How to Use Cast Iron: Cooking, Cleaning and Seasoning
Click below to find more helpful information for cast iron care! Stay connected & sign up for our monthly emails here: kentrollins.com/email-sign-up/
Some products used in this video can be found here: www.amazon.com/shop/cowboyken...
You can also visit our online store for more cowboy cooking items: kentrollins.com/shop-1/
Related Videos:
Why is my cast iron sticky and how to fix it:
• Why is My Cast Iron St...
General Maintenance for Cast Iron: • Maintenance for Cast I...
Storage Tips for Cast Iron:
• Cast Iron Storage Tips...
We have also created a full playlist of helpful information on caring for cast iron here: bit.ly/2LNKm8D
If you have rough pre-seasoning on your cast iron, like found on Lodge, check out our guide for smoothing it out: • How to Smooth Rough Ca...
==========================
Connect with us!
/ kent_rollins
/ cowboykentrollins
/ cowboykentrollins
====================
Kent Rollins
Cowboy Cooking, Cast Iron, Outdoor Cooking, Grilling, Dutch Oven Cooking
Note: Some of the above links are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we may receive a commission for your clic through and purchase.
This man is the Bob Ross of cooking. This man is a national treasure
Thanks for watching
I was just thinking the same thing. He's like the Bob Ross of cast iron cooking. Great recipes and a great channel.
I was JUST about to say the same time!!!
He’s like Hickok 45 ! I like this dude better than Guy Fiere !
Yes...national treasure is right..why doesn’t this man a show on Food Network?? Far better than some of the talent on that channel now...how many times do I need to see Chopped or some guy who makes a cake like the Empire State Building...
Grew up with no grandpa. Wish I had one like this dude. He's a badass character.
Thanks for watching
My mother's cast iron skillet is about 100 years old. She watched your cast iron videos and decided to refurbish it. She stripped it, sanded it, and then properly reseasoned it. The bottom of it looks like black glass now.
I've got my grandmother's. Cook with it almost every day.
😊😊
What a gal! Good for her!
"...turn your phones off and pay attention..." But... Im watching you on my phone... 😳 😂
Me too 🤣🤣🤣🤣 But I totally understand and agree with him. Get your nose off phone screens 24/7 and smell the roses or COOKING and realize there's actually a wonderful world around you.
😂
Man is expecting you to watch on a computer
When he said it, it looked like he was addressing someone who was in the room at the time...al least that's what I thought...lol
@@drewdizm523 lol. A cell phone is a computer more powerful than we used to send men to the moon. But I know your meaning.
I remember as a kid I washed the dishes to suprise my mom. I scrubbed that old black skillet till it was raw steel. 2 things happened after she got home. She freaked the F out🤬, and I was never asked to do dishes again😮.
Lmfao that's my fear
Sweet.
My mom was so pissed!
Could have been worse... My dad dropped my mum's cast iron and broke it in half!
My friend's dad came home drunk and his mom was waiting at the top of the steps. She nailed him with her cast iron pan and knocked him out! She left him there till he woke up. He never knew who hit him and his mom just smiled when he complained of a headache? He thought she killed his dad. He only told him when he was a adult!!!!.
Unusual uses for cast iron: when I was 21 and living on my own in an apartment in a not-so-good part of town, someone tried to break into my home through the kitchen window. I grabbed my cast iron skillet and turned on the light. They skedaddled.
Many uses they have
Oh no. Don't say that in too many public places. They might try to make us register our cast iron as a deadly weapon. 😂
Oh there’s no doubt you could knock the holy shit out of someone with that cast iron boy!
frying pans, who knew?
You must be related to Granny Clampet!!!
The moment I see the mustache I know: THIS is the cast-iron vid I have to watch. Was not dissapointed :-)
Thanks for watching
I clicked on this video because I saw the mustache in the said, “that guy knows what he’s talking about”
I just bought my first cast iron pan (a Lodge) from Walmart and now I found Cowboy Kent to teach me how to use it. This is my most patriotic day in history.
That's the one I'm planning to buy for steaks. How do you clean it?
