Loving Cast-Iron Cookware

I love my cast-iron cookware.  There are so many benefits to using cast-iron that I don't really know where to start....

For one, cast-iron is healthy.  Eating food cooked with cast iron adds trace amounts of iron, which we all need.  (There are certain rare diseases where iron in the system is actually detrimental - if you have one of these, then you wouldn't want any extra iron in your system).  Many physicians actually recommend switching to cast iron to their enemic patients.

Many foods taste better when cooked with cast iron.  No kidding.  Try cornbread cooked in a cast-iron skillet.  You'll fall in love.  And once you eat an egg cooked in a cast-iron skillet, you'll never want an egg cooked in anything else. 

Cast-iron is almost indestructible.  I use a Griswold Good Health skillet that was made in the 1920's.  It belonged to my grandmother, and it only gets better with age and use.

Cast-iron is highly collectible.  There are some brands that are more collectible than others, but all of the old, American-made pieces are sought-after.

Cast-iron is affordable.  New cast-iron manufactured by a top brand such as Lodge and made in America (where there are rules and regulations on how it must be made) can be purchased at such places as Bass Pro Shops and some Ace Hardware stores, as well as online.  Compared to "designer" cookware, cast-iron is very inexpensive, with pre-seasoned skillets usually going for $20-30.00. 

The older cast-iron, which I prefer, can be picked up for a song at farm sales and garage sales.  There are simple ways to restore these old pieces, so long as they are not pitted or misshapen from years of neglect.

I will continue to post information about cast-iron cooking and cookware, as well as some recipes that are great for cast-iron.  I hope that some of you will try it out - you won't be sorry!