Back to Cast Iron

About a month ago, I started to complain about one of the pans we often use for cooking eggs, vegetables, and whatever else fits:

It was a useful pan once upon a time, but the surface coating is really starting to fall apart:

And because we’re trying to get healthier lately, I figured it was time to toss it and buy something else. But here’s the thing: we have plenty of pots and pans. There are easily a handful of other pans that we occasionally use, some larger, others smaller, so it didn’t make much sense to buy yet another pan.

Regardless, I wanted it gone; my wife didn’t because it was good for … crepes. Yes, crepes (something we make once or twice a year) is the reason why it’s still around. Perhaps it will accidentally make it’s way into the trash can at some point. Anyway, I wanted a better option, and there it was in the bottom of the drawer:

A beautiful cast iron skillet that actually belongs to my in-laws which was only collecting dust. So, I decided to make a concerted effort to use the pan whenever possible, and I’m loving using cast iron again. I forgot how easy it is to use. I forgot that it’s actually a lot easier to clean. And I forgot that it’s likely the healthiest option of all the pans in our drawers.

Although I probably need to properly season the skillet so that it’s less non-stick than it currently is, but even in it’s current state the cast iron is still easier to use than the other pans we typically use.

The next day I seasoned the pan twice in row using avocado oil. Here’s how it looks now:

So long as we clean it with a scraper or the dish netting we bought a while back before it sets, then the cast iron is easy to use. We don’t bother to use soap, either. Well, it also needs wiped dry immediately after cleaning, which is easy enough.

Thankfully, we have another, larger skillet that we need to start using, too. The only problem is getting everyone in the household to start using the cast iron skillets instead of what they’re accustomed to. That, my friends, is the most difficult challenge of all.