# Cast iron frying pans wtf am i doing wrong? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 15, 2017, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642 "2017-05-15T12:34:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/21 "2017-05-15T17:48:11Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’ll go first. > > Take one cat. Declaw, circumcize, and rub with spices. Place the cat in an SUV with a “TRUMP - GREATEST PRESIDENT EVER” sticker. Drive to work, forgetting to drop the cat off at daycare. After eight hours, the cat will be medium well done. Drive to the nearest Mexican restaurant. Serves four. No tipping. > > Regards, > Shodan Well done! ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/22 "2017-05-15T17:59:49Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > I would like to challenge everything **Shodan** said in the previous post. I forgot to add “post pics” so we can get all the comments about “I never let my cat outdoors” and “what did the cat expect, wearing that skimpy collar?” Regards, Shodan PS - if cats evolved from wild cats, why are there still wildcats? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/23 "2017-05-15T18:00:54Z")
I love my cast irons, but, for eggs, get yourself a nice Teflon egg pan. I mean, I do use the cast iron for eggs if I’m doing a big batch of them, but the Teflon pan is just far more versatile if you want to do something like a French omelet, or if you’re doing anything with the eggs that requires flipping, and that sort of stuff. Plus they cool down quite quickly, especially compared with cast iron, so if you need to get that pan and the eggs off that heat, you can do so. Gives you more control. So big ups for a Teflon pan for anything requiring frying eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/24 "2017-05-15T18:06:53Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Take one cat. Declaw, circumcize, and rub with spices. Place the cat in an SUV with a “TRUMP - GREATEST PRESIDENT EVER” sticker. Drive to work, forgetting to drop the cat off at daycare. After eight hours, the cat will be medium well done. Drive to the nearest Mexican restaurant. Serves four. No tipping. Stuff like this is why you’re not on my ignore list. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/25 "2017-05-15T18:09:06Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’ll go first. > > Take one cat. Declaw, circumcize, and rub with spices. Place the cat in an SUV with a “TRUMP - GREATEST PRESIDENT EVER” sticker. Drive to work, forgetting to drop the cat off at daycare. After eight hours, the cat will be medium well done. Drive to the nearest Mexican restaurant. Serves four. No tipping. > > Regards, > Shodan Ahhhh, slow cooking, without the need for a crock pot. BRILLIANT! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/26 "2017-05-15T18:46:29Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I forgot to add “post pics” so we can get all the comments about “I never let my cat outdoors” and “what did the cat expect, wearing that skimpy collar?” > > Regards, > Shodan > > PS - if cats evolved from wild cats, why are there still wildcats? What about pitbulls? (Well done, sir, well done.) Back to the OP - I find that making certain that the pan is thoroughly heated is the key. This takes longer than just turning it on the second before you’re adding the eggs. Plan on at least 10 minutes. A form of grease that handles heat, like bacon fat, versus butter which browns quickly, is also a good idea. Between those 2, you shouldn’t get much sticking. You might look at whether you pan needs another go at seasoning. Check out methods online. If your seasoning looks intact, I wouldn’t worry about removing the layer you have now, just apply your seasoning agent and bake as instructed. On to cleaning. For a well seasoned pan, yes, you can let it sit in the sink in some soapy water prior to washing it. I used to freak out about this myself, but tried it once and the pan survived. Now it happens when needed and the pans have sailed through. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/27 "2017-05-15T18:52:55Z")
Ok, first things first. If you are seasoning your cast iron pan correctly, that seasoning is a coating of polymerized oil that is bonded with your pan. You can scratch it off with steel wool, you can burn through it if your lunkhead of a roommate turns on the wrong burner and then takes a 2 hour nap, but dishsoap will not harm it. In my experience, I have yet to come across the mess that boiling a quarter inch of water and scraping with a spatula on the stove, then rinsing with a scrubbie in the sink couldn’t clean up. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/28 "2017-05-15T19:08:11Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > For cleaning, get yourself a little piece of chainmail that’s made for cleaning cast iron. Tangent: I save and use old mesh fruit bags (as pictured in link below) instead of chain mail for my scrubbing. Free (sorta) and you don’t have to clean them, just toss. And you can use them on all surfaces. They work wonders on cheeeeezy messes. [![](https://4.imimg.com/data4/LO/NH/MY-3311022/fruit-mesh-bag-250x250.jpeg) ](https://4.imimg.com/data4/LO/NH/MY-3311022/fruit-mesh-bag-250x250.jpeg) Back on topic: I agree with the people calling for Teflon (or the like) above, for eggs. Unless you want to put in a lot of work and show off your seasoning job. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/29 "2017-05-15T20:01:42Z")
