Many of us enjoy cooking on cast iron. There is something nostalgic about it and it can also make some fantastic food. That being said, there are some things you should not cook on cast-iron.

Despite the durability and versatility associated with the cast-iron skillet, cooking the wrong food in it can damage the skillet and can ruin the food at the same time. You want your food to be as delicious as possible and you don’t want to ruin something that should last for generations.

Here are 5 different things that you should never cook in a cast-iron skillet:

1. Acidic food: You can cook a lot of acidic food in cast-iron but if you’re going to cook something overly acidic, such as citrus or tomatoes, you may just strip the seasoning from the pan. Acidity reacts with metal and it can make the food taste metallic.

2. Stinky Food: Be careful about cooking any food with a strong odor. This could include fish, garlic, or some very strong spices. The cast-iron skillet tends to retain the odor and the flavor. In other words, your next recipe is going to taste like the last recipe.

3. Sticky Food: Be careful if you’re cooking a delicate dish, such as pancakes or fried eggs in a cast-iron skillet. The only way that you can get away with it it’s if the pan is properly seasoned and you are using plenty of oil, butter, or something similar. Cooking a food that can stick can ruin the seasoning on your pan.

4. Sugar: Cooking dishes that have a high level of sugar can create a caramel or sugary coating on the pan. It burns easily so it can ruin the skillet and make it difficult to clean.

5. Fish: Although you can cook fish in a cast-iron skillet, be careful with delicate fish, such as flounder or tilapia. If the fish tends to fall apart easily, it is more likely to stick, even if the pan is seasoned properly.