Nowadays, people use a lot of different equipment for cooking dinner. We have microwave ovens, regular electric ovens, toaster ovens, crock pots, and many fancy types of cookware which are made out of stainless steel or even other metals. And some of our cookware utilizes a no-stick surface, making cooking so easy that anyone could do it. Well, that is not how things have always been.

Back in the old days, cast iron cookware was used on a cast iron Dutch oven to cook. But what is the difference between these two? Well, for one, cast iron enamel cookware, much like any cast iron cookware set, is a heavy type of metal cooking set that relies on heat from some kind of source to cook with. You can fry with it, bake with it, or anything. A lot of people do not necessarily like cast iron Dutch ovens or cast iron cookware sets because they are so much heavier. Also, most Dutch ovens require you to use wood or coal to fuel it, as this is what was used back in the old days.

While cast iron does have a few drawbacks, there are also advantages to cooking with it. For one, it is so heavy that you get a lot of support while frying stuff up. Have you ever been stirring a big skillet of potatoes in a newer, more flimsy skillet, and had it spill right over? Well, this is not a problem in a cast iron cookware set. Another great thing about this cookware is that you can get seasoned cast iron cookware that will make your food taste and smell more seasoned. These are more of specialty items though they might cost you a bit more, but they definitely make up for it with how effective they are. You can actually season a cast iron skillet yourself, but this is a method that takes a bit of practice and knowledge to accomplish.

Here is how to season a cast iron skillet. You must first remove all of the paper and plastic packaging. After that, you will clean the skillet thoroughly with soap and water. Make sure to dry it when you are done! Once you do this, get some grease, oil, or shortening and coat the inside of the skillet with it. Once you do this, place the skillet upside down in the oven, and turn the heat up to about 350 degrees. Place a cookie sheet underneath it so that you can catch any unwanted grease before it drips onto the burners. Leave the skillet in the oven for about an hour. Don’t worry if it smokes a bit that means that the oil is slowly filling up all the tiny crevices in the metal so that food cannot become trapped in them. From now on, do not use water to clean the inside of your cast iron cookware, but rather paper towels and salt.