Iron Skillet : a frying pan cast out of lustrous, malleable, and durable metal alloy, suitable for cooking a variety of Southern foods including fried chicken, slow-cooked greens, and biscuits; a treasured heirloom.

Women are women, some people say, regardless of where they are born. Please! Haven’t they ever heard the saying “you are what you eat”? The Southern flavor is bred in us from the moment we enter this world and have our first meal. Our food nurtures us and sustains us, all the while infusing us with the unique Southern style that we will carry throughout the course of our lives.

Indeed, the center of the Southern family has always been the kitchen. Traditionally, it’s the place where all the work inside the house gets done, where a family can crowd around a fire on a cold winter night with the smell of fried chicken or biscuits still hovering in the air. The kitchen is a place where families slow down, pull up a chair, and talk to one another. This is part of the reason our cuisine is known the world over as “comfort food.”

At the same time, Grits know the kitchen is more about attitude than appetite. In this modern world, there is no reason for a woman to have to slave over a hot stove; so don’t feel obligated. Cooking a great meal isn’t one of the requirements of being a Grits; it’s a bonus that others should appreciate, not expect.

Even if she doesn’t cook much, there is no more important heirloom to a true Grits than mama’s iron skillet. The iron skillet is the essential tool of Southern country cooking, and as such it is a prized possession that is passed down from generation to generation, gathering a unique character along the way. While most modern cookware is cheaply constructed and easily damaged, an iron skillet can be passed on for years. It’s a tangible symbol of the tradition and heritage that are the cornerstones of the Grits lifestyle.

Like the Southern girl, the skillet is durable and trustworthy, and imparts its own flavor to whatever it touches. It’s this one-of-a-kind quality that has caused many an unfortunate incident between Southern daughters when the time has come for mama to pass the skillet on to the next generation. Our lives may not revolve around the kitchen anymore, but every Grits girl knows the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!

“Seasoning” is the process of applying layers of natural oils to a new skillet in order to create a nonstick surface. Enhanced over time by repeated use, the seasoning not only keeps food from adhering to the inside of the pan but it also imparts a rich, unique flavor to whatever food is cooked in the skillet. This is why regular cookware can’t compare – the flavor just isn’t there! Keep in mind that when you purchase an iron skillet it will be medium gray in color, but will start turning darker with seasoning. The pitch-black color of a well-used skillet is something of which a Southern girl can be very proud.

Just as modern non-stick cookware requires special cleaning techniques, your iron skillet needs its own brand of tender loving care.

Clean the cookware while it’s still hot by rinsing with warm water and scraping away any leftover food. Do not use a scouring pad or soap; they will break down the pan’s seasoning. And never, ever, put your iron skillet in the dishwasher.

Do not store food in the cast iron skillet. The acids present in most foods will break down the seasoning, while the iron will cause your leftovers to take on a metallic flavor.

Store your iron skillet without the lid, especially in humid weather, to avoid a buildup of moisture that can cause rust. Should rust appear the iron skillet must be re-seasoned.

The iron skillet is a symbol of Southern heritage in that it represents the importance of our ancestors and their customs, innovations, and accomplishments. A Southern girl who values her heirloom skillet will also understand the value of her manners, her appearance, and her family name. In the South, the iron skillet is simply a part of who we are.

Just like Southern girls, though, no two iron skillets are the same. Each bears the marks of its heritage in the form of scratches, scrapes, and dents; and each has its own special use. Get to know your skillet and treat it well, and you can look forward to a lifetime of compliments on your cooking – from your light-as-a-feather biscuits, to your finger-licking chicken.