Cast Iron Pans Cast iron pan owners swear by them for their even dispersal of heat and non stick nature. However, iron is not as happy go lucky as other metals. Initially, the pan must be seasoned with vegetable oil in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for at least an hour. Each time you heat the pan with oil, it will season till it obtains a beautiful dark color. Don't wash off the black patina thinking it is dirty. In fact, never use soap or scour the pan or you will remove the essence of the pan. Dry your iron pan on the stove with medium heat but watch it so it doesn't burn.
My Favorite Pan My favorite pan is a twenty dollar cast iron pan. I remember vividly how my step-father coveted his iron pan and warned us about not using soap to clean it. Seasoned and maintained properly, an iron pan can last forever. It is better than any non stick pan and far more durable. It's thick base holds heat better than any pan in my arsenal and prevents food from burning by dispersing the heat.
My friend was looking for this barrel aged Hop-De-Ranged for a while so when he found it, he just went to the cashier. After getting rung up he realized it had burned a $30.00 hole in his pocket. Oh well, we must drink it, right? We joked that each sip was 50 cents. And, this is a sipping beer. With all the Jack Daniel's flavor, you really can't taste the hops that much so it feels like a light shot of whiskey. Would we buy it again? Probably not, but it was an experience. It's not that I didn't like the beer. It had been carefully aged and was very tasty with notes of caramel, molasses and vanilla. I just can't justify the price even at $20.00.
