Best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet

Best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet - Close-up of Grilled Meats

What are the recommendations to minimize the amount of smoke generated when cooking burgers, steaks or other meats in a cast-iron pan?

meatcast-ironhamburgers


Best Answer

Do make sure you are using a high quality refined oil that is good for high temperature cooking, and has a high smoke point. Grapeseed is nearly ideal, although it can be expensive. I have heard good things about avacado oil, but haven't tried it personally.

You might wish to oil the meat rather than the pan, so that you are not getting smoke from oil away from the food you are cooking, but this unlikely to make a large difference.

Still, if you are searing at high temperatures, some smoke is inevitable. Of course, lowering the temperature at which you cook can eliminate the smoke, but it also changes the result, sometimes for the worse.

In truth, for high temperature searing, you simply need to have good ventillation.

You might also want to temporarily take the battery out of the kitchen smoke detector—just remember to put it back in when you are done.



Pictures about "Best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet"

Best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet - Grilling Meat on a Charcoal Grill
Best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet - Tasty sausages in frying pan on table
Best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet - Grilled Meat on Black Charcoal Grill


Quick Answer about "Best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet"

Avoid High Temperatures If the pan is heated to high temperatures to a high temperature then the oil or food that is added will smoke and quite possibly stick to the surface of the pan. An easy fix is to heat the pan up over medium heat add oil, or fat, let it heat through then add any ingredients.

How do I keep my cast iron skillet from smoking?

Cast iron skillets smoke when heated excessively, when food is cooked at too high a temperature, or when cooking oil is heated above its smoke point. To prevent smoking, use a cooking oil with an appropriate temperature rating in a clean, well-seasoned cast iron skillet over no more than medium-high heat.

How do you reduce smoke when searing?

The secret: Placing the steaks in a cold nonstick skillet with no oil. This counterintuitive technique was developed by former Cook's Illustrated staffer Andrew Janjigian, who discovered a well-marbled cut doesn't need extra oil; enough fat comes out during cooking to help brown the beef.

Is a cast iron skillet supposed to smoke?

Raw Cast Iron Skillets SmokeIf you don't take the time to pre-season your raw, gray skillet before you use it, it will smoke. It may smoke so much that your whole house fills with smoke. It may cause your smoke detectors to go off. You may never want to risk that again.

How do you cook a steak in a cast iron skillet without smoking it?

Here's how it works. Heat the oven to 225 degrees. Place a large steak on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet, and then set it in the oven. Cook until the steak is 115 degrees in the middle, or about 20 degrees shy of medium-rare.


Cast Iron Skillets: Everything You Need To Know - How To



More answers regarding best practices to minimize smoke when cooking meat using a cast iron skillet

Answer 2

Not sure if this is an option for you but if the goal is to reduce the smoke inside the house, you could use a grill outside. Either on a side burner or on the grill itself is something I have done. Then either bring it back inside to finish it in the oven or just keep it in the grill at a lower temp.

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: samer daboul, Andrej Zeman, Milan, Dimitri C

Related Questions