The cast iron thread

[Uncle Gump]

I'm going to agree with the others with the newer Lodge stuff. They're pretty rough. My small skillet just won't get there. My large skillet is better... but I hit it with just hot water and a green scrubby on Sunday and half the seasoning came off in the process.

I'm gonna grind and scotch brite them as smooth as I can... then season them up with crisco.

If it works well... I'm gonna going to do my Lodge Dutch oven the same way.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Once I get my sandblasted cabinet built one of the first things I'm doing is blasting the outside of all my pans. There is one that I'm sure has 1/4" of crud built up!

I am reminded of the Griswold I found at my grandparents... it was pretty wooly.



Wire wheel on the angle grinder and about 45min of smelling hamburgers(?!) and I got it knocked down.

I coated it in canola oil and baked it, very durable finish. But without all the extra "scum" it spins like a top now so I don't use it unless on the campstove or baking in the oven. Made in the 1930's, the same decade my grandparent's were born.

 

[Snoranger]

I came across these Smithey pans today… they’re really nice for new cast iron, but pricey as hell. They have a fully ground and polished cooking surface. They’ll even engrave the bottom for you.

Collections

Smithey Ironware Co. designs and manufactures heirloom quality cast iron and carbon steel cookware in Charleston, SC. From skillets to Dutch ovens, roasters to our hand-forged wok, Smithey crafts tools for your kitchen that will last a lifetime.

smithey.com

 

[Shran]

Field Company makes some nice looking cast iron too.

Finding, restoring and then using old pieces is what I enjoy the most. My new stuff is nice but I have a whole set of Wagner skillets that are smooth as glass and they cost me a fraction of what one new Field skillet would cost.

Always hoping to run across one in a thrift store though!!!

 

[Roert42]

I found one of my skillets under a collapsed shed in my yard. It’s no $200 pan, but it cooks bacon and eggs just the same.
I guess, I’ve never owned a $200 pan, so I could be wrong.

 

[Snoranger]

I found one of my skillets under a collapsed shed in my yard. It’s no $200 pan, but it cooks bacon and eggs just the same.
I guess, I’ve never owned a $200 pan, so I could be wrong.

One of my cast iron pans cost me $8.88 at Walmart. Granted, it’s my camping pan and I expect it to get abused.

 

[Uncle Gump]

 

[Shran]

View attachment 86500

Wut dis and where do I buy one????

 

[Uncle Gump]

I did a Google search for blacksmith made campfire cook set. That one was on etsy... was also $400 I think.

 

[97RangerXLT]

The cast iron needed seasoning

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

 

[ekrampitzjr]

View attachment 91099

We're laughing at this, but I wonder whether occasionally stripping the seasoning on cast iron cookware and redoing it might be a good idea. It would be for food safety to minimize bacteria. For any other kind of cookware, having baked-on oil and grease is usually not considered desirable.

I remember my maternal grandmother having iron bakeware that had old seasoning, and everything baked in it picked up an odd, unpleasant metallic flavor. So this is a serious question. I've dealt with food poisoning and it's not fun.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

We're laughing at this, but I wonder whether occasionally stripping the seasoning on cast iron cookware and redoing it might be a good idea. It would be for food safety to minimize bacteria. For any other kind of cookware, having baked-on oil and grease is usually not considered desirable.

I remember my maternal grandmother having iron bakeware that had old seasoning, and everything baked in it picked up an odd, unpleasant metallic flavor. So this is a serious question. I've dealt with food poisoning and it's not fun.

I think the theory is that if you get it hot enough to cook with it will sanitize itself.

I have heard of certain kind of "seasonings" going rancid if left alone too long though.

 

[DILLARD000]

Old\New, Domestic\Foreign, Seasoned\Not;
I do know that it hurts,
when the wife hits me in the head with any of these CastIronPots\Pans.

 

[Curious Hound]

Any time I encounter cast iron that has not been used in a long time or I don't know the history, I clean and re-season.