Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with skillet

How to save our skillets

specialagentwebb — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 19:36:51 -0800

Our cast iron skillets caught fire. Can they ever be used again? We have 2 cast iron skillets, and in the process of re-seasoning them after a washing mishap, the oil in them caught fire. We put out the flames with an A,B,C dry chemical fire extinguisher, then put the pans outside to cool down (and not smoke up the house any more).

The chemical extinguisher mixed with the oil, and it seems like it's not coming off of the skillets.

What's the best route to take from here. Can the skillets be saved? If so, what's the best way to go about cleaning them?

For me and my grill

doift — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:51:51 -0800

Convince me to keep my cast-iron grill pan. A couple of years ago, on a lark, I bought a Lodge pre-seasoned cast-iron grill pan much like the one in the link above. I've mostly tried to use it for things like burgers (meat and veggie), chicken breasts with onions, and bacon when I had just moved and didn't have any other pans yet. I've never really been happy with it: stuff doesn't cook evenly and gets stuck on the little grooves, it's been hard to clean, etc. At this point I've probably ruined the seasoning trying to remove stuck-on veggie burger bits. I've just about decided to give it away.

But with all the cast-iron love I see, I'm tempted to give it another chance, and do it right this time. So I'm seeking recipes and recommendations. Why should I keep this thing? What can I cook in it that other cookware just can't do properly? What techniques can I use to make the most of it? There are a few posts already about cast iron care and re-seasoning, but do you have any grill-pan-specific care tips? Convert me!

what should I cook in my cast iron pan?

peep — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:30:26 -0800

What should I cook with my cast iron skillet? Due in large part to this question about homefries, I finally bought a cast iron skillet last Christmas. It's a 10" preseasoned Lodge.

So far I've made homefries, hashbrowns, and cornbread. I also know that lots of people make pineapple upsidedown cake in a cast iron pan.

For a couple of months, though, the skillet has been severely neglected. What other foods or recipes take on a new level of awesomeness when prepared in cast iron?

Very few caveats: I hate eggs, and no beef. I'm also sort of looking for things that are exceptionally yummy when cooked in cast iron, like the homefries question, not general stuff like "you can cook anything in it."

What should I make next?

Chicken breasts and cast iron skillet methods?

keswick — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:30:54 -0800

Best way to grill/roast chicken in a healthy way on a cast iron skillet? I used to throw a chicken breast on a Foreman grill for a quick meal, but I've since got rid of the Foreman grill. What's the best way to prepare a chicken breast in a cast iron skillet (with as little (or no) oil as possible), preferably solely on the oventop?

Cooking the iron skillet

jclovebrew — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 19:25:58 -0800

I decided to store my cast iron skillet inside the oven, even when I am using the oven. I figure it's acting like a heat stone, keeping the oven temp stable. Is this bad for the skillet?