One of the first things that you must remember when using a cast iron skillet or frying pan, it that you must NEVER add any cold liquids into a very hot cast iron fry pan or skillet, if you do then the result may well be that the pan will be cracked and rendered totally useless.

If you are using an electric range then you may find that the heating is not as even as you may like it to be, this uneven heating can also case the pan to warp or crack. If you do use an electric range then heat the pan slowly and keep the heat at medium to medium low.

The more you use your pan the better it will become, because you will be seasoning it each time that it is used. But if you only use it periodically, then it will pay to rinse the pan with a little warm soapy water before using to remove any oil that may have seeped out of the surface of the pan, this oil could be rancid and spoil the taste of your food.

Once you have seasoned your pan you can use it to cook almost anything including a roast or fry chickens, stir fry - a great Chinese meal, fry potatoes or even bake a cake. The opportunities to use a good quality cast iron fry pan are almost endless.

Make sure that the pan is very hot before cooking, a drop of water put into the pan should sizzle when it is hot enough to use.

After using the pan, allow it to cool down then use warn water with a little dish washing detergent added and clean the pan, dry it thoroughly before putting it away. If the pan has a lid then it is important that you do not store the lid on the pan, as this will cause condensation and this in turn will cause rust to appear on the surface of the pan, so leave the lid off. You should also leave some paper towel inside the pan as this will collect any moisture that may be left in the pan.

It should be obvious, but never put a cast iron pan in the dishwasher, and also never store any left over food in it but clean it as soon as you have finished using it.

You can also purchase cast iron pans that are coated with enamel. This gives the pan a beautiful luxurious finish that will look good in any kitchen. The inside can also be enameled if you wish, this will remove the need to season the pan but will not effect the excellent heating properties of the cast iron. The only draw back from this is that there will be no minute amounts of iron leached into your food, something that most of us do need. If you need to reduce your iron intake, then an enameled pan is probably the best option for you.

Look after you cast iron pan and it will last several life times. Enjoy your new cooking experience.

Hello, my name is Lesley and I hope I can teach how to use and care for your cast iron skillet or frying pans. Visit Best Frying Pan Buys if you want more information about frying pans and skillets.

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