Cast iron cookware - seasoned or not has been used for cooking for hundreds of years and while it may seem like it has grown in popularity in recent days, it is an invention that has stood the test of time.

Cast iron is very popular in cooking because it can withstand very high temperatures as well as take the ‘heat’ for dishes that need to be cooked for long periods of time like stews. There are two types of cast iron cookware, seasoned and unseasoned. The unseasoned cast iron cookware is called bare because it doesn’t have the non-stick feature that a seasoned cast iron cookware piece can have. It is highly advisable to season your cast iron cookware with animal or vegetable fat so that a protective layer is formed and your food does not get burned or stuck to the pan. This layer is slowly cooked on to the base of the pan so that it stays. It can get eroded with harsh detergents or scourers, but with mild hand washing it stays for a considerable period of time after which one can re-apply it as per the need.

Pre-Seasoned Cookware

However, in recent times manufacturers offer cast iron cookware already seasoned for your convenience. One way to know if your seasoned cast iron cookware is of good quality is if it has a smooth, black surface with sheen on it. If it is bumpy, scratched or has different colors, beware of the product as it could be a waste of time and money.

Some manufacturers send the cast iron cookware seasoned so as to protect it in shipping. Consumers then can strip that mineral oil off the base with steel wool pads and dish soap and then seasoned according got the smoking point of the fat they wish to use. The most common fats used for seasoning cast iron cookware is lard, palm and coconut oil or Crisco shortening as they are high in saturated fats and do not melt under high heat.

You can season cast iron cookware by first washing it thoroughly and then applying an even coat of lard on it and baking it in a 425 Fahrenheit degree oven for around two hours. Then cool the seasoned cast iron cookware and repeat the process a few times until you get a smooth black sheen. For newer pots and pans, this may take a few tries but once you are done, you can cook at high temperatures and for longer periods of time without risking damage to your cookware or the food being cooked in it.

If you are planning on braving the outdoors and wondering what kind of cookware will be the best for such purposes, be assured that cast iron cookware is ideal for camping. This is because it has the ability to withstand high heat and cooking directly on a fire.

Always used seasoned cast iron cookware for camping as it will prevent your food from sticking and lock in the flavor too. You could buy pre-seasoned cast iron cookware for camping or you could by bare cast iron and season it yourself with lard or other such saturated fat and then heating it in an oven or on a stove top so that the coating becomes more durable. If you wash with mild soap and water soon after you are done cooking, your seasoning will stay intact. Some experts recommend that the first few times you use seasoned cast iron cookware for camping to fry bacon and other such greasy items so that the seasoning is complete and you get a black even coat as opposed to a dull, grayish color.

What Items to Buy

The cast iron cookware for camping that you will need obviously depends on how you plan to use it. If you only intend to use it to fry eggs and bacon for breakfast, then a skillet and a frying pan should be enough. However, if you are part of a large group and plan on cooking several meals in your cast iron cookware while camping, you might be better off buying more than one piece so that you can multi task and get things done faster.

A cast iron Dutch oven is a great choice of you want to simmer soups and stews and if you want to bake biscuits while camping. You can use it in a myriad of ways by either placing it on a tripod or setting it on a grill.

A skillet is also a very versatile item to have when roughing it in the outdoors because you can use it to make pancakes and eggs for breakfast, to fry fish, meat and vegetables for lunch and even to use in an oven to bake cornbread and the like for dinner. Cast iron skillets are available in a variety of sizes such as a 10 inch, a 12 inch and even a much bigger 20 inch version depending on the number of people you are cooking for.
 

While cast iron cookware has been around for many centuries its popularity has died down as new types of cookware have been introduced.  This is partially due to the fact many people don’t understand how to care for cast iron pots and pans.  However they are some of the most durable products available, and proper care can allow you to pass them on to your children, grandchildren or others.

Properly Season It

The most important thing to do after you purchase your cast iron cookware is to properly season it, which actually means you will be putting a protective layer over the iron to prevent rust and wear.  There are a few different ways to season your cast iron cookware, but most individuals use a thin layer of bacon fact, oil or shortening to coat the metal.  They then allow it to dry.

Wash With Hot Water

After your cast iron cookware has been seasoned it is important that you properly clean it each time you use it.  Cast iron pots and pans should not be washed in a dishwasher as they need to be washed by hand.  It is also important that you only use hot water to clean the pan as dish soap can cause the seasoning to come off.  This can end up rusting your cast iron cookware and shortening its lifespan.

Heat to Dry

Once you have cleaned your cast iron cookware it is important that you thoroughly dry it in order to prevent rust from forming.  The best way to ensure your cast iron cookware is dried completely is to put it back on the stove over a low heat as this will allow it to dry without burning.  Do not stick it over high heat or in the oven at high temperatures as this can warp the pan and change its shape.

Only Cook Certain Foods

Some foods weren’t made to be cooked in a cast iron skillet or pan.  This includes those that are high in acid content as the acid can ruin the coating on the pan.  For these types of items, such as tomatoes, fruits or more you should use cookware made of another material.

Although there are many different types of material for cookware to be made from, cast iron has been used for centuries.  While it isn’t the most popular type of cookware currently on the market, it offers lifelong durability when it is properly cared for.  You and generations after you can enjoy your cast iron cookware by following the tips listed here.