‘The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron’ from Cider Mill Press is a comprehensive guide for anyone who loves cooking with cast iron. Featuring 350 recipes that highlight the versatility of cast iron cookware, this book is packed with ideas for every meal and occasion. Whether you’re a beginner or a cast iron devotee, you’ll find these recipes approachable, flavourful, and geared to get the best out of your cast iron pots, pans, and skillets.

Accuracy: ★★★★☆

This cookbook excels in providing clear, reliable instructions for cooking with cast iron, with tips on seasoning, cleaning, and care. Each recipe is tailored specifically for cast iron, ensuring that textures and flavours are enhanced as intended.

Perspective: ★★★★☆

The perspective in ‘The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron’ emphasises traditional cooking techniques with a modern twist, which will appeal to readers looking to embrace both classic and contemporary flavours. It respects cast iron’s heritage while encouraging new ways of using it, from savoury mains to sweet desserts.

Relevance: ★★★★☆

As interest in cast iron cookware rises, this book is timely and relevant, especially for those who want to make the most out of their cookware collection. With recipes covering a variety of cuisines and meals, this book offers something for every taste, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen.

Engagement: ★★★★☆

The sheer variety of recipes keeps readers engaged, and the format is easy to follow, encouraging readers to try different techniques. The straightforward writing makes the recipes accessible and encourages experimentation, although more photos or visuals would have further enhanced engagement by showcasing the delicious possibilities.

Readability: ★★★★☆

‘The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron’ is well-organised and easy to navigate, with a logical progression through types of meals and cooking techniques. The instructions are clear and concise, making it easy to follow even for those new to cast iron cooking. Occasional extra tips on flavour variations or substitutions make the recipes adaptable and fun to read.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆

This cookbook is a delight for cast iron fans, providing a wide range of recipes that are as comforting as they are satisfying. With dishes spanning from savoury dinners to indulgent desserts, there’s something for every craving and occasion, making it a joy to explore.


‘The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron’ is a valuable resource for both new and experienced cast iron cooks, offering a treasure trove of recipes that make the most of this timeless cookware. Its approachable style and extensive variety make it a practical guide and a source of culinary inspiration. Perfect for anyone looking to get creative in the kitchen while enjoying the unique benefits of cast iron cooking.

The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron is a detailed cookbook that explains how to use cast iron skillets. It includes recipes for meals made with these cooking instruments and details everything needed to make creative meals.

I love my cast iron, and this book helped me reach for it more than ever. There are a ton of recipes (over 350!), and they cover a lot of ground while managing to primarily use ingredients that are easy to find in your average US grocery store. This is a well-devised cookbook that would benefit anyone who isn't afraid to whip out their cast iron. I do wish there was a little more info on cast iron care, history, really anything other than recipes-- I prefer more of a one stop shop in my cookbooks. But there are seriously so many recipes here that I can't even be bothered by the lack of other info.

Say yes to the cast iron...

I grew up cooking with only cast iron. Then, it was years of everything else, but now, its back to cast iron in my repertoire. So, this was the perfect book at the right time.
Highly recommend this book for cast iron recipes.

Before reading this book I can say I knew barely anything abut using my cast iron pan. This book gave me so many tips on more recipes that I can use in my pan and how to look after it better.

Did you know all the different kinds of meals you could make in a cast iron pan? I sure didn’t and I’m southern! My cast iron is for meats and cornbread. Well it was before this book!!! Holy cannoli! What an eye opener!

The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron is a huge comprehensive resource with recipes for -everything- cast iron and part of a series a encyclopedia kitchen resources from the same publisher. Due out 12th November 2024 from Cider Mill Press, it's a solid 560 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

This is a no-frills, utilitarian collection with a huge range of recipes and written specifically for cast iron utensils. There's not much introduction about care, maintenance, use, or selection of cookware before jumping into the recipes directly. For selection and usage/maintenance, consult another source (or the myriad youtube videos available).