@@1luiszepol This is how I clean my Lodge cast iron, it’s definitely not the best way but I’ve been doing well with it for the last 2 years 1) After cooking, let pan cool to room temperature (at least 25 minutes) 2) Wash out grime and residue with warm water, lightly scrape out any burnt food with steel wool (soaking the pan in water instead tends to cause major rusting) 3) Wipe pan dry and pour 2 tablespoons of canola/grape seed oil into it, place on medium heat for 2 minutes and rotate the pan so the oil fully coats its bottom and sides 4) Turn heat to high and wait for the oil to start smoking, let oil smoke for 3 minutes and turn burner off 5) Wipe out oil after 30 minutes and store pan in a dry, dark area
A friend of the family just turned 88 and his daughter took him in to help care for him. She had to sell off the stuff in her parents house and she called us to look over what was left to see if we wanted anything. There was a very rusty lodge 12 inch skillet and dutch oven in a shed. They had bought it 60 years ago to take camping. It had never been seasoned. Just thrown on a campfire a couple of times. My wife called and asked if I wanted them. I couldn't say yes fast enough. She got it home and I immediately scrubbed off all the rust with steel wool, put them in the oven and did the cleaning cycle then when the door safety lock disengaged I rubbed them down with olive oil. Best pans ever. I make chili in the dutch oven and fry bacon and sausages in the skillet.
man i want a dutch oven. lodge is awesome quality stuff even today, probably better 60 years ago. I've got a lot of pans now so many people don't want them I'm more than happy to scoop them up!!! I seriously canclean my cast easier than a non stick pan. I have one non stick pan left after eating most of the teflon off 10-12 or them overthe years... I use it for a cover on thecast iron when required to melt etc...
@BEANSPOBBLES I agree, can't store them on top of each other or with cast iron, can't use metal tools on them, and they can get teflon in your food. They're the sensitives babies of cookware only good when brand new for making fancy omelets lmao
another pros of using cast iron is when some one criticize your cooking slap him/her with your cast iron👌. after that all your cooking will be praise like a pro chef 👍
BONG! “Why, FRED! This is DELICIOUS!” 😂
Oh my I've never seen this man before and I'm 17 seconds in but I feel so welcomed and happy to be taught by this man. Thank you sir, your
The man is an excellent cook. I've tried many of his recipes and they always turn out well. Keep watching. He'll surprise you, but he obviously knows what he's doing!
I found a cast iron from 1857 at an estate sale and that thing still cooks like its 1857. Absolutely beautiful piece that stood the test of time (of course when being taken care of). My mom had a non-stick that didn't last 5 years.
Lodge Cast Iron has been making heirloom-quality cookware and accessories since 1896. We currently operate two foundries in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, our home since the very beginning. Backed by over 120 years of experience, each piece of Lodge cookware is crafted for durability and versatility. We don't just make cookware - we make memories that last for generations.
Why are your new CI skillets and Dutch ovens pitted like they are? Is this just part of the Lodge finish? I've seen other brands with a smooth finish.
not only is Lodge cookware durable and of high quality, it's cheap compared to other cast irons
@@davidlanders2327 because the other brands are either enamelled or aren't new and have a thicc layer of seasoning from years of use
yep! im cleaning a lodge cast iron right now lol
@@davidlanders2327 I want to know the answer to this as well, I bought a new lodge cast iron griddle and it is pitted ,very rough surface, the old antique cast iron pan I have is smooth, is this a downgrade? why are they now so rough?
I know this is an older video, but I have to put this in. Test all your cast iron for lead. Many old homesteaders used some cat iron to melt their lead for bullet making. They used many a Johnny cake pan for lead ingots for storing their lead. Once cast iron has been used for lead, it is no longer suitable for cooking, as it will leach the lead into your food. Test it before you use it for the first time, or better yet, get an instant check and test it before you buy it. If it comes up positive, don't buy it. And let the seller know why. Test it. Every time. I've had to pass on a few Griswold skillets and one WagnerWare fryer because of lead. The 3M test kits from Home Depot are handy, and pretty cheap. Also, some of the cast iron with enamel, had lead in the enamel. These were made before lead was determined to be a health hazard. Test those as well. Anything that test positive for lead, is useful for decoration, making clocks, or for collector display use only. NOT for cooking! Don't buy it, and if you do, don't use it for cooking.
This is very true. My dad used to use old cast iron pans for melting lead when making bullets.
Kent Rollins is the father to us all. God bless you sir.
