| Although possibly not the healthiest method of food | | | | in the kitchen and is highly versatile. Compared with |
| preparation, the skillet has maintained a reputation for | | | | some other products, it certainly does its job very |
| delicious food for centuries. One of the earliest | | | | quickly and very effectively, leaving very little doubt as |
| methods of cooking, the pan has carved out its place | | | | to the quality of the food that it produces. In fact, it is |
| in our appetites as one of the best methods of | | | | so popular that it is often handed down from |
| cooking flavorful food. | | | | generation to generation, from grandmother to |
| From Cajun food in Louisiana all the way up to fish and | | | | grandchild as some type of personal kitchen heirloom. |
| other types of items in the Pacific Northwest, the skillet | | | | With this method of keeping the skillet in the family for |
| is a ubiquitous part of any collection. With so many | | | | many years, it is almost impossible to find an American |
| different types of pans available, it is not surprising to | | | | family who does not have the old black pan up in their |
| see so many people making use of this extremely | | | | cabinets somewhere. With so many different types of |
| popular cooking implement. | | | | food available in the world today, the traditional frying |
| From the earliest days of mankind, preparing food on a | | | | pan is possibly the only cookware product that can |
| flat, hot surface has become a tradition and is | | | | prepare them all. From stir fry all the way to desserts, |
| well-known for its inherent flavor enhancing abilities. | | | | the ubiquitous skillet serves its function and then some, |
| With so many flavors and so much ease of use, it is | | | | on top of the stove, in the oven, or even on the |
| no surprise that the skillet has made such a mark on | | | | campfire. |
| the world of food preparation. Compared with other | | | | In fact, it is on the campfire that it earned its reputation |
| types of dishes, it is most dependable for cooking | | | | for versatility. Campfire cooking is thoroughly enjoyed |
| evenly and thoroughly without burning. | | | | by everyone and has a history throughout the years in |
| With a flat surface and low edges, the capacity is | | | | countries around the world, not limited to the Americas. |
| somewhat low. But this should not be considered a | | | | With all this camp fire cooking, it is not surprising that |
| drawback, as the extremely popular implement is | | | | the old skillet has maintained its popularity. |
| designed to cook small portions very rapidly. With a | | | | In the old West, many drifters had only one item to |
| focus on the detail and attention to the texture of the | | | | cook with, the skillet. This is largely because it can be |
| food, cooking is a simple matter of rapidly turning and | | | | easily cleaned with just sand and no water. It also was |
| moving the food around in order to prevent burning. | | | | nearly indestructible, a handy trait for anyone riding the |
| With this ease-of-use and extreme functionality, it is | | | | trail. |
| easy to see how the popular skillet made its way into | | | | But the history of the skillet does not start there, as it |
| so many cabinets around the world. | | | | stretches back into the centuries, to almost the |
| While the skillet certainly has many different uses, | | | | beginning of the Iron Age. As soon as mankind began |
| rapidly cooking fried foods is one of the most popular. | | | | working with steel, the skillet made its appearance and |
| Many people will swear that you should never wash | | | | has been handed down through the centuries ever |
| them and that they should always be put away as is. | | | | since. While we can only guess what type of dish first |
| Others will say that any fried foods, such as chicken | | | | made it to the extremely popular item, it seems clear |
| or fish, should always be prepared in a skillet. | | | | that whatever type of food it was, it was probably |
| Whatever rule you might follow, it is certainly one of | | | | delicious. |
| the most popular items of food preparation implements | | | | |