Cast Iron cooking

[eclecticcottage]

Annual thread for cooking on or in the wood stove or just in general. I just today got the coolest piece yet.

This:

Needs a good seasoning. Got it for DH for Christmas so it'll be a little bit before we use it. I can't wait! It's so cool-I got the higher base to use on the gas stove. Anyone ever use a cast iron waffle maker before? I was randomly searching vintage and antique cast iron cookware and found out about them.

I also picked up these a set of little pot holders that fit on the handles of the skillets. Nice. And a set of cook books that at a quick glance had some wicked looking recipes.

We usually use the skillet for general cooking, eggs, pancakes, etc. No specific recipes. We have been using the dutch oven in the range oven to cook whole chickens. 300 for several hours. YUM. moist, browned skin.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I haven't used a CI wafflemaker, but the frying pans, skillet, and dutch oven get plenty of use.

Matt

 

[billb3]

somewhere we have a cast iron krumkake iron (cookies, not waffles)
it worked better on a gas burner and I'm pretty sure my sister still has it as we have an electric range now

 

[Gark]

There's gotta be a reason why they call the top lid on our stove a "griddle". The wife made an awesome chuck roast (cast iron pan of course) on top. I swear it was way better than from the electric range.

 

[firefighterjake]

This post reminded me . . . I have to search for my cast iron frying pan. I see a rib or chuck eye cooked in the woodstove on the coals in my future.

 

[midwestcoast]

We have a cast iron waffle iron & have used it a few times. Needs to be seasoned well obviously & greased or oiled. It works fine for us on the rare occasions we make waffles.

 

[Dune]

Krumkake (yumm)

Made these every Christmas growing up.

 

[eclecticcottage]

We have a cast iron waffle iron & have used it a few times. Needs to be seasoned well obviously & greased or oiled. It works fine for us on the rare occasions we make waffles.

Cool. DH used to love to make them with the old electric one we had, but it was a pita to clean and finally died.

 

[swagler85]

Found this cast iron wok a few years ago. First time I've ever seen one. I oven it and it fits in well with my cast iron pans and griddles. Cast iron is almost all I cook on.

 

[Dune]

Cool. DH used to love to make them with the old electric one we had, but it was a pita to clean and finally died.

What the heck is DH?

 

[backpack09]

dh -> dipsh!t husband in my house....

 

[eclecticcottage]

dh -> dipsh!t husband in my house....

Lol...some days, yeah. But usually 'net shorthand for Dear Husband when I don't feel like typing out husband....

 

[cwitham]

We are making the switch to all cast iron cooking.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

We're in the market for a cast iron waffle maker as well. I cook in my cast frying pans most every day and love them, but I worry about the heat control/burning stuff with the waffle maker on gas.

Is it tough to control?

 

[maverick06]

this thread makes me sad. I have a electric stove (no gas service), its a flat cooktop. I cant use cast iron on it. I really dislike that the coices in cookware is so limited. What I can use is mostly limited to those with the teflon coatings (I have a brother in law who works at dupont testing that stuff.... he says never use it, its a serious risk).

 

[backpack09]

You can use flat bottom fry pans on glass tops... my father does all the time.

 

[eclecticcottage]

Is it tough to control?

I'm a little concerned about this too. I did read to get the higher base for gas vs wood stoves. My biggest issue is our stove-the burners are on or off, they don't adjust flame height with the knobs. We do have different btu burners (takes a little getting used to cooking on it, there's just no simmering, period). I figure we'll use the lowest btu burner and hope it works! Other wise I almost wonder if the oven would work-just light it and set the base on the "floor" of the oven. It is a little further removed from the flame than the burners.

I'm still figuring out how I'm going to season it, since I don't really want to put it in the oven with the wooden handles. I think I'll season the base in the oven, then the two top pieces individually over the burners.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

I'm a little concerned about this too. I did read to get the higher base for gas vs wood stoves. My biggest issue is our stove-the burners are on or off, they don't adjust flame height with the knobs. We do have different btu burners (takes a little getting used to cooking on it, there's just no simmering, period). I figure we'll use the lowest btu burner and hope it works! Other wise I almost wonder if the oven would work-just light it and set the base on the "floor" of the oven. It is a little further removed from the flame than the burners.

I'm still figuring out how I'm going to season it, since I don't really want to put it in the oven with the wooden handles. I think I'll season the base in the oven, then the two top pieces individually over the burners.

I always oil my cast iron, heat til almost smoking, wipe down, repeat. I'd think that you could do that on a burner- just control heat and evenness by turning, removing a lot.

 

[swagler85]

You can use flat bottom fry pans on glass tops... my father does all the time.

I think shes worried about scratches on the flat top

 

[Highbeam]

its a flat cooktop. I cant use cast iron on it. I really dislike that the coices in cookware is so limited. What I can use is mostly limited to those with the teflon coatings

We also have a flat top electric and use cast iron all the time. Afraid of scratches? not a problem. The only thing that I worry about is a big stock pot or something really heavy. Obviously you can't slam your frying pan into the cooktop but it's not that fragile that you can't use it.

 

[eclecticcottage]

Well, I just went and picked up a Lodge Logic bread pan since our bread machine died and DH can't decide if he wants another or not. We'll try just using a pan, since now with the pilot on the stove we can keep the dough warm enough to rise yet high enough to be away from the dog, lol. I also grabbed a pie iron, I wish they had shorter handles but it should work. We can use that in the (wood) stove even if we want when it coals down a bit.

Now I need a muffin pan and a flat griddle/pan to use for pizza and maybe an enamelware sauce pot or two.

 

[granpajohn]

We do have different btu burners (takes a little getting used to cooking on it, there's just no simmering, period). .

Can you use one of those trivet-like devices to simmer? Heat diffuser, they may be called.
Aluminum one:

Cast iron:

"Flame Tamer"....another name.

 

[Hearth Mistress]

this thread makes me sad. I have a electric stove (no gas service), its a flat cooktop. I cant use cast iron on it. I really dislike that the coices in cookware is so limited. What I can use is mostly limited to those with the teflon coatings (I have a brother in law who works at dupont testing that stuff.... he says never use it, its a serious risk).

Nah! I have a flat top stove and use cast iron. The reason they tell you NOT to is it can easily scratch the cooktop. If you put it down and leave it, don't shake it around you are fine. Obviously, its heavy so that is another threat, dropping it and breaking the top. The only thing I don't use is Glass, because it will crack under the high heat, and cheapo aluminum pans also, because the stovetop gets too hot and everything burns, not to mention the pans warp. Not sure exactly which stove you have but if you are careful, You can use just about anything

 

[eclecticcottage]

Can you use one of those trivet-like devices to simmer? Heat diffuser, they may be called.
Aluminum one:

Cast iron:

"Flame Tamer"....another name.

Hey, those are pretty cool. I've never seen them before. I'll have to read about them. Thanks!

 

[osagebow]

this thread makes me sad. I have a electric stove (no gas service), its a flat cooktop. I cant use cast iron on it. I really dislike that the coices in cookware is so limited. What I can use is mostly limited to those with the teflon coatings (I have a brother in law who works at dupont testing that stuff.... he says never use it, its a serious risk).

You probably can - just be careful. I have a cheap electric "glasstop" stove that said "No CI" in the manual and use cast all the time. Just don't bang the top.