Yes, it is generally safe to put tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet. However, there are some important considerations and precautions you should be aware of to ensure the best outcome and to maintain the quality of your cast iron cookware:
Acidic nature of tomato sauce: Tomato sauce is acidic, and prolonged contact with acidic foods can cause some iron to leach out from the cast-iron skillet. While this is generally not harmful, it can affect the taste of the food and might darken the color of the skillet. Some people actually appreciate the additional iron intake, as it can be a way to supplement their diet. However, if you prefer to minimize iron leaching, you can limit the time tomato sauce stays in the skillet or opt for an enameled cast iron pan, which is more resistant to acidic foods.
Seasoning maintenance: Cast iron skillets require seasoning to maintain a non-stick surface and prevent rusting. Cooking acidic foods like tomato sauce can strip off a small amount of the seasoning. After cooking acidic foods, it's a good idea to clean the skillet promptly, dry it thoroughly, and reapply a thin layer of oil to re-season it.
Cooking time: Cooking tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet for short durations or infrequent use should not cause significant issues. However, if you are continuously simmering or cooking acidic foods in your cast iron for extended periods, you might want to consider alternative cookware or an enameled cast iron skillet.
Staining: Tomato sauce can leave stains on the surface of your cast iron, but this is purely cosmetic and does not affect the performance of the skillet.
Overall, using tomato sauce in a cast-iron skillet on occasion is perfectly safe. Just make sure to clean and maintain your cast iron properly after each use, and it will serve you well for a long time. If you have concerns or want to avoid any potential issues, using an enameled cast iron skillet can be an excellent alternative, as it is more resistant to acidic foods and does not require seasoning.