Product Endorsement! Cast Iron

This past Christmas was the Christmas of Cast Iron cookware. After several pointed hints to Santa, I received a 12-inch skillet and a dutch oven, with a lid that fits both of them.

This stuff is great. Mine is Lodge cookware, from their "Logic" line. Its claim to fame is that it comes "pre-seasoned." Seasoning is the process by which one breaks in cast iron, and it involves heat and oil and many, many repititions of them. Seasoning protects your cookware from rust and creates the fabulous black, slick finish in your skillet.

Seasoning is a giant pain in the ass, and buying pre-seasoned cookware means there's no chance you'll screw up the process and end up with rusty cookware.

There is maintenance involved with pre-seasoned stuff, though. You have to clean it properly (no abrasives!), dry it immediately and give it a rubdown with a paper towel and a couple of drops of vegetable oil.

Cast iron is great. The skillet is a hoot - it gets very hot and holds heat well. The dutch oven makes searing a roast easy, and provides what seems like a radiant heat effect. I've been thrilled with it.

So go get yourself some cast iron. It's great to cook with, and you can do a nice arm workout with a dutch oven. Stuff's heavy.

Why yes, I did just use my skillet. Pork chops. Good stuff.