5 years late, but I am so thankful for you and ALL of your recipes, cleaning and seasoning tips. New to cast iron. It's a beast if you don't know how to use it and take care of it! God Bless!
As an added bonus, cast iron can be used to defend the camp fire and kitchen from zombies.
Now that is a plus for sure, thanks Harold for watching
Or save Frodo from the orcs in Cirith Ungol
Grit ball lol
And small Kevlar plate 😂
😂😂😊
"Health tip, don't get hit in the head by a skillet" This man is a legend 🤣😊
Just found this treasure of a man. I inherited many cast iron items and have either over seasoned or done it wrong. I now have sticky-handled pans. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Much needed!
When my Grandfather passed, I was left with all of his cast iron cookware. I know for a fact that most of it (I can't begin to say how many pieces I was left, just over 3 of his homemade cabinets, filled tightly), is from the 1800's: things were passed down from his grandparents, to his parents and then to him. I'm really surprised most have brand names: Wagner, Griswald, Lodge and a few others. Some are really neat, one I think is for cornbread, it has seven or eight pie shaped sections, one piece is quite long, but has raised ridges running the length of the pan, or skillet or whatever it is. Right now they're in Pennsylvania still. I guess he knew Cowboy Kent Rollins was going to come into my life and teach me how to use everything. Once this pandemic is over, I can't wait to get up there and see what all I have to cook with. I've been too intimidated to use any of the pieces, but now I'm getting really excited about trying them, well some of them. Can't wait to start, and just take my time. Thanks for the video!
You got some treasure you did, I have faith in your cooking ability and we thank you for watching
I got my grandpa’s 12 7/16 skillet from my grandma after he passed. Definitely precious treasure 👍🏼
The newest piece I have purchased is a LODGE 3.2 qt covered deep skillet. LOVE this pan!! It's perfect for sauteing meats, then adding vegetable, then finishing off with a good steaming. Beef/Broccoli, Bacon/Brussels sprouts etc, etc. It's permanently on my stove top cuz I use it everyday! . .with this keto diet. (Down 55 lbs!! Woohoo)
Congratulations on both! On finding your super pan and on the healthy lifestyle choices, 55 pounds is like dropping a child off your shoulders essentially. I'm so happy to hear such a positive comment and I'm rooting for you.
The chicken fryer. I make arroz con pollo in mine.
Mines perfect for burgers I love it. Get 1/3-1/4 lb patties of burgers and prefreeze them. Heat cast iron to medium, slightly oil to stick seasoning on patties then pressdown hard for 2 sec to get it initially to sear 100% 1-1.5 min on medium>high heat, flip add cheese on top and use a tiny burger sized metal mixing bowl and a cold spray of water around the burger quickly put it on top of the steaming water and burger with the metal bowl for 1 min or 1.5 max for the most perfect burger with crispy cheesy edges I scoop right up onto the top of the burger 👌🏻 love these cast iron vid and tips that the community gives
55 pounds! Damn Nancy, that's getting at it.
Kent, sir I keep seeing a metal device kind of like a small chain link rag (best description I can think of). Ya’ll reviewed some new cast iron and when your lady opened the box one of those metal “rags” fell out and she was excited for it!! 😃😄🤣. My question is, how do you feel about using that on cast iron?? Thank you sir and ma’am ( your lovely wife)
I'm the cook in my house. My wife is happy to do the cleanup. I fired her from touching my cast iron when I found my 80 year old WagnerWare soaking in the sink in soapy water.
yay my mother did this also!!! I freaked out when I saw Dawn bubbles in my pan! I now am the only one who will cook or clean in the iron!
I here ya... Some people are just not that passionate about cast iron.
I had to ban my parents from cleaning my pans when they visit. They can cook in them, but don't let them clean them.
My wife would have taken the skillet out of the sink and bash me in the head with it.
It's too bad you believe detergent = soap.
I got a cast iron for Christmas and now I can’t stop watching this guy. His voice is so satisfying like Boss Ross.
Hope you enjoy Scott and thanks for watching
I'll be honest. It took a few videos, but I am starting to appreciate this channel. Kinda reminds me of a college teacher.
