What You Need to Know When Purchasing Your First Cast Iron Pan

You’ve probably heard about the wonders and magic of cooking with cast iron pans and skillets. Maybe some of your friends have them and swear by them, but you haven’t yet been swayed into making the purchase. For many people that don’t cook with cast iron pans, they can appear oversized, heavy, and expensive – which puts them right off buying them. The thing is, cast iron has all kinds of wonderful benefits, and it’s true that once you use one, you’ll never be able to go back. If you’re ready to dip your toes into the world of cooking in a cast iron pan, here are four things to be mindful of during the purchase process.

Expect It to Be Heavy

The first tip is that you need to go into the process expecting the cast iron pan to be heavy. Some will be a little lighter than others, but in general, these are very heavy pans. This is one of their benefits, though, as they will hold up extremely well to all kinds of conditions.

Buy from a Reputable Shop

It’s also very important when searching for cast iron pans that you choose a reputable shop that’s known for high-quality items. Because cast iron tends to be an investment product, you want to make sure it has been made well and will be extremely long-lasting.

Consider What Size Pan is Best for Your Needs

Another thing to be mindful of is the size of the cast iron pan. They come in various sizes and shapes, so you want to be sure your first one is versatile and allows you to make all kinds of recipes and meals.

This means you probably want to go with a medium-sized pan, i.e., one that isn’t too small or too large. You can check out places like cooksboutique.com for a look at the different available sizes. Typically, experts suggest one that is 10.25″ or 12″ as your starter skillet/pan.

Wash It Before Using

Once you choose a cast iron pan and bring it home, be sure to wash it before using it. The first wash should be with hot water and soap, nothing else. Moving forward, ‘washing’ will take on a different look. Did you know that your skillet will only need to be washed once or twice a year with soap and water as long as you follow the proper care instructions? After each use, you can simply rinse the pan with hot water, and if there are stuck on particles, you can use a soft brush to remove them. Should anything be caked on, make a scrub with oil and salt to wipe it clean.

As far as drying it, use a soft, clean towel, and then you can put the pan on the stovetop on low heat and add a light coating of oil (it shouldn’t collect or pool). You can do some research on how to season your pan.

Investing in a cast iron pan will allow you to feel like a true home chef, exploring all kinds of wonderful recipes and dishes that will turn out perfectly each time.