Iron skillets

Why choose a cast iron skillet?

Besides being a natural and toxin-free element, iron is an excellent material for cooking, and very efficient!
It is naturally non-stick, distributes heat evenly, and retains temperature wonderfully. What does this mean? Well, by retaining heat so well, you can cook with it at high temperatures, sealing food quickly, keeping its juices, nutritional properties, and full flavor.
These are skillets that will help you discover the real and most natural flavor of your recipes, flavors like those from traditional cooking.

Additionally, they are durable and eco-friendly skillets. There is nothing more environmentally friendly than buying skillets for a lifetime.

Advantages compared to other types of skillets

Mineral B iron frying pans offer several advantages over pans made from other materials, such as:

• Fast heating. Mineral iron frying pans are made with a molded iron griddle, so they heat up faster.
  
• Great heat retention and distribution. When a cast iron skillet receives heat, it retains and distributes it evenly throughout the body. That heat is not lost but accumulates, raising the temperature of the utensil and the oil, making them ideal for cooking at high temperatures, something you cannot do with a non-stick skillet.
• More authentic and flavorful results. You’ve probably seen how meat cooks in a non-stick skillet. In a cast iron skillet, the meat seals almost immediately without losing its juices; the flavor is completely different. And fried foods turn out wonderfully.
  
• Greater durability. Unlike non-stick or ceramic skillets, a cast iron skillet lasts a lifetime. There is no coating that can deteriorate. With a little care, you’ll have a skillet forever. There’s no better value for money than this!
  
• Healthy cooking. Since there is no coating that can peel off, there is no risk of it ending up in your food.
  
• Natural non-stick. Unlike stainless steel skillets, where food can stick more, cast iron skillets are naturally non-stick. You just need to let it heat well and gradually, and not move the food while it’s sealing.
  
• They are very versatile and functional. With a cast iron skillet, you can cook almost anything, both on the stove and in the oven. From gentle cooking to high-temperature frying. Perfect omelets, crispy fries, flavorful vegetables with all their nutrients, roasted meats, or fish full of flavor.

Which cast iron skillet to choose?

All mineral cast iron skillets are an excellent choice, but depending on the use you want to give it (what you will cook with it) or the type of stove you have, you can find the best option:

• Best for griddle cooking. Without a doubt, the traditional Mineral B iron frying pan is the best option for cooking meat, fish, and vegetables on the griddle. With a little oil and the pan nice and hot, searing is practically instant, keeping all the flavor and nutrients in the food. And although it may surprise you, another great option is the Mineral B iron crepe pan, for its wide surface and low sides.
  
• Best for making omelets. Although you can make omelets with the traditional skillet, the design of the Mineral B iron tortilla pan is perfect if you’re looking for a specific skillet. Because nothing pleases the French more than a perfect omelet, De Buyer has designed a skillet with curved edges and lower height, to flip the omelet easily and slide it onto the plate elegantly.
  
• Best for roasting meat. If you like your meat to not only have spectacular flavor but also the typical grill marks, the traditional Mineral B iron Steak pan, the mineral cast iron grill skillet B are definitely the best choice. Also the Mineral B iron grill, which you can take to the oven without problems thanks to its stainless steel handles.
  
• Best for frying. Without a doubt, mineral iron is the perfect material for frying with the best results. Good frying requires plenty of oil and high temperatures, so the best choice will be a skillet with height and capacity, like the high Mineral B iron frying pan or the high Mineral B pan with two handles. If you want something lower, you can also fry wonderfully with an iron paella pan, like the Mineral B paella pan.
  
• Best for sautéing. For sautés and woks with all the flavor of the food, a great option is the Mineral B iron wok, both with traditional and domed designs.
• Best for paellas and fideuás. Without a doubt, the Mineral B iron paella pan is the best option for preparing spectacular rice dishes. Its stainless steel handles provide an added advantage by making it oven-safe, so you can also use it for roasts, gratins, or any recipes you want to bake.
  
• Best for cooking in the oven. Besides being able to cook in the oven with the paella pan, if you want a mineral cast iron skillet suitable for baking without time or temperature limits, you will need a skillet with stainless steel handle, or with stainless steel handles, or a skillet with detachable handle.
  

And if you like pancakes or blinis, you can’t forget the specialists, like the Mineral B iron frying pan for 3 blinis or De Buyer’s benjamins, the Mineral B iron blini pans.

How to season your cast iron skillet?

Seasoning a cast iron skillet that will last you a lifetime takes just a few minutes. There are different ways to season it, like putting it in the oven or seasoning the skillet with salt, but the method indicated by De Buyer is the one we recommend at Claudia&Julia. You’ll see how easy it is:

• Before first use, wash it with hot water and a little soap using a non-abrasive sponge. Rinse well and dry completely.
  
• Put it on the stove, with 1 mm of oil covering the bottom of the skillet.
  
• Heat over medium heat until the oil starts to smoke.
  
• Turn off the heat and let the skillet cool.
  
• Remove the oil and clean the skillet with paper towels.
  
• Heat the skillet again for 2-3 minutes. Done!
  

As you use it, the skillet will darken, forming a patina that protects it from rust and enhances its natural non-stick properties. So, if you see it dark, don’t worry, it’s natural and beneficial.

To keep it always in good condition, just keep the following tips in mind:

• Always cook on a burner with a diameter as close as possible to the base of the skillet.
  
• Heat the skillet gradually, from low to high. You need to give it time to distribute the heat evenly.
  
• On induction, do not use the booster or cook at more than ⅔ of maximum power.
  
• Do not overheat the skillet empty.
  
• Never wash it in the dishwasher, nor soak it for more than 2-3 minutes.
  
• Avoid storing it in humid places.
  
• After washing the skillet, dry it immediately and lightly oil it by rubbing a few drops of oil with some paper towel.
  
• Cooking acidic foods is not recommended, especially for long cooking times.

Recipes to break in your skillet

We know you're eager to start cooking with your new Mineral B frying pan. Here are some recipe ideas, using different models of Mineral B iron pans:

• Tariflette raclette: potatoes with French cheese
  
• Spinach pancakes (or savory spinach pancakes)
  
• Potato rösti with smoked chorizo
  
• The art of roasting in a chestnut pan (perforated skillet)
  
• Sautéed gnocchi with mushrooms and spinach
  
• How to make Carnival ears
  
• Vegetable gyozas (Chinese dumplings)
  
• Roasted potatoes with chili con carne
  
• Kung pao chicken with vegetables Chinatown style
  
• Toast with hummus, nectarine, and tomato