Cast iron cookware

[jmc]

Hello,

Thinking about buying a Dutch oven for campfire cooking, the kind with a rim around the perimeter of the lid to hold coals on top of the lid. Went to my local hardware store who has a line of USA cast iron skillets, no Dutch ovens, though. Disappointed in the skillets because the main cooking surface is very rough, as in 'as cast' rather than polished like the old ones. Seems like it would stick and be hard to clean. Considered that maybe the manufacturer has a high tech coating to prevent sticking and to prevent the extra labor for normal fabrication. If so, how long would THAT last? Reluctant to order a dutch oven from them, sight unseen.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

John

 

[adirondackmtnman]

We have a lodge logic dutch oven that works well, it wasn't polished...I've actually never seen one that was, but that doesn't mean they're not out there. The main thing in keeping a cast pot or pan from sticking in my opinion is proper seasoning...the lodge logic pans come with what seems like a somewhat seasoned finish...however I still do my own deal with them when I get a new one. Rub it down with vegetable oil, and place in a 400° oven for an hour or so...repeat it to get a heavier season...This was how my grandparents did it with theirs, and a couple of those are still kicking around here...so I guess it works. If it's a pan I don't use a lot(which is most of the cast pans,) I'll rub it down with a light coating of vegetable oil before putting it away...prevents rust pretty well.

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[MacLawn]

Get a Lodge, or best quality you can. Not nary made in China mess. Season it right, it'll get slicker than an eel.

 

[farmgirl19]

Get a Lodge, or best quality you can. Not nary made in China mess. Season it right, it'll get slicker than an eel.

X2 on getting Lodge, in this day and age. They have pre-seasoned, as well, but make sure you season your cast iron cookware regularly, and it will last many lifetimes.

 

[SPIKER]

Like others said, the surface should be smooth but no polish on "cast iron." What I've done with some cheap NEW ones was to grab the sander and grind them down to a "smoother" finish. Usually these things have some sort of "pre-seasoned" statement on them. If so toss it into a Big Wood Fire and burn it all off. