By Terry Retter
Cast iron cookware has been used for over a thousand years in Europe and possibly longer in China and Asia. This cookware remains popular to this day, primarily because of the satisfaction of the cooks who enjoy using a product which heats evenly and produces delicious tasting foods. While cast iron cookware started out as a basic pot and later evolved to a pot with a lid on it, today there are countless numbers of different sizes and shapes of cast iron cookware available. There is an excellent selection of cast iron at Your Smart Kitchen.
Originally cast iron referred to the use of molded iron to create various shapes and sizes of cooking pots. Perhaps the most well recognized piece is the ten or twelve inch frying pan, often wielded by females in comic strips and on TV. This type of cast iron cookware is still available today. It remains the "gold standard" of frying pans, and many world-class chefs swear by it to produce the finest finish to fried meats and fish. Just the act of heating the frying pan on the stovetop, until a drop of water "bounces" on the surface, along with the sound of the "sizzle" is a satisfying experience! It also creates the anticipation of a mouth-watering meal!
The classic cast iron Dutch oven is perhaps another of the most commonly used pieces of cast iron cookware. This large deep pot with its lid provides unlimited versatility. It probably became popular for the tantalizing stews and chilies it produced when placed over an open campfire by cowboys in the Old West. Even over the uneven heat of charcoal or wood embers, the Dutch oven heated the meal evenly and retained the heat in the pot until the last tired cowpoke was served. Today, many fine cooks still insist upon a Dutch oven for roasting meats or preparing special holiday barbeque dishes such as slow baked beans with onions, molasses and bacon.
Cast iron cookware can be used on gas or electric cook tops, as well as the new induction method cook tops. It can also be used in a conventional oven as well as convection ovens. Due to the rugged nature of the classic black cast iron cookware, avoid using these pans on glass cook surfaces, as they may scratch.
As you use cast iron cookware, you will become enamored with its ability to redistribute and hold heat, which results in frying perfection. It also is known for producing tender meat dishes as they slowly simmer and braise in their juices.
In addition to the classic black cast iron cookware, another variation is the porcelain coated cast iron cookware made by Chasseur or by Color Cast. As you may have guessed by the name, these products are coated with two layers of smooth, beautiful enamel which makes them extremely durable and also easy to clean. Both the Chasseur and Color Cast brands are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and beautiful colors at Your Smart Kitchen.
Find Cast Iron Cookware at Your Smart Kitchen your online location for quality cast iron pots at reasonable prices with customer satisfaction guaranteed. Featuring , Romertopf, Schlemmertopf, Fissler, Chasseur, Paderno, Mauviel, Swiss Diamond and other quality brands. Terry Retter Editor: ChefWannabee.com
Source:www.isnare.com |
