How To Cook Cornbread In A Cast Iron Skillet?

We may earn commissions for purchases made through links on our site. Learn more on our about us page.

As many already know, there will be many different recipes on how to make cornbread and what steps are best in preparing the cast iron skillet.

The key is to have the cast iron seasoned and ready to go prior to cooking; this will provide the best circumstances for a non-stick baking experience.

A recommended first step is to warm up the cast iron in the oven, hot enough to have tendrils of smoke rising from the skillet. This will activate the oils inside the pores of the skillet, to which you add butter to aid in the non-stick portion of the cooking directions.

Why does Cornbread Stick to the Skillet?

More often than not, the reason for sticking foods to cast iron will be that the skillet is brand new and needs to be correctly seasoned. Older cast iron skillets will have a buildup of this flavor seal protective barrier, which only needs to be heated to be activated.

The other reason for your cornbread to stick will be a simple fix because if you do not heat your oils or lipids enough before cooking the food, it will result in the cornbread sticking.

This is because foods stick when allowed to bond to the iron chemically, and the heated lipid or oil layer will act as a barrier between the food and the cast iron skillet.

 

Do you Preheat the Oven before Cooking Cornbread?

Specific cooking techniques require the oven to heat the cast iron before cooking; therefore, if using a procedure other than one that requires the oven before baking, you will want to preheat the oven.

This will be because of two reasons: you will be baking the cornbread in the oven eventually, which requires the oven to be hot and ready.

Two, as mentioned above, it is highly recommended that you heat the seasoning layers before introducing the batter to the skillet, and this can be accomplished by using the oven.

 

Should you Grease the Cast Iron Skillet?

As mentioned earlier, and most cast iron chefs are privy to, is the necessity of seasoning your cast iron cookware. This will occur after every use or should be top chef standards, to seal in the flavors of the previous meal and to secure up the protective layer against rust.

When cooking cornbread in the cast iron skillet, there will be a buffer between the batter and the skillet’s surface, which will require a ‘greasing’ or addition of melted down butter or cooking oil of choice.

 

How Can You Prevent Sticking?

Again, to reiterate and stress the importance of heating up the cast iron and having a well-seasoned skillet, you will need to activate the layers of lipids and oils of that seasoned cast iron.

There are many other ways to buffer and create these non-stick barriers between the food and the cast iron surface, including adding oils before cooking.

When it comes to preventing the cornbread batter’s sticking, use lipids, oils, or butter from adding an additional layer to ensure a non-stick bake.

 

Common Mistakes You Need to Avoid

A mistake that many new cast iron chefs make is forgetting to season a new skillet before use, which will certainly lead to sticking and many headaches when removing the cooked cornbread.

Therefore, when purchasing a new cast iron, season it immediately when getting home or when possible.

The cast iron’s seasoning protects it from rust, leading us to the second mistake of not oiling down the skillet when the cooking is done. These built-up layers are why the older cast iron skillets will have the best results when baking cornbread.

 

Final Thoughts on How to Cook Cornbread in a Cast Iron Skillet that will not Stick

There is nothing like a good cast iron skillet when it comes to the flavorful foods cooked with them, including cornbread.

Cast-iron cookery is made to last your lifetime, some chefs have used their pieces for every meal, and can you imagine the delicious food that comes from those?

It takes time to create the layers of seasoning and the desired non-stick surface when cooking with cast iron, and the journey will be worth the effort in regards to convenience and the flavorful meals that come from a well-taken care-of piece of cast iron.