Rainbow Frittata
One of my fondest culinary memories is remembering all the times by grandfather (I call him pop pop) made cornbread in an iron skillet. I still look back on it as a quintessential experience.
Hearing the creak of the oven as it was opened. The smell of the sweet cornbread in the air. The weight of the skillet. (Though it’s easier to pick it up now, it must have felt like a ton as a kid.) And most importantly, the taste of the cornbread itself. Not too sweet. Light and fluffy, but just crumbly enough.
Unfortunately, my pop pop had a stroke in December of 2010 that left him unable to cook with his beloved iron skillet. It was with a heavy heart that I inherited two of his iron skillet and an iron pot.
But now, every time I cook with one, I feel connected to him. And I know the connection will last as long as I’m alive and cooking. Because let’s face it, those iron skillets are going to outlast me.
Bananas Foster German Pancake
Since inheriting the iron skillets, I’ve been able to master cooking just about anything in them. Eggs, bacon, pies, frittatas, chili, pancakes and most importantly, cornbread. Well, I say I’ve mastered them, but somehow I think it’s been in my blood all along.
If you aren’t “with it” when it comes to iron skillets, let me break down some major benefits of investing in one (or a few).
- Nothing really cooks as evenly as an iron skillet. Plus, the entire thing can stand extremely high heat — which requires some heavy duty oven mitts.
- There perfectly suited for indoor and outdoor cooking. Whether in an oven, on a campfire, on the range or even on the grill, an iron skillet can work in just about any situation.
- An iron skillet is naturally non-stick when seasoned properly. To season one, just put some oil in it, form a nice coating by moving the oil around and bake it at 350F for about an hour. If it’s new, the instructions may vary some.
- Cleaning an iron skillet is pretty easy. No soap required. Just use warm water and a sturdy, non-metallic brush. For tougher jobs, use some kosher salt then rub clean with a towel.
- An iron skillet actually adds nutritional value to items cooked in it. Some of the iron is actually leeched into the food while cooking. It sounds weird, but you can’t taste anything.
Salted Caramel Upside-Down Pecan Pie
I would highly encourage you to go out and buy one immediately. However, I would search for a used one with a little bit of history. Something just doesn’t feel right about a brand new iron skillet. It’s sort of a culinary rite of passage.
I know getting mine was. Hopefully, I’ll forever be able to bake cornbread my pop pop is proud of.
Take a look at some recipes I’ve posted using my iron skillet:
Po' Boy Livin' Rich 