Moved to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/30 "2017-05-15T20:08:23Z")
A few weeks ago I rinsed a cast-iron frying pan, and then put it on a stove element to dry it. And forgot it was there. And the element was set to High, just to I could heat the pan quickly. And I went outside for a bit. :smack: Start again… ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/31 "2017-05-15T20:36:45Z")
What kind of spices? ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/32 "2017-05-15T20:39:37Z")
[quote=“QuickSilver, post:3, topic:786642”] Here is a good tutorial on [how to season and clean a cast iron pan](http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/09/how-to-season-cast-iron-pans-skillets-cookware.html). **That said, I’d go with a non-stick pan for frying eggs. It’s the right tool for the job.[**/QUOTE] Indeed! I have three cast iron skillets, two are over forty years old and have never been deliberately ‘seasoned’ One of them is tiny and intended for eggs. Eggs stick like shit to a blanket in them, everything else is fine. My son wanted a deeper one. Bought one costing £100, heavy as - needs a fork lift truck to lift the damned thing. Spent hours seasoning it and son promptly ruined all that. It’s a bit of a trial to clean (I don’t use it but generally get the job of cleaning it ☹ ) Eggs _always_ go in non-stick pans! ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/33 "2017-05-15T22:47:04Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I’ll go first… > > …Serves four. Serves _four?_. Are you _deliberately_ trying to stir up controversy??? When I want to eat cat, there’s no WAY I’m sharing with three other people. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/34 "2017-05-15T23:15:49Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I forgot to add “post pics” so we can get all the comments about “I never let my cat outdoors” and “what did the cat expect, wearing that skimpy collar?” > > Regards, > Shodan > > PS - if cats evolved from wild cats, why are there still wildcats? You forgot to mention that your cat’s name is Buckeye. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/35 "2017-05-15T23:34:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You forgot to mention that your cat’s name is Buckeye. Too late. . ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/36 "2017-05-15T23:36:51Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Serves _four?_. Are you _deliberately_ trying to stir up controversy??? > > When I want to eat cat, there’s no WAY I’m sharing with three other people. So you are afraid the others would grab your pussy? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/37 "2017-05-16T00:23:07Z")
More Fat in the pan. no, more than that. seriously I cook eggs in cast iron all the time, but it takes a lot of fat to keep things slippery and scrambled eggs are the worst because you are stirring them up and absorbing all the fat. scrambled = teflon fried = cast iron. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/38 "2017-05-16T00:51:57Z")
I don’t even wash mine – I just cook in the patina of whatever was in there before. Maybe every few weeks, if I make a bad mess of something, I scrub it with a plastic scrubber or a credit card. But I use a metal spatula when cooking in it, which scrapes food off the bottom prtetty well. From time to time, it inexplicably starts to stick, so I reseason it. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/39 "2017-05-16T01:03:54Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I don’t even wash mine – I just cook in the patina of whatever was in there before. Therein lies the enigma of cast-iron worship, in my view. 1. Monday, you cook a fish in your pan. Tuesday, you cook a delicate _omelette aux fines herbes_. Which is gonna taste like old fish. 2. Do you keep this pan in a locked safe? Because otherwise it sounds like an excellent attractant for roaches, ants, mice, and whatever other vermin lives in your biosphere. I own well-seasoned 8- and 14-inch Lodge skillets. Which get very little use, because my pan-fried chicken, schnitzels, etc., attain a far better crust when I use a stainless All-Clad skillet – and my skillet cornbread is far less likely to stick to the pan when I use ditto. And the cleanup is a lot easier. And it can drip-dry instead of being wiped dry and put away. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642/40 "2017-05-16T01:39:05Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > my skillet cornbread is far less likely to stick to the pan when I use ditto. And the cleanup is a lot easier. My cornbread has never stuck to my cast-iron frying pan. Cleanup is a wipe with a paper towel. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-iron-frying-pans-wtf-am-i-doing-wrong/786642.md?page=3)