Better Homes And Gardens February 2021 Cast Iron Skillet

Ah, the cast-iron skillet. What's not to love? The even cooking, the durability, and the rustic style make this a kitchen staple that's withstood the test of time. But we're here with some important news about your favorite cooking tool: It's being underutilized! That's right, the cast-iron skillet is good for so much more than scrambled eggs, stir-fry, and a well-seared steak. (Just make sure you never cook these 5 things in cast iron.)

Here, we've rounded up 6 awesomely unexpected (and healthy) ways to use this multitalented pan from the new book Cook It In Cast Ironand foodies across the web.

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1. Make your sandwich warm & toasty.

Daniel J. Van Ackere/America's Test Kitchen

You don't need a fancy panini press to craft delectable healthy hot sandwiches, like this Spicy Grilled Vegetable Panini. Place a large oiled cast-iron skillet (such as this Lodge Cast Iron Skillet) over medium-high heat, put your sandwich in the center of the pan, then place a smaller skillet on top. When the underside is golden-brown, flip and repeat the process on the opposite side.

2. Cut down on dinner prep time.
A cast-iron skillet is good for more than just cooking—in fact, it can greatly decrease the time it takes to thaw frozen meat. Simply plop thinly cut frozen meat onto your room temperature skillet (surrounding heat will pass from the metal to the meat) and let it sit for about an hour.

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3. Dry your tofu way faster.

Whipping up a veggie stir-fry, or grilling up some meatless barbeque? First, know that draining the water from your tofu is key—that helps it suck up all those yummy flavors from your marinade or sauce, and cook up nice and crisp. To most efficiently drain your tofu, surround it in a clean kitchen towel, place on a cutting board, top it with a skillet, and wait about 30 minutes.

4. Never burn dinner again.

Daniel J. Van Ackere/America's Test Kitchen

Scorching mashed potatoes or soup is now a thing of the past! Place your skillet over low heat, then sit your pot inside of the skillet to warm your food. The skillet acts as a diffuser, which more evenly distributes heat throughout the pot.

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5. Whip up a waist-friendly pizza.

Stephanie Eckelkamp

Who needs takeout when you can make your own guilt-free tortilla pizza that just happens to fit perfectly in this 10" skillet? Set your oven's broiler to high; prep your pizza, spreading on the sauce then adding chicken, fresh mozzarella, and basil; and cook for about 4 minutes, or until cheese begins to bubble and brown. (Lose up to 15 pounds WITHOUT dieting with Eat Clean to Get Lean, our 21-day clean-eating meal plan.)

6. Chop nuts in a flash.
Ever wish you could chop nuts without actually chopping? That's why this trick from Serious Eats contributor Donna Currie is so great: Put nuts or seeds into the skillet, place a smaller pan on top, and push and twist to break up the nuts. This keeps your fingers intact and prevents nuts and seeds from flying across your kitchen! Bonus: If you need to toast your nuts, they're already in the pan.

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