Cast iron is widely talked about for many reasons. I recently bought a pan and started using it to cook the beef that I eat every day.
You should use a cast iron pan to cook beef. Cast iron has really good heat retention that will allow you to get a good sear on your meat. It is also very durable and can last for generations if taken care of properly.
Lodge is a very popular cast iron brand and is the one that I currently use. You may have heard of how using your cast iron pan will make your food more flavorful over time. Well, Lodge cast iron says it best:
Whenever you cook an egg, grill a steak, or bake a pie, you’re adding layers of baked-on fat and oil that enhance your seasoning for a natural, easy-release finish that gets better over time.
lodgecastiron.com
What kind of beef to cook in a cast iron pan?
You can cook steaks to burgers or even stir fry in a cast iron pan. Fattier cuts of beef will work the best because they are less likely to burn and overcook. You do not want to cook any roast in a cast iron pan.
I encourage you to check out my post about how to not overcook steak!
Fattier cuts of beef such as the fattier steaks which are ribeye, T-bone, porterhouse, and New York strip are excellent for a cast iron pan. The best will be the ribeye or New York strip because they don’t have any bones.
If you cook a steak with a bone in it in a cast iron pan, the bone may get in the way of the steak sitting flat on the pan. This will make the steak cook unevenly.
Using a cast iron pan in the oven to cook beef
You can use cast iron in the oven and it is oven-safe. This means that the oven will not damage the cast iron pan in any way. A cast iron pan is all iron and there is nothing on it to melt from the heat of an oven.
When you use a cast iron in the oven, you not only can get a good sear from the pan but you can also cook beef internally. This is good for thick steaks that are as thick as one inch.
There are two different ways to sear beef, a normal sear and then a reverse sear. The normal sear is when you sear beef first and then cook it internally. A reverse sear is the opposite when you cook beef internally and then sear it afterward.
What you would do for a normal sear is sear the beef in a cast iron pan on the stove until it is nice and brown on both sides. Then throw it in the oven while it is in the pan to finish it to your desired doneness. For a reverse sear, you would do the opposite and cook it in the oven first.
I suggest you check out my post about what makes steak taste better where I talk about searing and more!
What accessories can you get for a cast iron pan?
There are a lot of accessories you can get for a cast iron pan. I am going to list them and go over them in more detail below.
Pan scrapers: these are polycarbonate and they can get into every corner of your pan. They are also dishwasher safe.
Chainmail scrubbing pad: this is made of stainless steel and it is something that you can get washed in the dishwasher. It also comes with a silicone core that makes it easy to grip.
Cast iron lid: this is just like the pan. It is a lid for it and you just gotta make sure it is the right size. You can also get glass lids for your cast iron pan as well.
Deluxe pan scraper: made of polycarbonate with a silicone grip and it has teeth to clean grill pans.
Deluxe silicone handle holder: made of silicone, will fit on the panhandle. Can protect from getting burned because as the pan gets hot, so does the handle. Handle holders can come in leather as well.
Rust eraser: use this to erase rust
Round flat press: this is made of cast iron just like the pan and it has a handle. You can use it for anything that you want to press down on and flatten. I usually use it for burgers and when I am searing steak.
You can find all of these accessories on the lodge website.
How to keep your cast iron pan in good condition
I am going to show you a list of a few ways to keep your cast iron pan in good condition below.
Keep it clean: clean your cast iron pan after each use
Do not soak it: do not soak your cast iron pan in water because this will increase the chance of it rusting
Keep it dry: dry your cast iron pan off right away after you clean it
Keep it seasoned: I haven’t had to do this but this keeps your cast iron pan nonstick and protects it. You do this by burning off oil in the pan to make it into a coating.
Get rid of rust: The iron in cast iron will have a tendency to rust especially if it is losing its seasoning. Get rid of the rust right away. There are special things that you can buy, I mentioned one of them above in the accessories section.
Conclusion
Cast iron pans are a great thing to have and be a part of your cookware. They come with a lot of accessories and can be very durable for them to last for generations.
They are great for searing beef which is why I love them. You just have to remember to take care of your cast iron pan and it will take care of you!