Customer Reviews

Cast Iron Cooking For Dummies

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a very good introduction to cooking with cast iron. The first couple of chapters give you the basics of using cast iron (seasoning, how and what to buy, caring for and using, etc.). The second part of the book has all the recipes with chapters on meats, poultry, seafood, vegetables, breads/cornbreads, desserts, and non-traditional dishes. There is also a chapter on using an outdoor dutch oven and some recipes to go along with that.

Overall, the recipes are good but do use more bacon fat and butter than I would like. Every recipe is accompanied by its nutritional information so you can decide if you need to substitute some of the ingredients or not. The hushpuppies recipe has slightly more than 50% of its calories come from fat so let the cook beware.

Definitely buy this book if your are new to cast iron cooking. If you are a pro, I might hold off as the book will probably be too introductory.

Being fairly new to this wonderful world of cast iron, I needed all the help I could get, and this book gives you all the help you need. I had been desperate to find ways to clean my old cast iron, and chapt. 3 was right on the money. It was worth buying the book for that chapter alone. I also found out how cast iron is made and also that you really need to search the backround of the company that you are purchasing your cast iron from. Many companies may have names that sound like they are made in the USA, but after checking, they aren't. The problem with this is the contents of the cast iron are not regulated outside the U.S. as stringently as they are here. What I'm trying to say is, you really don't know what you may be eating out of. I am returning an order after finding my item was made in China. It took almost an hour on line to find that info out. It was well hidden. I am now strictly sticking to Lodge Logic. Great products, and a regulated American company.

I'm not overly crazy about the lay out of the book, but the amount of info in here is worth the cost of the book alone.
Very few recipes call for processed pre-packaged foods (mostly just a few of the desserts).

Its a good starter book for both the info and the recipes.

Not many people are used to cooking with cast iron, this is a great learning cookbook. I've used iron skillets for years and want to camp cook using a dutch oven. This cookbook will advance my knowledge without the quesswork. When your camping and hungry mistakes are not fun!

Very inclusive. I am recommending this book to all my Scouting friends. The "older" leaders among us have difficulties condensing all of the sources of Cast Iron (particularly Dutch Oven) cooking into a consistently easy reference. This does it!

Great Christmas gift to myself! Great recipes, care of cast iron cookware, and great tips on cooking with cast iron. Anyone who uses even just a cast iron skillet needs this book. So give it as a gift to someone or yourself, we need more cast-iron cooking it's good for our bodies! OH, buy it from Amazon.com, it's less expensive

My husband (of 42 years) has always wanted a set of cast iron cookware (to experience cooking "the way Grandma fixed it"). I finally bought him a full set with dutch oven, fry pan, and skillet - with lids. With this gift, I included a note that said He was the cast iron chef in our house (He has never had to cook before)!
After purchasing "Cast Iron Cooking for Dummies", which addresses the care and use of cast iron cookware in addition to recipes, and in-door/out-door use suggestions, my husband has become the guru of cast iron... and has prepared many delectible food dishes.
The book has 305 pages of information, extensively covering meats - poultry and fowl - fish and seafood - stews, chowders, and gumbos - vegetables and side dishes - desserts - cornbreads - biscuits and muffins - other breads - sauces, condiments, and marinades - outdoor cooking - game animals - and fun foods.
I haven't read this book myself, but my husband did... and has amazed me, even reminded me - of how good food cooked in cast iron can taste.
This must be an amazing book.Cast Iron Cooking for Dummies

Didn't care much for the recipes I've tried. However, it's an invaluable book for learning how to care for your cast iron cookware.

I bought a cast iron skillet last year and used it a couple of times. However after the second or third time I felt like I was doing something amiss. So before I ruined any more food, ruined my pan, burnt myself or my house I thought I would look for a cookbook. This former notion was solidified when I was given four more cast iron cooking wear for Christmas.

This led me to get this cookbook "Cast Iron Cooking for Dummies". I have many books in the Dummies series and have always found them to be very helpful. This book is no exception. This book really simplifies every aspect of cooking with cast-iron. From the principals of how to season one's pan, to re-season a pan (if needed), how to bring a pan back from the dead (so to speak), cleaning cast iron, history behind cast iron cookware and most importantly how to cook with it, indoors and outdoors.

In addition, there are recipes in this book that range from appetizers, side dishes, main courses and desserts. There are also a few extras recipes thrown in for good measure. Another cool thing about the receipts is all ingredients are provided as well as nutritional contents. So it allows the chef (in this case me) the ability to add, change or follow the recipes to the T.

The only draw back about this book, and this might be nitpicking, is some of the recipes call for a 10' inch skillet. However, if a person doesn't have a 10' inch skillet rather a smaller pan it can throw a person off. Nevertheless, Tracey Barr does a wonderful job of explaining this age old cooking tool. I have already made several dishes after reading this book and I have to say that my technique is getting better.

I love this book. I bought it after I received a dutch oven as a gift, and then thought, now what do I do with it? I've now discovered the world of braised meats, and I may never be the same again. The book give a great overview of seasoning and caring for your cast iron, and then delves into the recipes. I highly recommend it.