Debunking Common Myths About Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron cookware is durable but not indestructible, as it can crack under impact.

### Debunking Common Myths About Cast Iron Cookware
* 🛠 The first myth is that cast iron cookware is difficult to maintain, but **seasoning it is easy** and most skillets come **pre-seasoned for immediate use**.
* Another misconception is that soap ruins the seasoning; however, as long as the soap is **mild and doesn't contain harsh chemicals**, it won't harm the seasoned layer.
* 🍳 While cast iron develops **non-stick properties over time**, it still requires greasing, and is not as non-stick as **Teflon pans**.
* 🍋 The myth that acidic foods ruin the seasoning is misleading, as **small amounts of acidic ingredients won't damage the seasoning** if not cooked for long periods.
* 🔥 Many believe that cast iron cookware can't be used on glass cooktops due to scratching, but it can be used safely as long as **care is taken to avoid dragging or dropping it**.
* ⚖ Cast iron is thought to heat evenly, but it actually has **poor thermal conductivity**, meaning it can have **hot spots** if not preheated properly.
* 💔 Contrary to popular belief, cast iron cookware is not indestructible; it can **crack or break under impact**, as demonstrated by dropping a skillet on a rock.
* 🥓 Lastly, while cooking bacon is often suggested for seasoning, it can lead to **stickiness and rancidity**, making it an ineffective method for **building a protective layer**.

In this video, I debunk the nine most common myths about cast iron cookware. Is it really indestructible? Do acidic foods and soap ruin the seasoning? You’re about to find out. The first myth is that cast iron cookware is difficult to maintain. People think this because you need to occasionally season it to prevent rust. Although cast iron without seasoning will rust, the seasoning process is easy, and you don't need to do it often. Most cast iron skillets today come pre-seasoned, so you can start cooking right away. When you do need to season it, all you have to do is clean it, dry it, rub it with a thin layer of oil, and bake it in the oven. Although the baking portion takes an hour or so, the actual work you need to do takes less than 5 minutes. It’s not a big deal, and it’s not difficult. Another common myth is that you can’t use soap to clean cast iron.

The rationale behind this myth is that dish soap is formulated to break down and remove oil. Since the layers of seasoning are created from oil, the soap will ruin the seasoning. But the reality is that seasoning isn't just oil; it's polymerized oil that's been bonded to the cast iron. It's hard and tough, and as long as the dish soap doesn't contain lye or sodium hydroxide, a few drops won't hurt. I always recommend using a chainmail to clean cast iron, but if you cooked an especially messy meal and chainmail is not doing the trick, mild dish soap is okay. To prove this point, I washed this cast iron skillet with Kirkland dish soap for one minute five times. Here’s what it looked like after one wash. Here’s what it looked like after two washes. Here it is after three washes. Four. And five. As you can see, the soap didn’t impact the seasoning at all.

Cast iron develops non-stick properties over time with proper seasoning, but it's not totally non-stick like a Teflon-coated pan. So when people say cast iron is naturally non-stick, it’s a bit of an exaggeration. You can cook an egg without oil or butter with true non-stick pans. But a well-seasoned cast iron pan still needs to be greased. And even when it is greased, eggs can sometimes stick if the temperature of the pan isn’t right. One of the most common myths about cast iron is that you can't cook with acidic ingredients because they strip away the seasoning and react with the iron. While this can happen, the amount of acidic ingredients and the length of time they cook matter. For example, simmering tomato sauce or braising short ribs in red wine for extended periods will damage the seasoning and make your food taste like metal.

But flavoring food with a small amount of acidic ingredients, such as a splash of wine, vinegar, or lemon juice, won't cause any issues. If you're not cooking highly acidic foods for a long time, like over 30 minutes, the seasoning should be fine. To prove this point, I squeezed a whole lemon into this cast iron pan and let it simmer for about 4 minutes. After removing the lemon juice and wiping the skillet, you can see that the seasoning wasn't affected at all. Another myth is that you shouldn't use cast iron skillets on glass cooktops because they're heavy, and the rough bottom will cause scratches. GE's support documentation says to avoid cast iron on its electric stoves for two reasons. First, cast iron can scratch the surface of the cooktop. Second, cast iron retains a significant amount of heat. That heat can radiate back onto the

cooktop and cause the burner to shut down if the surface temperature becomes too high. In my experience, cast iron works perfectly fine on electric glass cooktops. I know this because I've cooked hundreds of meals in cast iron on my electric cooktop without any issues. Just don't drop the skillet or drag it across the cooktop without lifting it. Also, I've never experienced problems with the cookware radiating excessive heat back onto the cooktop, nor have I heard of this being a common issue from others. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve ever had this issue. One of the reasons I love cast iron is that it retains heat exceptionally well. But when people say it heats evenly, they're wrong. The truth is that iron is a terrible heat conductor. Because it has a much lower thermal conductivity than other cookware materials like aluminum and copper, it doesn't heat as fast or evenly.

