Why Cast Iron?

Cast iron is among one of my absolute favorite types of cookware to use. Sure, it’s heavy and takes a little while longer to get heated up, but these two minor negative things don’t even matter when you consider all of the great reasons to cook with cast iron. My favorite reason to use cast iron and keep it around is that it is so durable, which also makes it cheaper in the long run since you only have to buy a couple of pans once instead of new ones every couple years. A good cast iron pan can last your whole life if you keep up with it, which is also easy to do. Many people don’t like cast iron because “it is difficult to clean”, which just isn't the case in most situations. Cast iron is relatively nonstick so most things just wash right out. I’ve always ran mine in hot water and used a clean sponge to clean out my pans and I've never had any troubles. Because you’re not using soap to deep clean your pans, they season quite well. I would not recommend using the same pan you used to fry chicken to make a cake right after, but similar dishes season the pan to create the best flavors. Cast iron is also so versatile. Whether you're camping and need to cook over an open fire, or just frying chicken in your kitchen at home, cast iron will get the job done. Once you get your pan nice and heated, it retains the heat quite well too. It heats very evenly so if you cook something a little too early, don’t stress over it because your cast iron will keep the whole dish evenly warmed until you are ready to serve it. Most people don't know it but using cast iron actually is a little bit healthier for you too. Cast iron is made from natural materials instead of nonstick chemicals. By using cast iron instead of regular nonstick pan you're getting a little bit of iron every time you use it, which is good for people with anemia. Cast iron is also so aesthetically pleasing, which doesn’t not hurt my argument that cast iron is the best. It makes me feel like I'm in a farmhouse living a truly simple life.