Cast Iron: Strong, Popular, Worth It?

Cast iron is wildly popular and versatile, but how do you season it, maintain it, clean it, and prevent it from rusting? These are the many questions facing Rick and Kate as they talk about this cooking staple. It retains heat wonderfully, and is another way to create flavor, but is it worth the effort? Sure, the first known use of cast iron cookware dates back to the Han Dynasty in China, around 220 A.D., but it has managed to hold up next to modern cookware, including Kate’s favorite: enameled cast iron. Also, get ready for the best pizza ever! Inspired by a recipe from America’ s Test Kitchen, Kate and Rick make an amazing cast iron pan pizza. Also on the table for discussion this week is a quinoa cooked with salsa verde and pork stock, and a broccoli dish based on a classic recipe by Alice Waters, owner of the famed Chez Panisse in Berkley, Ca. and mother of the farm to table movement.

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