Cast Iron Biscuit Tips

A well-seasoned cast iron skillet gives biscuits delicious flavor.

Baking biscuits from scratch in a cast iron skillet is a delicious, easy way to add a homemade element to a meal. The cast iron skillet creates a crispy bottom crust on the biscuits and adds seasoning to the biscuits. Biscuits are a versatile side dish. Using a good recipe with a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet yields the best results.

Season the Skillet

Making the perfect biscuits starts with using a seasoned cast-iron skillet. Season the skillet by rubbing vegetable shortening into the pan and then putting it in the oven to heat for a few minutes. After it has cooled, wipe it down to remove any excess oil, and the pan is ready for use.

Press by Hand

Pressing the biscuits into the pan by hand individually will help keep them separated. When the biscuits are cooking they will expand into each other, but because you formed them by hand, they will not stick together. This will help to yield a flakier, softer biscuit.

Don't Overwork Dough

As you knead the biscuit dough, you create more and more gluten within the dough. The more you knead, the tougher the biscuits will be once they've cooked. To create the soft, fluffy, flaky biscuits that pros make, stir the dough as little as possible and knead it minimally. Pinch off a small amount of dough and shape it into a biscuit, then press it into the skillet. Avoid rolling out the dough repeatedly.

Brush With Melted Butter

After you've pressed the dough into the skillet, generously brush the tops of each biscuit with melted butter. The butter adds a lot of flavor to the biscuits and gives them a wonderful golden brown color and a slightly crisp crust on both the top and bottom.

References

• Mommy's Kitchen: Biscuit Recipes
• Cowboy Showcase: Dutch Oven Cooking: Making Biscuits
• Texas Cooking: Making Biscuits