Love your videos. I was tired of all the “non-stick” pans being advertised today. Copper skillets? What a joke. I went to a flea market today and picked up an 8” Griswold, 10” Griswold, a 10 1/2” Griswold Chicken Fryer, a #4 unlabeled skillet and a #3 Wagner skillet. All are in mint condition. I cleaned them all and seasoned as per your instructions and they are hanging above my stove. I can’t wait to use them. Also, my mom said she has 2 Griswolds. One is a 10” and the other 12”. The 10” has a lid and they got them as a wedding gift 60 years ago. They are too heavy for her and she’s giving them to me. I’m in cast iron heaven.
Copper is good stuff man, don't turn your nose up at having one in your kitchen. The heat transfer is really good, just like cast iron. It has its uses for sure. Think of it as the fast cast iron. It transfers heat real well and cools down fast too. So when you are cooking something where you don't need that long slow heat to stay in the pan it's a dream. I love my copper pans for cooking veggies or sauteed anything. Sauces, getting the flavor from the leftover in a pan. Things like that. Trust me, copper and cast iron is the dream team. One normal size copper skillet added to your nice collection is all you need. Anyone who doesn't like a copper skillet doesn't understand what they are for, same as if you don't like cast iron. Nothing can replace having both.
You hit the jackpot if you found all of those pieces at a flea market!!
Be Kind To Birds cast iron and copper are quite different. Copper is reactive. This will heat and cool quickly and evenly. CI is retentive. It stores the heat but takes a long time to heat and cool. It is a dream team!
Coper is great for sauces and liquids
You lucky son of a gun !!!👍👍👍
Being a cowboy seems awesome
@Randy Bingham Kent likes to diddle kids
Your girlfriend must like those cowboy calendars....Don't worry, I'll be bringing my friend's firefighter one for her when I visit next week...No joke......
Thank you sir, I picked up a beautiful cast iron gridle pan in a charity shop for €10 but had no clue how to use it. God bless you sir, may Our Blessed Mother cover you in her mantle of protection. 🙏🏻
The method of how he explains things is so great it makes me overlook the way he says oil
Dude anything you’re selling, I’m buying
Thanks for watching
Lol!
Clear, concise, thorough, and with no fluff. Appreciate it!
I admire how impeccably ironed his shirts look. Now that's a subtle showcase of class.
Coastie here. I know I don’t get shot at or go to war all that much but I appreciated that little note at the end.
That information you gave on cleaning and seasoning is so true and I still have the skillet which our grandmother used for decades when we was growing up. She cooked so many meals in that skillet on her wood stove in their kitchen. My grandparents raised us kids while our mother was away working for other families to support us. I now have other cast iron cookware which I use now including a Stargazer 10.5 skillet, a Lodge smaller skillet with lid, two Lodge 12 inch cast iron dutch ovens, a steel wok to do most of my cooking. I got tired of buying new non stick cookware and having to replace them every two years or less. I hope you all are having a nice week and may God continue to Bless you all.
That old stuff is the best and thanks so much Sidney for watching and God bless you
After watching this I wanna season everything including myself
Go at it! kzhead.info/sun/kqyKfNeekZprnas/bejne.html
Even though you're on the wrong side of the river I love your channel
Speaking as a machinist, the risk of cracking really is lower when you use hot water. This is a trick that is used in heat treatment of steels
Cowboy Kent is so knowledgeable, talented, and entertaining!
This is honestly the first video that has kept my attention on KZhead in a while. Great tips, Kent.
I gotten my good friend into cast iron and sent him his set of iron and this video so he can use and care of his iron
You Sir remind me of home! I’m active duty military and love your respect and knowledge!
How I wish this guy was my neighbor. 😁👍
I think you'd never quit sniffing over the fence....I wouldn't....
Blessings to you Kent and family, very comeprehensive video and so much detailed information. Bravo and stay blessed.
One look at this man and I knew I was going to get impeccable cast iron advice.
This is exactly what I needed. Cleared up some of my questions and will simplify my process to help me to use my cast iron more. Thanks a bunch!
Mr. Rollins, hats off to you! I would've never thought it's so easy to maintain a cast iron skillet. Tried your method for the past two days- it just works and meat does taste different.
I don't even soap my non-sticks, or any of my cookware, far as that goes. I remember washing out this breakfast frycook's egg pan at a cafe I worked as a teen in Roosevelt, UT. Nearly got fired, was afraid I might be killed. LOL!!!! Never again. ;)
Thanks for acknowledging me Kent! I agree with everything you say re: cast iron, care, cleaning, and curing of cast iron!
