Most passionate foodies can’t imagine a single day without cooking something in a cast iron skillet. This kitchen tool is incredibly durable and versatile, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can prepare just anything inside it. Certain types of food don’t belong inside the cast iron skillet, and these three fall under that category.
Acidic Foods
If you’re preparing a dish that contains certain acidic foods, such as tomatoes or lemon, a cast iron skillet is best avoided. Seasonings will break down due to acid, leaving your food with a metallic taste and potently shortening the life span of your skillet. That being said, there are specialty skillets called enameled cast iron skillets in which you can cook acidic foods.
Smelly Foods
Cast iron skillets are pretty durable, but they have a tendency to take on flavor pretty quickly. Before your brand-new skillet is well-seasoned, you should avoid making dishes with a strong smell inside it, because they’re best saved for stainless steel or nonstick pans.
Sticky Foods
Brand-new skillets that aren’t well-seasoned also won’t do any favors to the types of foods that have a tendency of sticking to the surface. Pancakes, fried rice, omelets, and other egg dishes fall under this category, and you should use some other kitchen tool to make them.
