Shrove Tuesday

Our collection of cast iron cookware, skillets and griddles are already pre-seasoned and ready to use. Just like Grandma's black iron cookware they continue to get better and more non stick the more they are used. So what is the best way to care for your cast iron cookware so that you can make great pancakes on shrove Tuesday? First of all before the pan is used for the first time, rinse well with hot tap water and dry thoroughly. When cooking with oils or fats (which is normally the case with frying pans, grill pans and casseroles) the surface of each item is being seasoned naturally during the cooking process. In fact the more the product is used the better it becomes. If the cookware is being used for water cooking e.g pasta or potatoes add several drops of vegetable or olive oil to the cooking water. This will automatically maintain the natural black appearance of the pan. Cast iron is very effective at distributing an even heat all over, for this reason oven gloves or a rubber handle need to be used when lifting a hot pan. It's a good idea to pre-heat the pan before adding food. Because cast iron distributes heat evenly and quickly it allows you to use lower temperatures, which will help the environment and your fuel bills, don't worry if you need a high heat however as cast iron is great with very high temperatures and can take high heat, with no worries of cracking, peeling or crazing. They can be used on all types of cooking tops including induction tops too! (care must be taken with ceramic tops). So there you have it get cooking and making those delicious pancakes!

Valentine's A Special Time

We love Valentine's day here at Cast in Style and to celebrate our love for all things iron we have been out an about, looking for a host of new products to bring our customers for 2007. We will keep what we've found secret until they are posted to the site but keep a lookout regularly as we have a great range in store. In the meantime we're cooking up a treat for shrove Tuesday on our skillets, which are great for pancakes and practising our cooking skills in time to rustle up a wonderful romantic meal on Valentine's day. Check our blog nearer the time to view our recipes and hints and tips for keeping your cast iron cookware in tip top condition. Love to you all!!!!