Growing up in Alabama, @JasonIsbell saw the cast iron skillet as a “holy artifact,” never to be washed. But maybe his views have changed on the matter… #JasonIsbell #JasonIsbellandthe400Unit
Although it doesn’t align with Isbell’s explanation of the song, the lyric “don’t wash the cast iron skillet” makes me consider one’s experiences in life: lessons learned, transgressions, wins, losses, relationships and impactful events that shape oneself. The lyric makes me think that Isbell is telling the listener that one should embrace these experiences as they have made you who you are today.
Mama gave me her cast iron skillet about ten years ago. Mama is 98 now, and she used it her whole life - it was her mama’s before that. It’s the only cookware I need. 💯❤️ Thank you, Jason Isbell. ❤
Masterful use of rural colloquialisms and comfortable images to draw the listener into the stories. Classic, onion-skin Isbell and thanks for checking in from the clubhouse.
Adding onto a quote (as I now see) from Jean-Michel Basquiat "Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time." "As a songwriter I am someone who decorates time with language." -- Jason Isbell
The battle between trying to be my true self washed of those cast iron truths and maintaining a relationship with those who will not pick up the soap is difficult. Thanks for the song, Jason.
Faith and hope and love - all those things are fine in a song. But if you don’t give me something like a cast iron skillet or Seagrams in a coffee cup, or boots by the bed - then I just ain’t gonna feel it…
Deep guy. Captures little things in life that make life worth living. My wife has made all our favorites in our cast iron skillet. I've made many a breakfast in it too.
Hey Jason i was watching some old clips of you today and looking at you now you look terrific. You are looking younger and fitter today than you did 11 years ago. Good job! Keep the music coming my friend.
I collect cast iron skillets I often wonder where they were before they ended up on my stove. But they've taught me that you don't really own anything, you're just the caretaker for a little while.
That’s interesting. I’m in the Canadian Maritimes, but I recall people saying never wash the frying pan. I know people who never washed theirs. I tried not washing mine when I heard you’re not supposed to, but couldn’t stand it. I have them, passed down, from a six inch one, a bigger deep sided one, and a couple of the regular ones, and the thought of a bug getting into a dirty frying pan just grossed me out. Besides, my grandmother knew about all those things, and she never mentioned not washing them. I like how you guys call it a skillet. I didn’t know what a skillet was , until the internet came along. In my cookbook, I keep instructions for reseasoning them.
OMG!!! I saw you and the 400 unit tonight at the Greek Theater. You were INCREDIBLE!!! Amazing songs, Fantastic stage presence, Superb Vocals, and your playing and tone were fabulous! The Gold Top with P-90s was rich!
I remember reading an article years ago about how the Czechs have their own version of the cast iron skillet. Except for them, it is “Don’t wash the pilsener beer glass.” That is, like the cast iron skillet, they refused to wash their Pilsner beer glasses. They would pass glasses down from generations unwashed. They believed that each time it was drunk from, and later used again, it added not just actual flavor, but a history of memories and people to the glass. It wasn’t just about taking care of the glass (or the skillet), but it was all of the memories, people, stories, jokes, everything that was still in the glass. I thought that was pretty great. I could see the same idea now with the cast iron skillet after watching this video. It’s like cooking and eating breakfast with your grandparents, even if they died before you were born. Love the song, and the sentiment.
The song is amazing... The day it landed on Apple Music I shared it with a few musician friends and we just listened and talked about for about an hour. A true songwriters, songwriter... I interpreted that line and several others to be the voice of the traditionalist, narrow minded and all their misconceptions from handed down knowledge...
Man, I just remembered yesterday that my Dad called milk "Sweet Milk". There's buttermilk and sweet milk, that is definitely something older from the farm.
I've heard that it had to do with lye soap, which harmed it back then but isn't used now, but I don't really know. I still only clean mine with hot water and a clean sponge or scrubber, and then I typically just briefly add to the seasoning afterwards by rubbing it down with a real light coating of sunflower oil and putting it in the oven for an hour or two. Helps avoid any rusting from the water, too. But I'm not exactly a culinary expert.
One of my greatest sins was scouring my moms cast iron skillet. I was told I had to start washing dishes as one of my chores, so with due diligence I scrubbed that skillet like there was no tomorrow. When my mom came into the kitchen to inspect my handiwork, the look on her face was something I'll never forget. She never said a word but I could just tell
The reason you don't wash it is because you remove the season so if you do wash all you have to do is reseason.....just make sure you rinse very well because even liquid dish soap will stick I. The small grooves and you will taste it.
My wife burned the pork chops last week and I sheepishly had to accept blame because I actually washed the damn skillet last week. I went out to buy a brand new expensive cast iron skillet because I felt responsible. Now I’m freaked out about seasoning it
do not wash the cast iron, just take a paper towel add some oil or lard and wipe it out good. use a wooden spoon to scrape off baked on items. only use water if there is no other way to get it clean and do it fast, then season it right away or it will rust. by the way i just came to your show in ashland kentucky in feb and it was great as always. loved it, me and my sister saw you together for the first time ever there in 2016 and we have seen you 8 times together since. my son and i have seen you together 3 times, we saw you in boone nc traveled all the way from eastern kentucky to see you there at appalachian state and was delayed by a lightening storm, it was still great!!!!
