I usually bake my cornbread in glassware, but over the weekend I "inherited" a cast iron pan.
Never used cast iron and am a little intimidated.... any helpful hints to pass along?
Thx!

its not a bad thing.... cast iron skillets don't bite... i promise (ok done being a heiffer)....make sure you clean it, i use a SOS Pad. And make sure that you cover it with PAM or something when you put it away.

The only way I will cook my cornbread is in a cast iron skillet, it makes the best cake of cornbread you will ever eat. Also if you season your skillet correctly, not only will that help you make a delicious bread but will also make it not stick to the pan, my bread falls right out of the pan when I turn it upside down on a plate. To season your skillet you will need to use a paper towel to coat it with some vegetable oil then heat it for about 2 hrs in a 250 degree oven, then take it out to let it cool. After you cook a bread in it do not clean it with soap just wipe it out with a damp cloth. I have a couple of skillets that are cast iron, but i have just one that i use for just cornbread, after I cook a cake of bread, I wipe out the skillet and return it to the cabinet. The more you use it, the better you cornbread will be. :-)

I've been using my cast iron skillet for years and I love it! If you keep it "seasoned", nothing will stick to it. It makes the best corn bread too! Here's a link for info about "seasoning" and cleaning your cast iron skillet.. Cast Iron Seasoning

Hope that helps!

P.S. I added a classic iron skillet corn bread recipe to the recipes database if you need one.

-Isabel

I love good thick, or heavy cornbread...with lots of butter..
but I swear I can't make it to save my soul.

Ladies,
Thanks bunches!!! Will be brave and face my cast iron fears!
Cool and wet here today, cornbread will go great with the chili...

Use fresh cornmeal and always preheat the skillet. Two important tips my mom passed along. The town of South Pittsburg has a cornbread festival each Spring. The Lodge brand of iron skillet is manufactured there. We just missed the festival.

treat yer cast iron better then you treat your other half.

NEVER let it air dry.

Use as LITTLE water as you can get away with when cleaning it - there are those who swear to never letting water touch their cast iron, but.. personally I think that's a lil nutz.

Olive oil is my personal preference for my pan.

When you season your pan, if you use Crisco or something to that effect, DO NOT put your oven over 250! Crisco smells HORRIBLE when it burns (around 275ish if I recall correctly)

If you dont have some already, go buy some sand paper. just a few sheets. a mid grade, a fine and an extra fine. why? because no matter what, every so often you get that one thing that REFUSES to come off the bottom.

I've made soooo many recipe's of cornbread it isn't funny. Now mind you, I can bake cinnamon-pecan rolls, homemade bread, do homemade pizza, ANYTHING else baked, but I could never do cornbread--no matter what! I even broke my brother-in-laws tooth with my cornbread--let me tell ya...I was hell on wheels with cornmeal! Anyway...what it boils down to, is one day, I decided to make it on my own...the way I thought it should be made. Guess what? It turned out fine--great actually. So...forget all the recipes, you've already read them all...do what you remember, use a cast iron skillet(cuz yeah, I swear by them!), and bake your heart out!

Thanks again everyone!
Twyla, I understand about the cornbread... I love to bake, am great in the kitchen but here's my dilemna... I can't get jello to set! I know, I know... the simplest thing known to man, and I can't do it.
You bring the cinnamon rolls and coffee, I'll bring the chili and cornbread and we'll sit and talk :) We'll invite all these folks over and have a blast.
Thanks again for all the tips!

Chili aaaaaaaaaand cornbread....I wouldn't be able to move.
I make this really good Hot Fudge Cake - and a delish Sock it to me cake. My ex used to say its better than sex.....wonder what that means.

Ivy, there is a cake called "Better than Sex" cake... haven't made it in years, though. (Referring to the cake, of course).

Better Than Sex Cake

1 cup flour
One-half cup softened margarine
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup powdered sugar
6 ounces of instant chocolate pudding
3 cups milk
1- 8 ounce Cool Whip (thawed)
1 - 8-ounce cream cheese
6 ounce vanilla pudding
1 large Hershey chocolate bar
1- 8 ounce Cool Whip (thawed)

Mix flour, margarine and pecans; press into a 9 inch X 13 inch pan. Bake 15 minutes and COOL. In large bowl mix cream cheese and powdered sugar until fluffy, fold in 8 ounce Cool Whip. Spread this over cooked crust. Combine pudding mixes and 3 cups milk, beat well until thickened., spread over cheese layer. Spread last 8 ounce Cool Whip over pudding layer. Chill several hours and garnish with shaved chocolate. Cut into squares to serve.


Same thing??

BTW if a man thinks cake is better than sex... his problem, not yours!
If he wants to use the cake during sex... that's your business



Hmmm, if I had an "other half" you can be sure he'd get the better treatment, no matter how great cast-iron is!

No thats not the same thing I was talking about. I've actually had that dessert, and we call it Chocolate Delight. Corny huh? This cake i'm talking about uses a Yellow Butter Cake Mix, Lots of sugar, eggs, cinnamon and brown sugar, and pecans. It really is a delish cake.

Share!! Recipe please?
Sounds like a coffee cake or possibility with breakfast?

I'll post it when I get home and look at the recipe again!!
Don't wanna give you some bogus info and mess it up

Sooooo,.. are we to assume your better half would not be well oiled and seasoned?

Don't lay no Par-Kay on the king of Rock & Roll.

Carrot Cake with Butter Creme icing approaches sex but, still second.

DAMN!! We don't have a vomit smiley? I hate Carrot Cake, but I'm dreaming of a Coca Cola cake for my birthday! (hint hint)

Gotta use just the right oil.... and seasoning's good... I like things spicy



Hope you get your Coca-Cola cake, but my fave is carrot... ask for it every year on my birthday!