4 Things You Should Never Cook in Cast Iron

Cathryn JakicicUpdated: Jul. 24, 2023

Simple black colored cast iron pan with checkered towel on wooden shabby table surface

Daniel_Dash/Shutterstock

The list of what not to cook in cast iron is much, much shorter than the things you should—we promise. Here are four things to avoid.

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Most people who cook with cast-iron pans love them with the heat of a thousand suns. After all, they’re a must for so many one-skillet meals not to mention they’re handy for everything from breakfast to dessert (really—these cast iron desserts are so good). However, as good as your skillet can be for making all these favorites, it’s not a tool suited for all foods.

Find out what dishes you should avoid making in your cast iron, then master cast iron cooking with our guide.

4 Things You Should Never Cook in Cast Iron:

Smelly foods

Garlic, peppers, some fish, stinky cheeses and more tend to leave aromatic memories with your pan that will turn up in the next couple of things you cook in it. Ten minutes in a 400ºF oven will generally get rid the smell, but it’s best to avoid cooking foods that would be ruined by those lingering aromas for the next few cooks. (We’re looking at you, chocolate pecan skillet cookie.)

Eggs and other sticky things (for a while)

Once your pan is well-seasoned, no problem at all. But when your pan is new, even though it’s seasoned, sticky things like eggs still may present a problem. Unless you like brown eggs and a gunky pan, relegate them to a regular nonstick pan for a while.

Delicate fish

The same heat retention that means your steak will get a beautiful brown crust in a cast iron pan will probably be the end of your lovely piece of trout or tilapia. Save the delicate fish for the non-stick pan, too. But salmon and other meaty fish that can stand the heat are fine. Try our cast iron salmon recipe for a perfectly crispy skin and flaky fish.

Acidic things—maybe

There seem to be mixed feelings on this one. Some people say that tomatoes or lemons can react with the metal and cause it to leach into the food and break down the seasoning of the pan. Others believe that’s a myth. And if acidic foods discolor your pan a bit, a baking soda scrub will take care of it. (Check out other cast iron cooking mistakes.)

One thing to note: This list is for traditional cast-iron pans. If you’ve got an enamel-coated cast iron pan (like this one), you don’t need to adhere to this list—you can just get cooking!

And if you do make a mistake with your cast iron pan and it gets really dirty—we’ve got the cleaning tips you need plus a step-by-step lesson on how to re-season your pan. Cast iron is tough and can withstand a slip-up or two.

Start making these cast iron-friendly recipes.

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