Cast Iron Cookware

khorrell · 02-17-2008, 03:03 PM

I was wondering if anyone uses cast iron cookware, and what the pros and cons would be. I need to replace my big griddle and I'm considering purchasing cast iron instead of non-stick, for health reasons and because I think it will last longer.

Your experience would be most helpful! Thank you!

Kathryn · 02-17-2008, 05:54 PM

Our cast iron griddle is the item that gets used the most out of our cast iron collection. We also have a cast iron frying pan and a cast iron dutch oven (the kind you can use outdoors with charcoal), but those get used less frequently. The griddle is very well seasoned by now, and so it's very easy to care for and maintain. I think the reason that the griddle gets a good work-out and the others less so is that the griddle serves a purpose that no other piece of cookware we own does nearly so well--cooking up a mess of pancakes.

Looby · 02-17-2008, 06:56 PM

Cast iron griddles are great, they take a little effort to care for properly, if you live with people who will not remember how to maintain the seasoning that could be a hassle. If caring for the cast iron could be an issue an alternative is anodised aluminum, which has a non-stick, scratch resistant surface but doesn't require the same care.

lilac · 02-18-2008, 01:35 AM

I recently got a cast iron grill pan and it's a dream. We have a crappy electric stovetop that turns the burners off and then turns them back on after 5 minutes or so, which can make it quite difficult to cook at times. However, since cast iron retains heat so well, I can't even tell when the burner's taking a break or not.

We need to get a frying pan and I definitely want it to be cast iron, or at least anodised aluminium, which I used growing up, and is also really great to cook with and lasts forever.

blueviolet · 02-18-2008, 05:29 AM

We have a cast iron frying pan and it seems to be our go-to pan for making cornbread. It's such a heavy weight pan that it takes a lot of abuse and it's easy to clean. It takes some mental adjustments to not clean it with soap but we've gotten used to it. I also use it as a weight for making panini sandwiches!

Will · 02-18-2008, 05:36 AM

Two months ago I purchased a set of Calphalon hard-anodized 9-piece set from Amazon.com. Two of the nine pieces came with deep scratches on the cooking surface. I wrote an email to Calphalon asking them whether such scratches posed a health risk.

They didn't reply to me. But two weeks later they sent me a whole NEW 9-piece set. I didn't even ask for exchanges or replacements!

klnam · 02-18-2008, 07:26 AM

Like everything else, the outsourcing of America even affects cast iron.

Last year, I was concerned with lead so I bought a lead test kit. A friend at work had just bought a cast iron dutch oven from a surplus store for a low price...she wanted me to test it b/c she was planning on using it for stews and spaghetti sauces for boy scout trips.

That pot tested positive for lead. We repeated the test (we did a leach test where we tested vinegar that had sat in the pot overnight) three times to be sure. We even tested WATER that had been boiled in the pot. Lead lead lead.

She returned the pot, and the clerk didn't care that it had lead.

Frugality is nice, but not over health. Lesson learned. Lead is easily mixed with cast iron and cheap. So now, for cast iron, I only by Lodge (the only cast iron manufacturer left in the US) and would consider Le Creuset. If it says made in China, I stay away. Yes, a few bad apples and all that, but I'm not going to risk my kids' and our healt to save 5 bucks.

indieretailer · 02-18-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klnam

Frugality is nice, but not over health. Lesson learned. Lead is easily mixed with cast iron and cheap. So now, for cast iron, I only by Lodge (the only cast iron manufacturer left in the US) and would consider Le Creuset. If it says made in China, I stay away. Yes, a few bad apples and all that, but I'm not going to risk my kids' and our healt to save 5 bucks.

Totally agree. Go for Lodge, or Le Creuset, if possible. Cast iron will last forever if it is well-seasoned.

I like the fact that cast iron can retain heat much better that a teflon griddle.

lucille · 02-19-2008, 08:02 AM

We swear by Lodge brand. We have a big camping dutch oven, a flat bottomed dutch oven, large fry pan and a griddle. We don't use them all the time but they do work great.

Lodge items frequently are cheaper to buy at an outdoors supplier than at a kitchen goods store. Sportsman Warehouse has Lodge items quite a bit cheaper than some stores.

purplefdu · 02-19-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will

Two months ago I purchased a set of Calphalon hard-anodized 9-piece set from Amazon.com. Two of the nine pieces came with deep scratches on the cooking surface. I wrote an email to Calphalon asking them whether such scratches posed a health risk.

