Whisper to Warm or Screaming Hot

MEWutzke

New member
I've done a lot of things cooking with my cast iron skillets.
Most times just doing what my Grandma & Grandpa did.

I've read here some practices of warming a pan.
Some say you should set the cast iron on the flame and get it VERY Hot. Others suggest a milder warming of the pan.

My Dutch Oven I do stick into the oven and heat the iron to around 250 before I cook. My skillets I put on the flame and crank the heat.

Maybe it depends on what you are crafting and cooking. The lore and troup is not to get those 'wares to hot.
 
Obviously, if putting a good sear on meat is your goal, you want the pan very hot. But advice on the best way to preheat a pan is usually given in the context of caution to avoid destroying collectible value. Older pans, typically thinner and lighter, have a higher propensity to warp or crack if heated too quickly over direct flame, especially if empty. Preheating in the oven virtually eliminates that risk. My preference when needing a pan very hot is to put it in the oven until it reaches 350°F, then placing on a burner to raise it to searing temp.
 
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