Cast Iron Pans

Now, you might be wondering why I'm recommending a cast iron pan for Dad. Isn't this something you probably want to get for Mom? Well, when Dad wants to make a nice pan fried steak, there's only way to make a really nice steak indoors and that's with a cast iron pan. The heat generated and heat diffusion makes this an ideal cooking pan to use. Get a really good pan like one from Lodge and it could last for a really long time. Might last as long as Dad himself! Just don't say that in front of him!!!

I like a steak with a nice seared and crispy outside with medium rare pink color in the center. Using a cast iron pan or skillet, I can consistently make this perfect steak every time. My friend showed me a pan his mother passed on to him. It was a pan his father bought for him mom back in the 1950's and to this day, that pan still looks excellent. He swears by the wonderful results he gets when using this pan. The pan is well "seasoned", which I'll explain in a little bit.

A pan is well seasoned when it has a non-stick coating created by polymerized fats and oils. So the more you use the pan, the better it gets. Some people don't wash their pans, but simply wipe it immediately after with just a paper towel. Others will wash it with a soapy sponge but never scrub it with a scouring pad, as doing so will remove the coating. What ever you feel most comfortable with is what you should do to keep this pan clean and seasoned. If there's a layer of grease and fat, yeah, definitely I would wipe it clean as the fats will get rancid and attract who knows what to your pan. Gross!

These cast iron pans can be found almost in all major department stores. There's pans that are metal with a non-stick coating to look like a traditional iron pan, so just be aware of these as you won't get the heat generated from these pans, thus you won't get the results you were looking for. The price for these iron pans average $15-$25 for a 12 inch pan.

When Dad opens his present and sees this pan and gives you a befuddled look, just remind him of the benefits of these pans. Tell him when he wants the perfect pan steak, this is the best choice and he should give it a try. He'll get perfect pan cooked steaks every time.

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