7 Benefits of Cast Iron Skillets

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My mom gave me one of her cast iron pans and I’ll admit, I’ve never used it. To be honest, the feeling of it is unpleasant to me. However, after researching and learning more about cast iron cookware benefits, I’m a changed woman. The number of benefits of cast iron pans outweighs (literally) the cons and I think you’ll see that too.

Cast Iron Pan Benefits

Below are seven benefits of using a cast iron skillet.

1. Nonstick

There are plenty of benefits of a cast iron pan. For starters, once your cast iron skillet has a nice sheen to it, it’s basically nonstick. That means you can cook with less oil which means it’s a health bonus!

2. Chemical Free

Another one of the benefits of cast iron cookware is that they are chemical free. So they are a great alternative to nonstick pans since most contain perfluorocarbons which is a chemical that is linked to cancer, developmental problems, liver damage and more.

3. Long Life Span

Cast iron cookware has a long life span as well. Many people still use cast iron pans inherited from their parents or grandparents.

4. Adds Iron to Your Food

Possibly one of the greatest cast iron skillet health benefits is that it adds iron to your food. Many people suffer from iron deficiency and cooking with cast iron pans can help increase your iron content by as much as 20 times!

5. Use in the Stove and Oven

They are dual purpose. Not only can you use them on the stove, but you can also use them in the oven at any temperature.

6. Easy to Clean

One of the most popular benefits of cast iron pans is that they are easy to clean. They don’t require soap and food lifts up off of the pan easily.

7. Less Expensive

Cast iron cookware is often less expensive than stainless steel. So if you’re looking to replace a pan, be sure to check out cast iron skillets. Not only will you save a buck but you’ll also gain some benefits of cast iron cooking. We recommend the Lodge L10SK3 Cast Iron Skillet – you can get a 10 inch model for Check on Amazon! (One of our team members has this pan in two different sizes. She loves cooking with it!) And, since these pans last forever, you may even be able to pick one up for a deal at a yard sale or local thrift store.

How to Clean and Season Cast Iron Skillets

Cast iron cookware does need a little more preparation than the typical stainless steel pan but the extra work is worth it. These pans can last a lifetime or longer. Watch this video from Martha Stewart on how to season and clean your cast iron pans.

What Are You Waiting For?

The benefits of cast iron skillets are much better than the generic stainless steel and a far cry from the toxins associate with cooking on nonstick, teflon pans. No more worries about those chemicals being deposited into your food. If you’re looking for some new recipes to try out on your skillet, Food Network has tons to choose from. There are so many benefits of cast iron that it would be silly for you not to check it out!

Why are you planning to start cooking with cast iron? What will you cook first?