I want to buy a set of those when we get some spare cash. I recently won an All Clad saute pan, but I prefer the handle shape on Calphalon.

We have a trio of cast iron pans, as well as a griddle (and would have more if I let my husband, he's a cast iron addict). The griddle never leaves the left side of the stove in the summer when we make pancakes, brats, skewers, and bacon on it at least every couple days. I'm looking at swiping my parents 2qt skillet they've had since I was a kid. Its got a nice wooden handle and is my favorite piece ever. We've bought most of ours from Kohls when they had it on sale, but it tests negative for lead. Not sure where it said it was made. Seasoning it is the most important thing to make it last and cook well.

02-17-2008, 03:03 PM	#1
khorrell Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 439 Reputation: (60)	Cast Iron Cookware I was wondering if anyone uses cast iron cookware, and what the pros and cons would be. I need to replace my big griddle and I'm considering purchasing cast iron instead of non-stick, for health reasons and because I think it will last longer. Your experience would be most helpful! Thank you!

02-18-2008, 07:26 AM	#7
klnam Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4 Reputation: (11)	Caution on cast iron Like everything else, the outsourcing of America even affects cast iron. Last year, I was concerned with lead so I bought a lead test kit. A friend at work had just bought a cast iron dutch oven from a surplus store for a low price...she wanted me to test it b/c she was planning on using it for stews and spaghetti sauces for boy scout trips. That pot tested positive for lead. We repeated the test (we did a leach test where we tested vinegar that had sat in the pot overnight) three times to be sure. We even tested WATER that had been boiled in the pot. Lead lead lead. She returned the pot, and the clerk didn't care that it had lead. Frugality is nice, but not over health. Lesson learned. Lead is easily mixed with cast iron and cheap. So now, for cast iron, I only by Lodge (the only cast iron manufacturer left in the US) and would consider Le Creuset. If it says made in China, I stay away. Yes, a few bad apples and all that, but I'm not going to risk my kids' and our healt to save 5 bucks.

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02-17-2008, 05:54 PM	#2
Kathryn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 108 Reputation: (17)	Our cast iron griddle is the item that gets used the most out of our cast iron collection. We also have a cast iron frying pan and a cast iron dutch oven (the kind you can use outdoors with charcoal), but those get used less frequently. The griddle is very well seasoned by now, and so it's very easy to care for and maintain. I think the reason that the griddle gets a good work-out and the others less so is that the griddle serves a purpose that no other piece of cookware we own does nearly so well--cooking up a mess of pancakes.

02-17-2008, 06:56 PM	#3
Looby Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 74 Reputation: (14)	Cast iron griddles are great, they take a little effort to care for properly, if you live with people who will not remember how to maintain the seasoning that could be a hassle. If caring for the cast iron could be an issue an alternative is anodised aluminum, which has a non-stick, scratch resistant surface but doesn't require the same care.

02-18-2008, 01:35 AM	#4
lilac Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South Cheshire, UK Posts: 40 Reputation: (12)	I recently got a cast iron grill pan and it's a dream. We have a crappy electric stovetop that turns the burners off and then turns them back on after 5 minutes or so, which can make it quite difficult to cook at times. However, since cast iron retains heat so well, I can't even tell when the burner's taking a break or not. We need to get a frying pan and I definitely want it to be cast iron, or at least anodised aluminium, which I used growing up, and is also really great to cook with and lasts forever.

02-18-2008, 05:29 AM	#5
blueviolet Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Reputation: (10)	We have a cast iron frying pan and it seems to be our go-to pan for making cornbread. It's such a heavy weight pan that it takes a lot of abuse and it's easy to clean. It takes some mental adjustments to not clean it with soap but we've gotten used to it. I also use it as a weight for making panini sandwiches!

02-18-2008, 05:36 AM	#6
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 343 Reputation: (19)	Two months ago I purchased a set of Calphalon hard-anodized 9-piece set from Amazon.com. Two of the nine pieces came with deep scratches on the cooking surface. I wrote an email to Calphalon asking them whether such scratches posed a health risk. They didn't reply to me. But two weeks later they sent me a whole NEW 9-piece set. I didn't even ask for exchanges or replacements!

02-19-2008, 08:02 AM	#9
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 511 Reputation: (33)	We swear by Lodge brand. We have a big camping dutch oven, a flat bottomed dutch oven, large fry pan and a griddle. We don't use them all the time but they do work great. Lodge items frequently are cheaper to buy at an outdoors supplier than at a kitchen goods store. Sportsman Warehouse has Lodge items quite a bit cheaper than some stores.