I've been cooking with cast iron for 20 year+ and still learn a thing or two. Now it's time to do some scramblin.
Thanks for the video. I hope you had an excellent Christmas and a new year to start out. Keep the videos coming I always enjoy what you have to offer.
thank you so much
Thank you so much Mr "Cowboy"!!! You are a wonderful person! 🙏❤ Respect from Greece!!!
You are so honest person, you remind me of my grandfather,God bless you.
Thank you for watching and God bless you
This is the best overall CI care and use video I've seen.
Thank you for the seasoning tips and the bandana one is a life saver! I kept picking out paper towel lint but got tons of bandanas
i've been seasoning and cleaning all wrong thankyou for the video very very informative
I'm so glad he added that bit about which kind of towel to use. My cotton hand towels and paper towels were really not working. A bandana or old T shirt sounds perfect!
Thanks for making it easy for us new iron skillet users. 👍👍
I appreciate your videos so much! My nana passed away & left me her set of cast iron skillets. They were originally my great grandmother's (so they're about 80 years old). I deeply regret not asking her to teach me how to clean & care for cast iron. I knew a lil bit, but I came here to see how to restore them! They have definitely seen better days.... I'm so thankful for your videos ❤ now these skillets will live on for more generations to come 😊
Thank you so much for this! I love my cast iron pan but honestly sometimes it’s hard to know how to properly use it.
lots of good information at a fast pace that held my interest. Excellent!
Watched your videos to restore my grandparents skillets. Now I'm sharing your videos with my sister in law! Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!
Ok I’m sold I’m buying a cast iron. I feel confident now thank you.
Best thing to cook with
My mom bought me a cast iron skillet for christmas this year. These videos are helping way more than other ones I've watched.
One of the most adorable cooks I've watched on KZhead! Thanks for this video ☺️
Cowboy Kent is our chosen Grandpa✌🤠
This Retired Marine thanks you too sir!
Thank you for watching and for your service
I watched this last night and had a dream about seasoning my mom's old cast where. I didn't even know how until I watched this.
All the cast iron nuances I wanted answers for are found here! Thank you Sir for the amazing insights !
Some people dont even ask for this help... They dont know about it! This is an advanced lesson
I'd like to share one of my favorite tips/tools for seasoning cast iron. I've seasoned many, many pieces over the years. Go to town and get one of those medium/large bamboo wood lazy Susans. Get one bigger than you think you need. It is invaluable when putting oil on a hot piece of cast iron, particularly larger pieces that are cumbersome to handle. Just place the hot piece on the lazy Susan and start oiling. You can turn it easily just by touching the cool wood. It cuts down on the handling and chances of getting burned. Just keep it on the table/counter when not in use and use it as it is intended. It is by far the best thing I've come up with to help the seasoning process go smoother.
You should make a booklet with all your tips on care, utensils, and do's and dont's.
Just got a cast iron skillet today. This video was such a big help. I could listen to this guy talk about checking the mail and I’d be glued to it. He talks so throughly and clear! Thanks for the tips!
During my time in service, I remember the cooks commenting on using cast iron in the kitchens. They made same comments about how the military would be absorbing more iron versus the conventional kitchen cookware. For some reason that point always stayed with me. Thanks again for your informational videos.
Thank you for all the great advice and God bless you too, Cowboy Kent!
Thank you for watching Jason and God Bless you as well
just ordered my first 2 cast iron skillets, can't wait to start cooking. A lot of cool info in this vid, this guy's been around the block
Thank you so much for these great tips! I have 3 cast iron pans & use them often! The flavor it gives to the recipes I makes is unmatched! Keep up the good work :)
Great tutorial! I use silicone trivets in between my stacked frying pans to avoid scratching. The have ridges for air flow.
I enjoy using a fresh coffee filter to wipe around the oil when I'm seasoning my cast iron. I've never thought to use a bandanna. Great tip. Momma only used cast iron. Like her momma did. I use our old three generation cast iron skillet everyday. I very much enjoy y'alls content. Thank you pard.
