL. Good video. Cast iron rules Teflon Drools.... or maybe it will make you drool..

[godwillhunting2]

get extra virgin coconut oil....one of the best things for frying and very healthy ...but not the crap they sell at wally world....

[realolba]

Well ... if you use a non metal spatula and by a good non-stick skillet in the first place and do not scrub it with a sponge your non-stick skillet will last mor than 1.5-2 years ... mine is now 5 years old w/o any scratch or peeled of non-stick material ;).

The brand is Ballarini.

I still have a little cast iron skillet for german "Bratkartoffeln" :)

[djamorpheus]

@RyanIsHungry safflower oil can take heat up to 500F