Why Chef Michelle Marek Stores Her Cast Iron Skillets on the Side of the Cupboard
Who cooks and eats here: Michelle Marek, chef at Foodlab, and Anthony Kinik, film professor and food writer.
Where: Montreal, Quebec
Visit their blog: An Endless Banquet
This week we peeked inside Montreal chef Michelle Marek’s kitchens — both of them! The one at home, and the one at Foodlab, the restaurant where she works. Today I want to go back to the home kitchen for a moment. I noticed that Michelle and her partner, Anthony, who does most of the cooking at home, hang their cast iron skillets on the side of the cupboard. I asked her why they store them here, and not in the cupboards themselves.
In fact, Michelle and Anthony store a lot of their cookware on the walls — not just the cast iron pans. I noticed a wok and an enameled cast iron skillet, among other things.
I was curious especially about the cast iron skillets, since the kitchen doesn’t lack for storage space.
Why do you store your cast iron skillets on the side of the cupboard?
We place the cast iron there because they can cool quickly and safely there on their own. Otherwise they take up too much space, and will scrape the insides of each other if we nest them.
Got it! They’re clearly well-loved and well-seasoned! What are your favorite things to make in the cast iron skillets?
Anthony always makes his cornbread in there. We always do steaks in them, too. Anything that requires high and even heat. They are our favorite!
Thanks Michelle!
I thought this was a good tip; I nest my cast iron skillets with my other cookware and they do get a little scratched. They also make the other pans greasy, since I often rub oil into the skillet to keep it well seasoned. Hanging them on the wall makes more sense. I don’t have space in my kitchen for this, but I’m eyeing my pantry.
Cambria is also hanging her pans on the wall as her spring project — see her plans here:
Last but not least, take a look at a lot more kitchens with cast iron skillets proudly displayed in places of honor: