Granny Knows Best

My mother in law Doris,aka Granny,knew a secret that took me years to learn: cast iron is the best type of cookware for many meals and recipes and is a must for camping. We inherited Granny's cast iron skillet. I did not really use it until my own mother got cancer and began researching some of the poisons we put in our bodies. One of the first things she discarded was her Teflon pans. It is reported (though I can't substantiate it) that these pans give off toxins when heated at high heat. I cooked everything in them and it did give me the creeps when they would get old and start to "shed" some of the coating. So I started cooking in cast iron or stainless steel only. At first the cast iron seemed cumbersome and hard to clean. It is so heavy.
I had people tell me not to wash it. That just did not seem right. So, wash them I did and stuff would stick. I would have to soak and then wash them again. I learned how to re-season them and this would make them non-stick for a while. Over time I began to appreciate them and became stronger by handling them. I bought a new Lodge brand skillet and read the instructions on how to care for it. It said "Do not wash with soap, only rinse and wipe with warm water".
Ok, ok I gave it a try and have never looked back. They are truly non-stick. I use them almost daily and of course, for camping. I could forget many things and get by with out them camping but I could never forget my cast iron skillet and Dutch oven. They are perfect for campfire cooking. You can cook anything in the Dutch oven and the skillet is great breakfast, steaks, sandwiches, the list could go on and on. And the best thing is they are tough. We throw them in the back of the truck and go. You can heat a little water in them over the fire when you are done cooking, then wipe them out and they are ready for the next meal. I have seen so many campers struggling with all sorts of pots and pans. All you really need is a cast iron skillet and Dutch oven. I really don't know about the Teflon thing but hey, I know the cast iron won't hurt anyone unless you drop it on your foot! Seriously, do be careful--they get very hot! Always handle with a pot holder or oven mitts. It takes some practice but once you get used to them, you will never go back. I would not however recommend them for back pack camping, unless that is you are a glutton for punishment.
The Happy Camper