The recipes are arranged thematically: breakfast, breads & flatbreads, vegetables, beef veal lamb pork & rabbit, poultry, seafood, and desserts. Each recipe includes a bullet list of ingredients in a sidebar, yields, prep times, and step-by-step instructions. Recipe ingredients are given with imperial (American) units. There's an abbreviated metric conversion chart in the appendices. Most ingredients will be easy to find at any well stocked grocery store in North America. Nutritional info is not included.

The recipes are good, basic, casual family style recipes, but it was nice to see a wide range of culinary influences (Asian, European, South American, TexMex, Middle Eastern) and not just "American" standards. The author/publisher have also included sauces and partial ingredients in the last chapter which are featured in the recipes (including a good one for sourdough starter, and a couple more for salsa, pico de gallo, etc.).

Graphically it's simple but appealing. About 20% of the recipes are accompanied by one or more color photos. There is a cross referenced index (absolutely necessary with a book of this size).

Five stars. This is a well written reference, and will be a flagship go-to in the kitchen library. It would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition as well as for home use, smallholders, and cooking aficionados.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This book is a must have! There are so many recipes, with many cuisines covered as well. You will reach for this book again and again. There are beautiful pictures (never enough pictures, but still really good photos). The choices seem endless and you will enjoy them all over and over again.

I am someone who owned a cast iron pan but it sat unused because I was so intimidated. This recipe book changed that! I tried so many of these recipes and they all turned out amazing! I even bought. Copy for my sister for a Christmas gift! Thank you net galley for the ARC of this gem!

Great look at all the various uses of cast iron. I've been using them all my life and learned a few things.

I think I need a cast iron now! I never realized how versatile it was--the few times I've used one was mainly for breakfast items and it always remain on the stovetop. The recipes inside looked totally delicious and versatile. There's surely something for everyone in here.

I would have preferred to have more information on how to take care of a cast iron, but I do appreciate that there are recipes not only for dinner but for other meals as well.

The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron focuses on the diverse recipes using a cast iron.

The Sections are
Breakfast
Breads & flatbreads
vegetables
Beef, veal, lamb, pork & rabbit
Poultry
seafood
Desserts

Each recipe has yield, active time, total time, ingredients, and directions. Most have photos of the recipe. The directions are very clear to me, but I think on the beginner level they might need more direction. There are a multitude of different recipes from classics to foods from all over the world.

As for the information on cast irons, I feel like it felt short slightly. There wasn’t enough on the care and types for someone who is a beginner.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is loaded with recipes! There are so many in here to try. If you or someone you know is a cast iron fan then it is a great choice!

I really love that there are so many recipes and a good variety or recipes in the book. It will get me using my cast iron pans a lot more for sure. The recipes are written out nicely and easy to understand. Most of them are pretty simple recipes as well with ingredients that are easy to find which is a huge win n my book.

The pictures that are in the book are beautiful but don't expect one for every recipes. I can understand with so many recipes why each doesn't have it's own picture but I will saw I am a very visual person and prefer a few more pictures. That being said, there are lots of recipes without images that I can't wait to try!

As someone who owns a cast iron but is intimidated by it, this cookbook was meant to find me. The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron is filled to the brim with recipes all across the board. These recipes reflect the food from many cultures, and range from simple to complex. The cookbook is organized by breakfast, protein styles, desserts, and even recipes for sauces, stocks, and more.

This would be a great book for someone who already loves to cook, or for someone just starting out. As I mentioned, the recipes in this book range from simple to complex and encase cuisines from many cultures. Everyone will be able to find something they haven’t cooked before. I am looking forward to trying some of these recipes out and using my cast iron more!

An excellent cookbook with very unique recipes and beautiful photos. I really loved the interesting ingredients and trying new things. All of these recipes are detailed and provide not just notes on the food but also cookery. A great addition to any cookbook collection!

