Beauty: Cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens display your food beautifully. This is especially true when they are used for bread or pies. The pots themselves are glazed over with a polished ceramic glaze that makes them colorful and aesthetically pleasing and an embellishment to any kitchen space.
When cooking on top of the stove in your cast iron pans it is best to preheat it. You can do this by using the pop and sizzle test.
Place the pan over a burner and let it preheat for five minutes or so, rotating it now and then. Always set a timer so that you don’t forget that you have it on the burner. To test for readiness drop a couple of drops of water in the pan. The water should pop and sizzle. If the water immediately evaporates the pan is too hot. You can also heat cast iron pans and Dutch ovens in a hot oven for 20 to 30 minutes, again setting the timer.