Hello,

We are in the process of deciding what cook wear to bring with us to Caye Caulker. I know from experience that everything rusts quickly there. Is it madness to bring our cast iron? It's so all purpose and sturdy that it usually makes a good choice if you are limiting quantity but I'm afraid it will totally rust the first day. Anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks!

Noelle

I've been using cast iron cookware for years...no problems

Thanks SP Daily! I'm glad to hear that.

it'll rust (on the surface) but that's not a reason not to bring it. just keep it seasoned/oiled and clean it when it rusts/oil it again.

oil is the key.....at home we use cast iron wok and pan..All of the Wade the Gringo Burgers are cooked in my cast iron..

besides a little rust helps keep the red cell count high...

I think that cooing on cast iron (regardless of rust) adds iron to your food.

3 health reasons to cook with cast-iron

Cooking with cast iron fortifies your food with iron.
While cast iron doesn’t leach chemicals, it can leach some iron into your food...and that’s a good thing. Iron deficiency is fairly common worldwide, especially among women. In fact, 10% of American women are iron-deficient. Cooking food, especially something acidic like tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet can increase iron content, by as much as 20 times.
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/3-health-reasons-to-cook-with-cast-iron-2574645

Once cast iron is seasosned it does not rust so quickly. I foolishly gave all of mine away when I moved here - for me the weight was a consideration. I'm very sorry now and am paying the high price to add pieces for my outdoor cooking.

Right now they are all sitting on the fogon full of rain water.

I use cast iron all the time and it's the only stuff I feel is valuable enough for me to haul down. My mom called it "the original no-stick cookware". If I can only bring a few kitchen things they will be cast iron. Thanks for all the affirmation, people. I'm so happy to hear that the Cayes and cast iron play well together!