I was wondering if anyone knew if you can make spaghetti sauce or anything with an acid base in a cast iron pan? I have looked and read different opinions everywhere and I don't want to leave a metallic taste in my food.
By cynthia7214 from Norwood, MO
Yes you can. Make sure it's good quality cast iron, meaning heavy or a brand name or even one you picked up at an antique store (before the cheap ones were made.) I bought all mine used so they're well seasoned; oiled & heated many times. There is no metalic taste and I use them for everything from eggs to fried chicken. The good ones last a life time. Don't worry about rust on a good quality cast iron skillet you see at the auction or a used one online. Just 'season' it again and dry on the stove, or air dry and it's ready to go. They all develop rust if you don't keep them oiled.
I agree, acidic foods will draw the iron out into whatever you are cooking. Pioneers never had anemia because they cooked everything in cast iron cookware, which is so much healthier then teflon, aluminum, or other pans we use today.
To add to what everyone else has already said...
Cooking especially acidic foods in your cast iron pan can even BENEFIT your health. With 10% of women being iron deficient, cooking acidic foods in cast iron can increase iron content by as much as 20x.
