What kind of cookware is safe?

[fourgrtkidos]

Anything "con" about cast iron??

[spughy]

Nope, cast iron is awesome (as long as it's properly seasoned). Love the cast iron.

Stoneware is good too for baking.

[Ammaarah]

I think the con of cast iron is that I can't use it because I have a stupid flat range! I could still get a CI skillet to make bread, though, huh?

[tbone]

I really don't know of any cons, but I've always had one concern. The extra iron for men. I know that men shouldn't have too much iron, so I'm always weary about using my cast iron pan for dh.

[rstump]

I use cast-iron, glass, stoneware, corning ware.....I have lots of each of them. One big stainless steel stock pot.

[yitlan]

The only con I've heard is the extra iron for men, as tbone stated. Also, Ammaarah, I'm using my cast iron on my flat range and it's working fine. I think it's not recommended b/c it might scratch the surface, but after reading the manual, NOTHING is recommended but stainless steel b/c everything might scratch it.

[quietserena]

Originally Posted by Ammaarah

I think the con of cast iron is that I can't use it because I have a stupid flat range! I could still get a CI skillet to make bread, though, huh?

I'm having this problem with an old skillet I got from a thrift store years ago. I still use it to bake in though.

This thing has been nothing but trouble. Removing the seasoning that was on it and starting over (I used oven spray and then having trouble seasoning it and then moving into a place that has a ceramic top stove. Gah!

But, boy does corn bread come out tasting good...

To answer the question:
Only problem with cast iron is if you for some reason have too much iron. People that fall into this category are men and post menopausal women. But I think once you season it well not much is coming off.

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by Ammaarah

I think the con of cast iron is that I can't use it because I have a stupid flat range!

: I HATE, HATE, HATE my ceramic cooktop! Not only does EVERYTHING stick, but my only other option is to get non-stick cookware because you can't use castiron on the ceramic cooktop. : I have decided that the invention of the electric stove was really a conspiracy between the non-stick pan people, the stove people, and the electric company!

I miss the gas stove at our old house... :

[Ammaarah]

Originally Posted by yitlan

The only con I've heard is the extra iron for men, as tbone stated. Also, Ammaarah, I'm using my cast iron on my flat range and it's working fine. I think it's not recommended b/c it might scratch the surface, but after reading the manual, NOTHING is recommended but stainless steel b/c everything might scratch it.

: I've managed to scratch mine when cleaning it! So anyway, the cast iron manages to conduct enough heat from the flat range? My fear is that DH will set it down really hard on the range and the whole thing will crack and we'll have to eat microwave popcorn and nothing else until we raise the cash for another stove.

Unite my flat range sisters! Get the cast iron! Well, unless you're selling your house and want a beautiful range. I just might go out and get some this weekend!

[A Mothers Love]

Originally Posted by tbone

I really don't know of any cons, but I've always had one concern. The extra iron for men. I know that men shouldn't have too much iron, so I'm always weary about using my cast iron pan for dh.

forgive me for not knowing...but why is iron bad for men??? For our sons too? or just men?

[jadasmom]

Originally Posted by fourgrtkidos

Anything "con" about cast iron??

I loce CI, but you do need to be careful using it too much for males who will be eating meals prepared in it because of iron levels.

I also use glass and corningwear and stainless steel baking pans and skillets!

[yitlan]

Originally Posted by Ammaarah

: I've managed to scratch mine when cleaning it! So anyway, the cast iron manages to conduct enough heat from the flat range? My fear is that DH will set it down really hard on the range and the whole thing will crack and we'll have to eat microwave popcorn and nothing else until we raise the cash for another stove.

Yes, it conducted heat just fine. I think you might have problems with a warped/not flat pan, though. After reading the manual, it seems their main concern with recommendations was scratching, not if it will actually work. It also doesn't recommend glass, but I've been using a glass teapot just fine. Now, I've only lived here in this new house with this new stovetop for a week and a half, so I don't have too much experience. I was really not thrilled with the prospect, but with the new mortgage and moving expenses, switching out a brand new stove didn't seem practical at this point.

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by yitlan

Now, I've only lived here in this new house with this new stovetop for a week and a half, so I don't have too much experience. I was really not thrilled with the prospect, but with the new mortgage and moving expenses, switching out a brand new stove didn't seem practical at this point.

I haven't found that it gets all that much better as time goes on. We've been here since Aug 17th and I still hate it! I want to be able to sell the stove when we have the chance to get a new one since it really isn't all *that* bad for most "normal" people and by the looks of it it's pretty new, so I've been hesitant to use the cast iron. We're going to get my parents gas stove when they get a new one next year so I just keep trying to hang in there!

[EENS]

Cast iron works just fine on a flat top stove.

[Rico'sAlice]

We have a flat glass cooktop and use CI on it all the time. No problem. Just don't bang it down hard, but it's not something we've had to stress over.
The pan heat up fine.

[ChristieB]

After reading the manual, it seems their main concern with recommendations was scratching, not if it will actually work.

Same here. We have a flat top range, and we've had since 2001. I like it. I use CI on it, glass, and the enamel-coated CI. The enamel-coated says not to use it on a flat top range, since you might scratch the bottom of the pot and reduce effectiveness. I live on the edge! And I don't slide my enamel-coated pans across the stove top. I do slide my CI sometimes, though.

The only real damage that happened to the stove top was when dh put his knee through it (trying to reach something behind the stove). Just so you know, the glass tops aren't strong enough for a grown man to kneel on them. I don't have any scrapes on it, but I do have a few stains. Mainly from not making sure it was clean before cooking on it. I've never had trouble with a razor blade scratching the glass. I use that for scraping off the more stubborn messes.

And yes, the heat conducts just fine with my pans. It's still an electric stove, so it doesn't have the same heating qualities as a gas stove.

I'm going to have to get my men checked. I didn't realize too much iron was this common. How did people deal with this "back in the day"? CI was used for everything.

[allnaturalmom]

I have been successfully using cast iron on my glass cooktop. I was concerned at first, too, but when I called the company's customer service (kitchenaid), they said it was fine to use. Here is a link on it:

http://forum.kitchenaid.com/forums/t...TOPIC_ID=10218

hth

[A Mothers Love]

Originally Posted by A Mothers Love

forgive me for not knowing...but why is iron bad for men??? For our sons too? or just men?

Why is exrta iron bad for men?

[stilllearning85]

Originally Posted by quietserena

But, boy does corn bread come out tasting good...

How would one make cornbread in a cast iron pan??? :

[quietserena]

Originally Posted by yitlan

Yes, it conducted heat just fine. I think you might have problems with a warped/not flat pan, though. After reading the manual, it seems their main concern with recommendations was scratching, not if it will actually work. It also doesn't recommend glass, but I've been using a glass teapot just fine. Now, I've only lived here in this new house with this new stovetop for a week and a half, so I don't have too much experience. I was really not thrilled with the prospect, but with the new mortgage and moving expenses, switching out a brand new stove didn't seem practical at this point.

My problem is that my pans all seems to be slightly warped so they twirl on the glasstop stove. It's a real pain to stir anything with a toddler in your arms.

Originally Posted by stilllearning85

How would one make cornbread in a cast iron pan??? :

Just use your regular recipe! Only thing that's different is you stick your cast iron pan in the preheating oven while you get the batter ready. When it's nice and hot you plop your fat in it (I use coconut oil) spread and then pour the batter. It gets quite a nice crisp crust that way. Traditionally, people use bacon fat but as we don't eat pork, I've found that coconut oil works really well. I often used the refined for this since not everyone appreciates a cornbread with a hint of coconut.