Your cast iron pan is a workhorse, but did you know it can even do way more than sear a steak or help you cook the best asparagus ever? The heavy iron is perfect for holding heat steady, which is why its also great when youre ready to bake a delicious, crusty artisan sourdough bread recipe. That capability of holding steady heat can also come in handy when you want to keep food warm on the stove — the thick metal pan buffers the harsh heat of your burner.
Keep dishes warm on the stovetop by avoiding putting them over direct heat. Instead, if you need a pot of mashed potatoes to remain warm, put the pot inside of your cast iron. Cast iron is so good at holding heat that you can use a warmed pan to keep a bowl of butter melted without constantly worrying that it will burn, even with the burner turned off. That trick can also keep your chocolate melty when dipping strawberries. A cast iron pan on low heat adds an extra layer of thickness to the bottom of a pan of food so that it doesnt burn.
Pots and pans have heavy bottoms for a good reason—to spread the heat out evenly to avoid hot spots. But what if your ideal cooking vessel doesn’t have a heavy bottom? What if you need super-gentle, super-even heat? Just use your cast iron pan as a heat diffuser.
Keep dishes warm on the stovetop by avoiding putting them over direct heat. Instead, if you need a pot of mashed potatoes to remain warm, put the pot inside of your cast iron. Cast iron is so good at holding heat that you can use a warmed pan to keep a bowl of butter melted without constantly worrying that it will burn, even with the burner turned off. That trick can also keep your chocolate melty when dipping strawberries. A cast iron pan on low heat adds an extra layer of thickness to the bottom of a pan of food so that it doesnt burn.
Remember that youll want to use the lowest heat setting possible when using your cast iron pan as a heat diffuser. Otherwise, you risk making the metal hot enough to burn your food anyway. You can alternate turning the burner on and off to get a barely warm surface that works to keep delicate Hollandaise sauce or softly scrambled eggs at just the right serving temperature.
Using cast iron to keep dishes warm is really useful when you want to avoid overcooking or burning food, or for those times you just dont want to turn on your oven to warm something up. The gentle, low heat radiating from the metal wont scorch the bottom of your pans like direct burner heat can, even on the lowest flame. If youve ever simmered creamy potato soup only to find a burned pan bottom or burnt the bottom of a pot of polenta or mashed potatoes trying to keep it warm, placing your cast iron pan between the burner and your food pan can save the day — or at least the dinner!
Your cast iron pan is a workhorse, but did you know it can even do way more than sear a steak or help you cook the best asparagus ever? The heavy iron is perfect for holding heat steady, which is why its also great when youre ready to bake a delicious, crusty artisan sourdough bread recipe. That capability of holding steady heat can also come in handy when you want to keep food warm on the stove — the thick metal pan buffers the harsh heat of your burner.
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FAQ
Is cast iron good for heat transfer?
How much heat can a cast iron pan handle?
Can a cast iron pan be used as a heat diffuser?
Ans. Pots and pans usually have heavy surfaces to avoid hot spots. But if one of your cookware is not thick enough and you need super-gentle, super-even heat, you can use your cast iron pan as a heat diffuser. Put the cast iron pan on the stove, and then put your cookware on the pan. What is the purpose of a heat diffuser for a glass stovetop? Ans.
Can you put a heat diffuser on a cast iron grill?
It’s best to use enameled cast iron and use a heat diffuser or grill mat as a protective shield between the cast iron and glass. Using a heat diffuser or grill mat will help, but care must still be used since cast iron is very heavy. It can easily crack or shatter the glass cooktop if you aren’t gentle.
Can a cast iron skillet be used on a glass top stove?
A cast iron skillet holds heat so well and cooks so evenly compared to some other types of pots and pans. Its biggest downside, though, is that it’s so heavy. Because of its weight, cast iron on glass top stoves can scratch the surface of your cooktop. These tiny scratches can build up over time and make the cooktop look awful.
Can a heat diffuser be used on a glass cooktop?
Heat diffusers are typically used on traditional electric or gas cooktops, but they can also be used on glass or ceramic electric or induction cooktops. This will protect your glass cooktop from scratches since it will not be moving, but the pot or pan on top of it will.