Book Review: The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron: Over 350 Recipes for the Cast Iron Connoisseur

Rating: 3 Stars

I recently had the pleasure of reviewing The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron by Cider Mill Press, and it’s a solid resource for anyone looking to make the most of their cast iron cookware. With over 350 recipes, this book aims to unlock the true potential of cast iron cooking. From sizzling steaks and crispy fried chicken to fluffy Dutch pancakes and indulgent skillet cookies, there’s a recipe here for every occasion and palate.

While I found the collection impressive, I wouldn’t exactly call it an "encyclopedia." It only dedicates a couple of pages to caring for cast iron, which left me wanting more. A little history on cast iron would’ve added depth to the book, especially since it’s such a beloved cooking method with a rich background. That said, the recipes are well-organized and easy to follow, making them accessible for both seasoned cooks and newcomers alike.

One aspect I really appreciated is the global variety in cuisines represented. You can grab your Dutch oven or rectangular skillet and whip up something from almost anywhere in the world. The wide range of cast iron pieces used—everything from mini cake pans to muffin molds—makes it clear that this book is not just about traditional methods but also about exploring new ways to utilize cast iron.

As for the photography, I found it to be just okay. The images didn’t exactly pop, and I wish there had been more of them to really showcase the deliciousness of the dishes.

Overall, if you’re searching for a diverse collection of recipes that will help you explore what you can do with your cast iron pieces, then The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron is definitely worth adding to your kitchen library. It might not be the comprehensive guide I hoped for, but it’s still a solid cookbook that will keep your dinner table interesting. 3 stars from me!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

At 560 pages (930 on digital) and containing over 350 recipes, this is certainly a comprehensive collection of recipes that are made using cast iron cookware. I can’t really call it an “encyclopedia,” though, because there are only a few pages of information on how to purchase or care for cast iron and no information on different historical or cultural uses even though there is an admirable number of inclusions from a variety of world cultures.

This is a book for serious cooks, not beginners. For one thing, the recipes use a variety of cast iron pieces, including 10 and 12 inch pans, a Dutch oven, and a biscuit pan, in addition to other specialty kitchenware like a stand mixer. For another, many of the recipes include ingredients that would be difficult to find unless you are in a large city with specialty markets (some I jotted down included labneh, Bonita flakes, ‘njuda, baozi wrappers and ras el hanout). To be fair, recipes for some of the spice mixes, sauces, glazes and other necessities are included in an appendix, but many of them still contain ingredients I wouldn’t necessarily want to buy and have on hand.

If you have the wherewithal to assemble the needed equipment and ingredients, the recipes themselves are mouthwatering, and the pictures gorgeous. It would have been nice to have a picture of every dish, but that would have necessitated cutting the number of recipes.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars!

The Encyclopedia of Cast Iron is the perfect book for everyone and anyone who loves to cook with a cast iron. I used to be nervous using a cast iron pan, especially since I am a pescatarian, but wow, this cookbook covers it all. And makes it easy for a novice like myself to cook confidently with my cast iron. And gorgeous photos!

I love my cast iron, so I was so excited to find this recipe book.

First off, the pictures used are stunning and absolutely captivating. I love how the cuisines are world wide, it makes for such an inclusive book for all. I cannot wait to make the peanut butter & bacon oats with fried eggs, naan, beet and ricotta tart, skillet lasagna, Swedish meatballs, pomegranate and honey-glazed chicken (sounds incredible), caprese chicken bake, baked crab dip, lemon and raspberry cake, pickled beets—there’s so many new and good one. So many recipes I didn’t know you could make using the skillet. I cannot wait to try them all out!

Thank you NetGalley & Cider Mill Press for this awesome recipe e-book! I love how I can click on the number in the Index and it’ll bring me right to the page. Or if there is another recipe (like beef stock) needed listed in the recipe you are looking at, you can click there too to bring you to that recipe. SO SMART!