This post was originally made to our partner blog, Healthascope.com on June 15, 2008.  Beside the fact of cast iron being healthier, there are also some built-in ways that buying a cast iron skillet will reduce your envirohuman impact over the long term.  Enjoy!

I am admittedly a late adopter of the cast iron skillet in my kitchen. This wonderful material has been around for how long and I just recently have discovered its wonderful surface for cooking.

I cook at home which is usually cheaper, healthier, and best for the environment. But since I began cooking, the Teflon coated nonstick skillet has been a mainstay in my kitchen. I’m in my mid-twenties, so I’m glad that when I became concerned about the potential negative health effects of using Teflon-coated skillets in my cooking, I found cast iron at such a young age.

Cast iron is heavy and sits solidly on the stove. I bought a 12-inch cast iron skillet at Crate and Barrel (hardly the cheapest place to shop) for a mere $25! That’s quite a deal, considering the Teflon coated ones cost about the same, but while they will have to be replaced every few years because of damage, a cast iron skillet’s surface can stand up to even metal spatulas. Now you don’t have to worry about specks of plastic or leached chemicals from a heated spatula.

Why does this matter? Well, a preseasoned skillet (one with a build-up of baked on oil) has a non-stick surface based on natural oils while Teflon has an artificial chemical-based surface that scientists now say contributes to diseases, like cancer, by leaching dioxin into foods cooked in such skillets.

So, we’re avoiding dioxin, which deposits in our fatty tissue. But when the surface of your cast iron skillet gets damaged because an unknowing someone used a harsh detergent on it, you can reseason it using oil and you can put it in the oven alongside the next item you bake. Your cast iron can last you a lifetime, because of its intrinsic durability and the ability to re-coat its surface.

Think about that as a benefit to your wallet and the environment! Now, you don’t have to replace a skillet every few years (for the rest of your life). Remember that doing so would mean another factory would have to manufacture one, spray it with Teflon, and ship it to a store for your benefit. Over time, you might go through twenty or thirty skillets in this manner in your lifetime (if you’re a regular at-home cook!). Not bad savings for an initial $25 investment that can very well be stuck into your investment account. Now that I know how well they work, I’m planning to purchase more cast iron pieces as replacements for larger (and smaller) skillets, as well.

Cast iron needs to be simply washed with hot water and a stiff bristle brush immediately after use. Against the manufacturer’s advice, I use a tiny dot of plant-based dish soap to cut some of the grease. But, you want a buildup of oils to continue to build a nice, nonstick surface, so don’t use much soap, or a harsh one. After washing and drying, while it’s still hot, I put a layer of cooking spray on the skillet and put it in the oven if it happens to be hot, in order to replace the oils.

I put my skillet’s nonstick surface to the test immediately by frying eggs in it. I would say it released the eggs, with the yolks intact better than my Teflon-coated skillets ever had done. Part of the reason is that the cast iron stores heat better and distributes it better, making the eggs cook faster, keeping more of the whites around it longer and protecting the yolks (rather than having them run all over the place). Of course, eat your eggs sparingly and use a healthy oil, such as a Smart Balance Brand blend.

So now, I have a skillet that does not release toxic dioxin into my food that should last me forever. It can go into the oven (conventional or convection) or over a campfire or stove top (gas, conventional element, or induction) and is overall superior in cooking ability. I’m healthier, greener, and will save money in the long run because of it! Talk about a versatile item at a great price!

I cast my vote for cast iron!

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