Cast Iron Casserole Dishes: Your Guide to Cooking Perfect One Pot Meals

Cast iron casserole dishes are a staple in any kitchen. From cast iron chicken to cast-iron cornbread, these versatile dishes will have you cooking your favourite recipes with ease. You can use them on the stovetop or oven for a wide variety of dishes and they’re known for creating delicious one-pot meals. In this blog post, we’ll go over what cast iron casseroles are, how to choose the right size, how to season and clean them and what not to cook with them so that you can get cooking!

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What is a cast iron casserole dish used for?

Cast iron casserole dishes have been around for a long time, stand up to daily use and often last a lifetime. You can use them for many different types of dishes including stews, casseroles, chillies and curries. They work in the oven and on the hob and some are even stylish enough to work as an oven to table dishes – and that cuts down on the washing up!

They are more expensive generally than some of the other dishes out there so getting the right one is important. One of the first things to understand is what size do you need?

What size casserole dish do you need?

There’s no right or wrong answer to the best size but there are a couple of guide ideas:

Best casserole dish size for a couple: 20cm/2.4 litre round casserole dish
Best casserole dish size for a family of four: 24cm/4.2 litre round casserole dish

All of this is available in a variety of sizes, from tiny casseroles for two people to large casserole dishes that will feed up to four individuals and provide leftovers for the next day.

Do you need to season a cast iron casserole dish?

Teflon-coated cookware, for example, does not need to be seasoned because it has a non-stick finish (PTFE). However, PTFE coatings begin to break down at temperatures of over 240°C, making them less efficient in obtaining the sear required for well-done steaks.

When seasoned, carbon steel, cast iron, and black iron can withstand considerably higher temperatures before being damaged or losing seasoning. When cooking steaks and other meats, the use of these materials actually enhances the seasoning rather than destroying it, allowing you to keep your dishes’ tastes intact when served.

Preparing cookware for seasoning

First time seasoning

Season your new pots and pans before cleaning them with hot water, a detergent, and a non-abrasive sponge or cloth. Cleaning your pans before using eliminates any factory residues, germs, and oils that may be on them, such as a beeswax coating.

Clarifying

When your pans are frequently used, the surface becomes coated with a greasy deposit, which can have an impact on the taste and quality of your meals. To eliminate this undesirable residue, clean your pan.

Start by heating your pot or pan over the stove and then, while it’s still hot, sprinkle in big chunks of salt (not table salt) until the surface is completely covered. The salt absorbs extra moisture and grease from the pan’s surface, returning it to its seasoned appearance.

How to season the cookware

You can season any cast iron, black iron, or carbon steel cookware, but we’ll use a pan as an example. When you’ve cleaned your pan and made sure it’s bone dry, it’s time to season it. You’ll need a couple of oil, a brush for pastry, and some heat. It only takes 4 easy steps

Step 1 – Place your pan over medium heat, warming it for a few seconds.
Step 2 – When the pan is heated up, apply a little bit of oil to the surface with a pastry brush. Use your pastry brush to spread the oil over the entire inside surface area of the pan.
Step 3 – When the oil is smoking (when it’s hot enough to start smoking), you should notice a shift in colour. Once this has occurred, turn off the heat and let the pan cool.
Step 4 – Now that you’ve seasoned the pan, it’s ready to use and the better the finish will get with time.

Patience is required for seasoning. If you rush this procedure or use too much oil, your pan will become sticky and patchy, resulting in food sticking to the pan and poor results. If you make a mistake while seasoning – don’t get upset! Simply restart at the ‘preparation of your cookware’ phase and try again.

When should you not use cast iron casserole dishes

There’s not much you can’t cook in a cast iron casserole dish but there are a few things that you should give a second thought to cooking.

Smelly foods

Garlic, peppers, some fish, smelly cheeses, and other fragrant foods tend to leave aromatic memories in your pan that will appear again in the next few dishes you prepare. Ten minutes in a 400°F oven usually removes the odour, but it’s best to avoid cooking items that would be ruined by such lingering scents or keep one pan for those smellier recipes!

Eggs and other sticky things (for a while)

No difficulty at all when your pan is well-seasoned. However, even if your pan has been seasoned, sticky substances like eggs may still cause problems. Unless you enjoy brown eggs and a dirty skillet, keep them in a nonstick pan for a while.

Delicate fish

The same heat retention that gives your steak a beautiful brown crust in a cast iron pan will probably be the end of your lovely fish or tilapia. Save the delicate fish for non-stick cooking, too. Meaty fish like salmon and other hearty species can withstand high temperatures without harm.

Acidic things—maybe

Some users report that tomatoes or lemons can cause the metal to leach into food and break down the seasonings in the pan. Others think this is a myth. If your pan gets stained from acidic foods, a baking soda wash will fix it.

How to clean your cast-iron casserole pot

You shouldn’t put your cast-iron pots in the dishwasher, just like you should not do so with your non-stick pans. It’s possible that this will cause the pot to rust and lose its coating of seasoning.

Allow the pot to cool before rinsing it out with hot soapy water. Fill the pot with hot soapy water and leave to soak for stubborn stains.

If necessary, use a stiff-bristled nylon brush or sponge to clean. Metal cleaning pads and scourers are not suggested since they will damage the coating.

Cast Iron Casserole Dish Recipes

Check out these examples of cast iron casserole dish recipes to show you what can be done with that cast iron casserole you just bought!

Cast Iron Casserole Dishes: Your Guide to Cooking Perfect One Pot Meals

What is a cast iron casserole dish used for?

What size casserole dish do you need?

Do you need to season a cast iron casserole dish?