Where To Buy Cast Iron
With our seasoned cast iron bakeware collection, it's easy to make homemade baked goods and casseroles that rival your favorite bakery and restaurants. Check out our bakeware items as well as colorful baking accessories!
where to buy cast iron
Our favorite cast iron skillet is the Lodge 10.25-Inch Skillet. It's basic, durable, inexpensive and performs well. We also like the Lodge Blacklock 10.25-Inch Skillet, which is pricier, but lightweight and easy to move around.
We tested some cast iron skillets in that weren't available when we originally published this story (models from Stargazer, Cuisinel, Calphalon, Lancaster, and more) at our Lab, comparing them to our current favorite skillets from Lodge. We don't recommend any of these models over our top picks but have updated our findings at the bottom of this page.
There is a reason Lodge is so popular. The company has been making pans in Tennessee since the early 1900s and has maintained tradition while innovating over the years. In 2002 they were the first company to introduce pre-seasoned cast-iron pans, which is now an industry standard. When it came to cooking, our eggs did not stick, the cornbread came out clean and evenly cooked, and our steaks were seared to perfection. The pan comes with two pour spouts and a helper handle. At 2 inches deep, this skillet is great for frying as well as searing.
If you're looking for cast iron that last for the next generation, you can't go wrong with the Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet. For a budget option, we recommend the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, which performed well and is lightweight, making it incredibly user-friendly.
Willis recommends avoiding slow-cooking acidic items in cast iron, though she sometimes uses a squeeze of fresh lemon to finish a dish of pork chops. Willis recommends using enameled cast iron if you want to make something super acidic, like a slow-cooked tomato sauce.
Cast iron pans have been used for cooking for hundreds of years. There are a number of advantages to using cast iron for cooking. Since pans are cast as 1 unit, there are no separate parts to break, so they are very durable. Some pans are passed down in a family for generations. Cast iron pans conduct heat well, and can be used on the stove, in an oven, or on an open fire. Cast iron comes in a variety of sizes and shapes for many different types of cooking. There also are some disadvantages to using cast iron pans. They are heavy, and can rust quickly if exposed to moisture. Cast iron pans also require seasoning and regular oil applications to maintain a nonstick surface, and they can't be washed in a dishwasher. If you're considering a purchase, here are some tips on how to buy cast iron pans.
Cast iron: It seems you either love it or you hate it in the kitchen. Since forever, cooks have chosen the metal for its hardiness and ability to retain heat. Though cast iron cookware has been around for thousands of years (its first known use can be traced to the Chinese Han Dynasty, around 220 A.D., according to Webstaurant Store) it remains a fickle beast for so many of us.
You're bound to get a workout when you cook with a cast-iron skillet. These bad boys are capital-H Heavy, clocking in at up to 12 pounds for the larger 15-inch skillets (via Prudent Reviews). While this works to the pan's advantage in other ways, its weight may be a con for some.
The thermal properties of cast iron are fickle. According to Curated Cook, despite the skillet's thickness, it's heat conductivity pales in comparison to similar pans made from aluminum and copper. So if you're used to cooking with those metals, cast iron will seemingly take ages to thoroughly heat up (there's a lot of very dense material to get hot, and it's resistant to get there) which is necessary to prevent hot spots on your cooking surface.
If you come home with a 15-inch cast iron skillet and your stove's burners are barely the size of your palm, that could be a problem. Small burners will have a difficult time achieving an even heat on the cast iron. Because iron is a poor heat conductor, the heat from the burner will not spread quickly to the edges of the pan (via Century Life). The center of the skillet will get hotter and hotter as the outer edges stay just warm or even begin to lose heat.
Nobody loves simmering Nana's chili recipe on the stove all afternoon more than we do, but this is not the job for your cast-iron pan. America's Test Kitchen notes that this is because acidic ingredients cooked in cast iron for an extended amount of time can loosen metal molecules, causing them to be released into your food. Last we checked, essence of iron is not the best seasoning for your favorite spaghetti sauce. America's Test Kitchen taste-tested tomato sauce after it had simmered in a well-seasoned skillet, and a metallic taste was noticeable after just 30 minutes.
This isn't law, however. Contrary to a popular cast-iron pan myth, acidic foods can be cooked in a well-seasoned skillet for a short amount of time with no dire consequence to your food or your pan. But if you're planning on preparing a long-simmering sauce or stew, consider using other cookware.
