Tips & Tricks How to Sear in a Cast Iron Pan By: Lodge Cast Iron / May 28, 2021 Why does pan seared food taste so good? Our brains are hardwired to enjoy the smell of cooking food, and nothing smells better than food sizzling on cast iron. Pan searing is a great option for cooking delicious meat, seafood, and veggies. Plus, it’s a quick and simple way to infuse your dish with flavor and texture! E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page What is pan searing? Pan searing is a cooking technique used to brown the surface of food (often meat) in a small amount of fat over a high heat before using another method, such as braising or roasting, to finish cooking.The key to pan searing is the high temperature that creates the Maillard reaction. This is a chemical reaction that gives browned foods their distinct color and flavor. Excess water inhibits this reaction, which is why we recommend patting your food dry before cooking. Don’t worry! The fat in your food and high temperature keep your food tender and juicy. How do I pan sear with a cast iron skillet? Higher heat settings, as well as a properly heated cast iron skillet, yield the best results. When you cook foods in a cast iron pan or carbon steel pan try not to move them around too much so a crust can develop on the food. The Maillard reaction begins at about 285° F. We recommend heating your skillet to at least 400° F before adding your food. Excess water on the surface of the food will inhibit the Maillard reaction. To encourage this process, pat foods like, steak, scallops, and chicken, with a paper towel before adding to the hot pan. For a little additional help, check out these articles: How to Sear Steak on Cast Iron How to Cook Salmon in a Pan Which pan should I use? Cast iron has excellent heat retention, making it the preferred cookware for achieving the perfect sear. However, cast iron’s cousin, carbon steel, is perfectly capable of achieving similar results. Carbon steel heats up and cools down faster than cast iron, so you won’t need to preheat the pan as long. Whichever pan you choose, make sure it has low sidewalls and enough room to cook your dish without overcrowding. What foods are best to pan sear? Searing food adds complexity to flavor and texture. Meat, poultry, fish, veggies are all perfect for searing. Steaks, scallops, and shrimp are all made better by the addition of a hot cast iron skillet. Pan searing duck breasts or chicken thighs, creates a delicately crispy skin that’s indescribably good. Here’s what we love about cast iron and carbon steel: Cast Iron: Cast iron is a poor distributor of heat, and that’s a good thing! A cast iron pan will be slow to heat up and slow to cool down, and it is much less affected by the addition of food. This means the surface temperature of the skillet won’t drop significantly when cool food is added, making it the perfect tool for pan searing. Carbon Steel: Carbon steel is thinner than cast Iron. This difference in thickness causes carbon steel to be ready to sear in a fraction of the time. The temperature of a carbon steel pan can be more sensitive to changes in heat and the introduction of food to the pan, but rebounds quickly to efficiently brown food. Not sure what to pan sear? Try a few of our favorite recipes: Chicken & Chorizo Paella This easy chicken and chorizo paella makes a great party-sized meal. Pan-seared Salmon With Raspberry Basil Sauce Made with a delicious raspberry and basil sauce, this sweet and savory pan-seared salmon dish will always be a dinnertime favorite. Pan-seared Scallops with Lemon and Thyme A fancy, mouth-watering meal doesn't have to be complicated. Pan-seared Duck Breasts with Raspberries Duck breasts cooked until golden brown in a cast iron skillet and topped with fresh raspberries in a perfectly sweet sauce. Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken Chicken thighs are an easy weeknight win... Pepper Crusted Skirt Steak With Leeks Marinate the skirt steak with a peppercorn spice rub, then grill to perfection for an easy, flavorful meal. Pan-roasted Sea Bass with Garlic Butter These flaky pan-roasted sea bass fillets topped with chive garlic compound butter will impress your dinner guests every time. Steaks With Blue Cheese Butter The secret to grilling restaurant quality steaks at home begins with a cast iron skillet! Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed! Get $10 off any $50+ order!* While you're shopping, become a Pan Fan today and sign up for our newsletter! *Coupon code will be sent to your email after you sign up for our newsletter! New sign ups only. Sign Up By submitting your information, you are agreeing to Lodge Cast Iron’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Please try again.
