How to use a cast iron brawn or head cheese mold? Cooking

Photo: http://ift.tt/2tnJBN1

I recently acquired a vintage cast iron head cheese mold: a scary looking bust of a pig's head, about eight inches across. Research says this is a mold for head cheese, which isn't really a "cheese." It's a meat loaf (similar to olive loaf) made by simmering the meat from the head of a pig, then mixing it with spices. When pickled and chilled, it's served as brawn or souse. However, all of these methods for preparing head cheese are done in ways that you don't use a cast iron mold for. You can't simmer meat in this dish because it's too shallow. Vinegar (used in pickling) affects the seasoning of a cast iron pan because of its acidity, and it will turn the food grey or black if it's in the pan for a long time. And you can't keep a cast iron pan in the refrigerator for a long time or else it will rust. So, how is this scary looking pig head used for preparing head cheese?

Submitted June 28, 2017 at 04:42PM by ew_modemac http://ift.tt/2sQhV1O Cooking