What is cast-iron seasoning, anyway? Science of Cooking explains that through the process of polymerization, a coat of carbonized oil and fat bakes onto the pan's surface. This black patina is a telltale of a skillet that's been well used and loved for a long time. Have you ever heard someone complain that using cast iron is a nightmare when it comes to cooking delicate, clingy foods like eggs or fish? It's likely that person wasn't using a well-seasoned pan; the seasoning creates a nonstick cooking surface while preventing rust.
Ah, vintage. Who doesn't love a classic? Most everyone swears by the older version of something being better than the new, from cars to music to clothes. In the culinary world, cast iron skillets take center stage in this argument.
Obviously heirloom cast iron isn't an option for everyone; not every great-grandmother has passed down her beloved skillet. But if you're determined to add a vintage pan to your repertoire, you can do so by hunting through thrift stores, marketplaces, and yard sales. Hey, it was somebody's grandma's, right?
It's no wonder that glass stovetops are popular alternatives to open electric burners: They're much more visually pleasing and easier to clean. But if you plan on cooking with a cast-iron skillet, you may be in for a rude awakening. Iron is heavy, rough, and abrasive, and glass is susceptible to scratches, chips, or cracks from exactly those sorts of things. If you are concerned about handling something bulky and heavy due to arm injury or weakness and have a glass stove, be careful of the drop risk that comes with cast iron.
Also keep in mind that compared to your standard gas stove, glass stoves are relatively slow to spread heat due to poor heat conduction (via Hunker). Considering how long it takes to get a cast-iron skillet to the proper temperature, you may been in for a long night of cooking.
You may be surprised to learn that cast-iron skillets are often less expensive than other cookware. For example, you can currently get a 12-inch skillet from Lodge, a leading American cast iron cookware manufacturer, for around $34. Though a hardy and affordable kitchen utility that we can all appreciate, these pans are mass-produced, which means they're relatively heavy and feature a rough cooking surface.
Rule number two of owning a cast iron pan (behind seasoning) is being mindful of how you're cleaning it. Many people still assume that dish soap should never, ever come into contact with cast iron. Fortunately, that belief has dwindled as people realize that modern soaps are much gentler than they used to be, but there are still a few things you need to do when cleaning a cast-iron skillet.
Cast irons are beloved for retaining heat so well, and since these pans stay so hot, they need to be handled with care. Slow to heat up means slow to cool down, so even if you think your skillet has cooled enough after cooking to pick it up, you may be in for a painful correction.
If you take care of your cast iron pan, you will likely be putting it in your will. Quality cast-iron skillet are designed with longevity in mind. There are even solutions for removing or stopping rust if the situation arises. Southern Cast Iron recommends scrubbing the rust off with steel wool after the pan has soaked in water and vinegar to further prolong the life of your pan. Make sure to only put your cast iron away when it's been fully cleaned and dried, and give it a home in a cool, dry place.
Greater control equals better food. We designed these skillets to be lighter than most, but not so light that it compromises the heat retention of cast iron. We've put in the time and done the testing to find the right balance of ease of use and heat retention, giving you better control over your temperature, your skillet and your results.
My new go to skillet, it's just perfect. A perfectly flat bottom that works perfectly with my induction burner. Seasoning and craftsmanship are off the charts! I have quite a few iron skillets both new and vintage and this by far is my favorite!
The ideal size for everyday use - from cooking up the perfect grilled cheese to preparing your favorite dessert - our No. 10 skillet will become your go to cast iron skillet. Equipped with a large main handle, a generous helper handle, an easy to use pour spout, and with the smoothest polished interior cooking surface of any cast iron skillet on the market you won't want to cook with anything else.
Additionally our team has hand seasoned your skillet to perfection, allowing for immediate cooking action upon arrival. This robust process creates a non-stick experience, enhancing your ease of use and quickly moving your cast iron into your everyday rotation.
Leaning on our German heritage and experience in manufacturing high quality durable products, we offer heirloom quality cast iron cookware made right here from our location in the heart of the Hill Country - Fredericksburg, Texas. Our cast iron cookware and complementary accessories are built with pride to be shared with family and friends for generations 041b061a72
