Cast Iron

What physically happens when seasoning cast iron cookware?

From an engineering/physics standpoint, what is going on when you season cast iron cookware? Is smoking normal? Is this simply a build-up of carbon from burnt oil?

It is a build-up of carbon and other substances from the burnt oil. Smoking is normal.

The carbon build-up creates something of a non-stick cooking surface. There is no real change in the chemical composition of the cast-iron, just a build-up of burnt oil and/or other carbonized substances. A good chef usually expects the seasoning of a cast iron skillet to happen gradually over time. You can coat it with oil and then bake it to burn the oil off, but that's just the start. Repeated use will make it better. The seasoning can be scrubbed off (and that's a good way to anger a chef) so you know it's not a chemical change in the cast iron.

With so many first time buyers entering the exciting world of home buying at this time, there are many people who are looking at stocking a whole home instead of just their portion of a shared residence. One of the most important areas to stock in your new home is the kitchen; a poorly set up kitchen is a struggle to cook in and you will spend more in take out in a short time than you would have spent in just buying what you need to comfortably cook with.

No matter what kind of cooking you actually do, there are some general basics that are useful for any kitchen; and even if you have some of these items already, it's nice to have new things for your new house, especially if you've been using the castoffs that your family donated to you when you moved out.

One of the nicest things that you can treat yourself to when you buy a new house is a new set of dishes; buy at least a set of four place settings in a style and colour that you like and you think would go nicely with your dining area. If you don't have a decently complete set of cutlery, buy one of these too; no one likes having to share the one teaspoon in the house with everyone else.

For actual kitchen work, get at minimum one frying pan; a good sized cast iron one is a great value and pretty inexpensive. You will also probably need one large pot that you can boil pasta in; a Dutch oven is a good size for pasta and doubles for making stew or soup as well. Add to this combination one medium and one small sauce pan, all with lids.

For food preparation you will need a good paring knife, one larger utility knife, and a serrated bread knife. This variety of knife sizes will let you prepare just about anything. A sharpening steel is a good idea to keep your knives sharp but if you aren't that adept at sharpening knives by hand consider buying "stay sharp" knives. To accompany your new knives, invest in a good sized wooden cutting board; wooden cutting boards prohibit bacterial growth and don't dull your kitchen knives.

Whether you bake or not, invest in a good sized cookie sheet; you can cook a variety of things in the oven on one, ranging from baking actual cookies to toasting frozen things. Also handy, even if you don't know how to bake—yet—are measuring spoons & cups and some basic baking pans. A small cake pan is handy for baking small meals in and a loaf pan is great for making meatloaf in.

Don't forget those vital gadgets that make everyday cooking easier as well; it can be frustrating to be all ready to cook your first meal in a new place and realise that you're missing a can opener or a cork screw. A basic selection of cooking utensils will help round out your kitchen tools as well.

These items should make basic cooking quite workable in your new home; if you are a more advanced cook then you will likely want to add some more specialized items to your list as well. There are many small kitchen appliances that can also make cooking in your new kitchen easier as well including: coffee makers, mixers, toasters, and food processors. Add to your collection slowly and truly consider what kinds of cooking that you do to determine what your needs are before buying a lot of gadgetry. The purchase of a new home can be an ideal opportunity to start putting together a quality kitchen set up!

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Cast Iron Breakfast: Cooking Eggs

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