Can One Pan Really Do “Everything”?
Does the perfect pan really exist?…
EVERYTHING.
Yes, it’s a pretty long word. (It’s worth 20 points in Scrabble without any 2X or 3X letter or word scores!) It also carries with it an all-encompassing meaning that can be hard to live up to.
I LOVE my cast iron. So much so that one of my tried and trues lives permanently on my stovetop. It’s easy that way. I know exactly where to find it.
This version was made sometime in the 1940s!
✅ Here’s a Fact. I’m sure many of you can identify with this. I don’t need any more kitchen stuff! If I acquire one more thing, I may need to move to a larger place to live. Of course, wanting and needing are two entirely separate things.
When it comes to kitchen equipment, the wanting part of my brain completely takes over. And it takes over pretty forcefully. I’m ashamed to say that I give in fairly easily.
📖 These Things Start Innocently Enough. I’m just minding my own business, leafing through the JAN/FEB issue of Milk Street Magazine, when there on page two shows up an instant “want.”
The writer of this little magazine blurb knows just the perfect buzzwords and the way to use them that make it nearly impossible for us kitchenware addicts not to drool over. Resistance will not be possible. 😁
The One Pan That Does It All. That is a BIG statement. I mean, it is big enough that it begs to be proven. If there truly is a pan out there that can “Do It All,” then this is a pan that goes from want to need pretty damn quickly.
A few clicks (and some typing), and this arrives at my door. 📝 I warned you all that my ability to say NO to these kinds of things is almost zero.
And here’s what’s inside.
It is time to see if this pan can live up to the hype…
The thing that we really need to discover is how it does on the cooktop and then how it performs in the oven.
This pan is “pre-seasoned,” so after giving it a quick warm water soap rinse, we were ready to get on with it. 📝 The care instructions say hot water and a minimum of soap are fine to clean this pan. You can also use whatever cast iron cleaning method works best for you.
We figured it was only fitting to use a Milk Street recipe to run this pan through its paces. The Tuesday Nights cookbook has lots of great recipes that suit this pan to a tee.
Here’s our test subject…
Anyone who has read any of our Make It at Home pieces will quickly realize that the image above is how it’s supposed to look when we get done. The reality is, most times, a very different story.
Let’s Collect Up Some Ingredients…
Now, let’s get that pan out.
This is a pretty easy recipe. So, this will be the perfect test case for this pan. It really has just a few pretty easy steps.
STEP 1️⃣ – Brown the chicken thighs
STEP 2️⃣ – Sauté the garlic and shallots
STEP 3️⃣ – Return the browned chicken to pan
STEP 4️⃣ – Add some stock and some vinegar, then place the pan in a pre-heated 450° oven. Cook 12-15 minutes
STEP 5️⃣ – Reduce liquid
STEP 6️⃣ – SERVE! 🍴
OK, so that’s a simplified version of this delicious recipe. But honestly, the full recipe is just as easy.
📃HERE’S THE FULL WHITE BALSAMIC CHICKEN RECIPE!
🗣️ Let’s Talk About a Few Things
📝 SOME NOTES
• This pan heats up quickly and super evenly. On our test run, we didn’t have any noticeable hot or cold spots. Great heating consistency. 👍
• It’s not light. And like any cast iron pan, it gets HOT (and quickly). You’re going to want to have two pretty reliable potholders at the ready for moving this around.
• I had a minor problem with the chicken skin sticking to the pan when browning (see pic above). I’m guessing that as the pan gets used more, this won’t be an issue.
• THE TRIVET! This is the big bonus of this pan. It comes with a magnetized trivet for bringing the pan to the table or to any other place that you’d like to serve.
• Clean up as easy as 1-2-3. If you have even a moderate amount of cast iron pan experience, you’ll be able to handle the cleanup duties with ease. (According to the directions, you should use a kosher salt and oil mix to loosen any charred on bits).
SO, how did our White Balsamic Chicken turn out? Let’s have a look…
OK, I’m ready to admit that the folks cooking in the Milk Street kitchen had a better-looking finished product. After all, they are pros. But looks can only carry you so far. Mine tasted great! (I’m guessing theirs did, too! ).
✅ BOTTOM LINE
The Everything Pan might not be able to cook “everything.” But it can cook enough things that it deserves some of your valuable kitchen space. You can definitely stack it in a cabinet if you’d rather not let it reside on your stove. But in all honesty, out in the open and ready to use would be absolutely the best home for this versatile piece of cookware! 🥘
⭐ How Can I Get One? If you’d like to have one of your very own, we’ve made it a bit easier. HERE’S A LINK TO PURCHASE ONE!
🚨 We’ve Got a Little Bonus for You!
This is for all of you who made it to the bottom of this article. First of all, as always, THANKS for reading. Second, the nice folks at Milk Street have a little something special as a reward.
A chance to win: The Milk Street Cookbook. It’s “The Definitive Guide to the New Home Cooking, with Every Recipe from Every Episode of the TV Show, 2017-2024.”
AND we’re giving one (1) away!!
HERE’S A LINK TO ENTER THE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!
Just fill out the form. We’ll pick one at random. Good Luck!
🥓 NEW BRUNCH ALERT! – This Saturday (MAR 23), The Cottage on Siesta Key will start serving a weekend brunch. Sat and Sun 9AM – 2PM. The menu is packed with traditional and non-traditional brunch fare. Should be a great way to kickoff the weekend! SEE THE MENU!
~ LH
Just so you know, Milk Street sent us a pan to put through its paces. And like everything else around here, if we didn’t like it, we wouldn’t write about it. Part of our mission is to pass along restaurant, food, and dining related info that hopefully makes your life better!
🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info.
⭐⭐ If you have an event, we’d like to help you spread the word. Let us know! (EMAIL IT)
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2024 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
😋 MICHAEL’S ON EAST – MONTHLY EPICUREAN MENU – TOKOYO
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
Yes! Things are finally starting to pick up a bit in the local food event department. Our calendar is filling up little by little. ⬇️
MAR 22 – Austin Hope Wine Dinner – GROVE Restaurant
MAR 23 – The 30th Annual Tropical Nights: A Pirate’s Life – INFORMATION
MAR 31 – Easter Brunch – GROVE Restaurant
MAR 31 – Easter Brunch – Kolucan
APR 12 – Porter Winemaker Dinner – Cafe Gabbiano
APR 16 – Chicken Cock Whiskey Tasting – Element
MAY 5 – Cinco de Mayo – Kolucan
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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