Cast iron care

Today we look at care of your cast iron pans.

First thing you need is fat, animal or vegetable doesn't matter although I feel I get better results with animal fat(aka lard). One thing you can do to make seasoning of the iron easier, when you cook something like sausage that produces a lot of grease USE IT.

After you are done removing the meat from the pan take about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt (regular table salt) depending on the size of the pan, pour it on the hot grease, keep the pan to the fire.

Using a pair of cheap read $2 or less metal tongs take a paper towel and use the salt to scour the pieces that might be stuck to the pan. The salt does 2 things first it acts as a scouring pad removing things stuck to the pan, second it pushes the fat into the pores of the metal this is key as the fat is not what makes the metal slick after treatment. I will explain that in a minute.

At this point you need to decide if you have 45 minutes to properly treat the pan or not.

If you don't have the time then rinse pan out and dry on the stove after pan is dry take a paper towel and wipe up any excess grease. If you have the time now is when you heat your oven to 500 degrees. Once hot place pan (with salt and grease still in it) in oven for 30 minutes, there may be some smoke but it should not be more than the average ventilation fan can handle.

after 30 minutes turn off heat and let pan cool in oven. Rinse pan and dry on stove over high heat, remember to let your pan cool thoroughly before you rinse it once dry wipe with paper towel and store.

Explaining what makes the pan slick you have to understand that in the hot oven the grease turns to carbon and adheres to the pan carbon is very slick in fact I have a pan that i could drop a pile of cheese into and it won't stick this is the ORIGINAL non stick surface and still the best as every time you use it if properly done it gets better not worse.

Today's recipe sausage and egg sandwiches

makes 4 sandwiches

4 pre-cooked sausage patties (I buy the ones that Wal-mart carries)
4 rolls ( again if you don't bake your own any bakery carries hard rolls)
4 fried eggs (if you feel really creative you can buy the rings for these at any kitchen shop)
4 slices cheese
mayo

Now if you can't figure out how to put this together we really need to talk. :)