Thanks to Kent I have saved three older cast iron skillets that were rust buckets. I now have three non-stick skillets that are wonderful to use. Thank you Sir, for sharing all this knowledge with us!!
Yes! Beagle is back! Thanks for the tips Cowboy
We in the Military, even though I am a disabled Vet in Canada. We serve our counties so others don't have to!!! God Bless , Stay Safe and Take Care!!!! Thank you for this Video!!
Thanks Peter so much for watching and for your service
Rite on I got my first cast iron skillet for Christmas. Thanks for the video! 🇺🇸
sure hope you enjoy it
Trying to rejuvenate a cast iron I’ve neglected for a couple years, and seeing immediate progress. Thank you for your insight, sir!
I am so glad I found your channel. I have had a lot of issues with my cast iron and now I know why. I also know what to look for when I look for more cast iron pieces.
Thanks, Sheriff ❤️
Literally just bought my first cast iron. Perfect timing!
Cast iron is tough. I use dish detergent on my 20 yr old skillet occasionally (as needed).
I just got some cast iron for Christmas and I'm beyond excited. I came to see my favorite Cowboy for tips.
Just found you cause of another user and now I'm obsessed!
Mom said what you want for Christmas ,I said cast iron skillets, she said you can have mine ,I said OK now I got 2 that are over 40 years old I'll never use my copper ones again
How lucky you are! I got my first vintage piece from my aunt's cupboard and I'm stoked about. Goes nice with my little collection.
That old stuff is the best
Same thing happened to me...I saw my grandmother's old Griswold started to look rough because her age she can't use cast iron anymore so she told me merry Christmas and let me have it...I've been eyeing that pan for years...had a smile from ear to ear the rest of the day.
@@joemeadows1998 Heck yeah. I've been wanting cast iron skillets for ever. And Low and behold! Two of my girl cousin's gave me three Erie, and three Lodge Cast Iron Skillets for free.🤣🤣🤣🤣 2 10 inch 1 8 inch 2 six inch and 1 three inch.😁😁
@@joemeadows1998 I have a secret to getting elderly people to give you their Cast-iron skillets...you ready? Beat the shit out of them and take what you want. Old people are fragile and break easily. They won't put up a fight when they're unconscious on the concrete with their teeth laying beside them. Works every time! Hope this helps, friend :)
Love ya, Kent - and I'm always interested in how people deal with their cast iron. I agree on re-seasoning each use. Even if you're not as careful with it as all that, rubbing it down with oil after each use is the key to maintaining it.
Oh man, We must protect this man at all cost! National Treasure! I knew I was doing something wrong with my cast iron skillet, problem solved!
Hi Kent, I watched your video here and I watched it intently. I seasoned my three cast iron skillets. I just cleaned them after used them again and reseasoned them. Just like in your video I did it like you taught me. They all cleaned up well. Thank you so much for teaching me so much stuff like different recipes and cough syrup like the old timers use.
I REALLY need one of those "Cant' Get Full On Fancy" aprons please. Don't seems to be in your store right now. Thanks for your efforts on each and every vid.
Thank you. Great video for new and experienced cast iron users. Hadn't thought of using my husband's old t-shirts (clean ones of course!) to wipe down my pans. Always like finding another use for something instead of just tossing in the trash.
My mother just gave me my grandmother's cast iron for Christmas thanks for making the video it helped out a lot.
Just finished cleaning my cast iron for the first time thanks to this video. Thank you so much for the help good sir.
I’m getting my first set of cast iron skillets today in the mail. I’m so excited!!!!
Best thing to cook with, Thanks for watching
God bless you, sir. You have inspired me to broaden my cooking horizons. I was hesitant to attempt cast iron cooking until I watched your videos. The wife had to blow the Christmas gift surprise because I expressed wanting to buy some cast iron. She is getting me(us) a 12" cast iron Dutch Oven, for Christmas. Thank you so much for the inspiration and love for our troops. I tip my hat to you.
How's that been coming along? Might pick up a set myself.
@@jibb1451 I made chili on the smoker and I think I ruined chili forever. If it isn’t smoked in a cast iron pot, I don’t want it.
Your How-To Videos are AWESOME Mr. Rollins, Thank you sir!
Aw I loved him immediately, such a friendly voice
Hi, just discovered your videos. Love them! I'm a fan. Keep making them.
Thanks Charlene for watching