Tips & Tricks How to Sear in a Cast Iron Pan By: Lodge Cast Iron / May 28, 2021 Why does pan seared food taste so good? Our brains are hardwired to enjoy the smell of cooking food, and nothing smells better than food sizzling on cast iron. Pan searing is a great option for cooking delicious meat, seafood, and veggies. Plus, it’s a quick and simple way to infuse your dish with flavor and texture! E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page What is pan searing? Pan searing is a cooking technique used to brown the surface of food (often meat) in a small amount of fat over a high heat before using another method, such as braising or roasting, to finish cooking.The key to pan searing is the high temperature that creates the Maillard reaction. This is a chemical reaction that gives browned foods their distinct color and flavor. Excess water inhibits this reaction, which is why we recommend patting your food dry before cooking. Don’t worry! The fat in your food and high temperature keep your food tender and juicy. How do I pan sear with a cast iron skillet? Higher heat settings, as well as a properly heated cast iron skillet, yield the best results. When you cook foods in a cast iron pan or carbon steel pan try not to move them around too much so a crust can develop on the food. The Maillard reaction begins at about 285° F. We recommend heating your skillet to at least 400° F before adding your food. Excess water on the surface of the food will inhibit the Maillard reaction. To encourage this process, pat foods like, steak, scallops, and chicken, with a paper towel before adding to the hot pan. For a little additional help, check out these articles: How to Sear Steak on Cast Iron How to Cook Salmon in a Pan Which pan should I use? Cast iron has excellent heat retention, making it the preferred cookware for achieving the perfect sear. However, cast iron’s cousin, carbon steel, is perfectly capable of achieving similar results. Carbon steel heats up and cools down faster than cast iron, so you won’t need to preheat the pan as long. Whichever pan you choose, make sure it has low sidewalls and enough room to cook your dish without overcrowding. What foods are best to pan sear? Searing food adds complexity to flavor and texture. Meat, poultry, fish, veggies are all perfect for searing. Steaks, scallops, and shrimp are all made better by the addition of a hot cast iron skillet. Pan searing duck breasts or chicken thighs, creates a delicately crispy skin that’s indescribably good. Here’s what we love about cast iron and carbon steel: Cast Iron: Cast iron is a poor distributor of heat, and that’s a good thing! A cast iron pan will be slow to heat up and slow to cool down, and it is much less affected by the addition of food. This means the surface temperature of the skillet won’t drop significantly when cool food is added, making it the perfect tool for pan searing. Carbon Steel: Carbon steel is thinner than cast Iron. This difference in thickness causes carbon steel to be ready to sear in a fraction of the time. The temperature of a carbon steel pan can be more sensitive to changes in heat and the introduction of food to the pan, but rebounds quickly to efficiently brown food. Not sure what to pan sear? Try a few of our favorite recipes: Chicken & Chorizo Paella This easy chicken and chorizo paella makes a great party-sized meal. Pan-seared Salmon With Raspberry Basil Sauce Made with a delicious raspberry and basil sauce, this sweet and savory pan-seared salmon dish will always be a dinnertime favorite. Pan-seared Scallops with Lemon and Thyme A fancy, mouth-watering meal doesn't have to be complicated. Pan-seared Duck Breasts with Raspberries Duck breasts cooked until golden brown in a cast iron skillet and topped with fresh raspberries in a perfectly sweet sauce. Creamy Garlic Herb Chicken Chicken thighs are an easy weeknight win... Pepper Crusted Skirt Steak With Leeks Marinate the skirt steak with a peppercorn spice rub, then grill to perfection for an easy, flavorful meal. Pan-roasted Sea Bass with Garlic Butter These flaky pan-roasted sea bass fillets topped with chive garlic compound butter will impress your dinner guests every time. Steaks With Blue Cheese Butter The secret to grilling restaurant quality steaks at home begins with a cast iron skillet! Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed!