Once it's fully preheated, it retains heat well, so your food will cook evenly. But it takes a while to get there, and as it heats up, the middle of the pan closest to the heat source will be significantly hotter than the sides. If you’re not patient enough to fully preheat the pan, food in the middle will cook faster than the edges. Another common misconception about cast iron cookware is that it’s indestructible. People think this because cast iron cookware can last decades, and it’s often passed down from generation to generation. It's also heavy and feels rock-solid. However, cast iron is actually brittle. It contains about 98% iron and 2% carbon. The carbon adds hardness but also makes the material more brittle. That’s why cast iron cookware is made with thick and heavy walls. The thickness makes up for its brittleness. Unlike other metals like aluminum and steel, cast iron isn't ductile,

which means it will break before it bends. If you drop a cast iron skillet or subject it to extreme pressure, especially against a hard or pointed surface, it can crack and break. To prove this point, I took this grill pan outside and dropped it on my driveway from about waist high. Surprisingly, there was no damage at all. Here’s another angle. I dropped it a second time. Again, no damage. For the third attempt, I placed a large rock on the driveway and dropped the pan directly on the rock. This time, the handle broke off. I dropped the pan on the rock a few more times to see if it would break in half. Fortunately, that didn't happen, but the impact caused a significant crack in one of the sides. I realize you probably won't be dropping your skillet on a rock in your kitchen. But the point is that cast iron cookware isn't indestructible, and it will break with enough impact.

If you search for tips on seasoning cast iron, you'll often come across people saying, Don't worry about seasoning; just cook some bacon. Bacon cooks really well in cast iron skillets, and cooking fatty meats like bacon can contribute to the seasoning process. But simply cooking bacon is not the best approach to build an initial layer of seasoning, and here’s why. First, most bacon contains sugar, and that sugar will caramelize and make the surface sticky. Secondly, bacon and other animal fats can become rancid if you cook with those fats and store your skillet without washing them off completely. And lastly, the purpose of seasoning cast iron is to prevent rust. When you cook bacon, the fat only covers the interior of the skillet, leaving the exterior and handle unseasoned and unprotected. Another common piece of advice is to coat your cast iron skillet with a thin layer of

oil after washing and drying it. People who give this advice claim the oil will protect the skillet and prevent rust. That may be true, but in my experience, this step is completely unnecessary. If the skillet is well-seasoned and you dry it thoroughly, it shouldn’t rust, and you don't need to oil it after each use. If this was helpful, check out this video where I break down the pros and cons of Lodge cast iron cookware. And for more videos like this, click the logo to subscribe to the channel. Thanks for watching; we’ll see you in the next video.

9 Cast Iron Cookware Myths Debunked (With Proof)

Prudent Reviews

Cast iron cookware is easy to maintain, with pre-seasoned skillets available and a simple seasoning process.

The myth that soap ruins the seasoning is false; mild dish soap is okay to use as long as it doesn't contain lye or sodium hydroxide.

The seasoning is tough and polymerized, so a few drops of dish soap won't harm it.

Cast iron pans develop non-stick properties over time but still need greasing and can cause sticking if the temperature isn't right.

While acidic ingredients can damage the seasoning, using them in small amounts and for short periods won't cause issues.

Cast iron skillets can scratch glass cooktops and retain heat, but their use on electric stoves is discouraged for these reasons.

My Experience with Cast Iron on Electric Cooktops

Cast iron cookware works well on electric glass cooktops, as long as it's not dropped or dragged.

While cast iron retains heat effectively, it doesn't heat evenly due to its low thermal conductivity.

Contrary to popular belief, cast iron is brittle, not indestructible, and its thickness compensates for its brittleness.

The Durability and Seasoning of Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron cookware can crack and break under extreme pressure or impact, but it is not indestructible.

Dropping a skillet from waist height or on a hard surface may not cause immediate damage, but enough impact can lead to cracks or broken handles.

Cooking bacon in a cast iron skillet is not the best way to build an initial layer of seasoning, as the sugar in bacon can make the surface sticky, and the fat can become rancid, leaving the exterior and handle unprotected.

The Necessity of Oiling Cast Iron Skillets

Oiling a cast iron skillet after washing and drying is often advised to prevent rust, but it's unnecessary if the skillet is well-seasoned and thoroughly dried.

A well-maintained skillet shouldn't rust, eliminating the need for oiling after each use.

The speaker offers a video breakdown of the pros and cons of Lodge cast iron cookware and encourages viewers to subscribe for more content.