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Best Recipes for New Cast Iron Cookware

By: Lodge Cast Iron / March 14, 2023

One of the easiest ways to care for your cast iron is simply to use it! When you first take home your cookware, there are certain foods you can cook and bake to strengthen the base layer of seasoning. This calls for dishes that get your cast iron hot and well-oiled. Here are six recipes we recommend trying as you break in your cast iron! No matter where you start, it’s always a good practice to preheat your skillet over medium heat and use a little oil before you start cooking.

Henry Lodge's Favorite Cornbread Recipe

Sautéd Veggies

We love to make roasted or sautéd veggies when we’re first using a skillet, or if we have an older skillet that needs some love. Just toss your veggies in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and start cooking! Veggies don’t tend to stick to your cooking surface, and you can make enough to cover the whole skillet to season it evenly.

Smash Burgers 

Now that you’ve had your veggies, it’s time for something greasy: smash burgers. Enough said? Get a hot, well-greased skillet or griddle and start smashing! The best part of the recipe? After you’re done making the burgers, slather the buns with garlic butter, and toast them in the burger grease.   

Steak Frites 

Cast iron was born to sear and fry. And these cooking methods are a great way to enhance the seasoning on your cookware, especially if you have a Double Dutch. For this recipe, we like to use a thick, boneless strip steak to get the perfect crust and grill marks, without an overcooked center. Who knew caring for cast iron could make the perfect date night?

Cornbread

Every good batch of cornbread starts with a hot and oiled skillet. Throughout the baking process, the cornbread adds an even layer of seasoning to the entire surface of your skillet—sidewalls and all! The best part? Effortlessly turning the cornbread right out of the skillet.

Focaccia

We love an excuse to make focaccia around here! This bread calls for lots of olive oil (yum!) and bakes at a high temperature, helping your Baking Pan lock in all of the seasoning goodness. And once you try this recipe, it’ll be on repeat in your kitchen.

Pizza 

Pizza night calls for a 500˚ F oven, which is the perfect environment to build up the seasoning of your Pizza Pan. Top your pizza with whatever your heart leads you to! We like roasted red peppers, pepperoni, and chopped basil, and a combo of fresh and shredded mozzarella.

Set the table with cast iron.

Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron

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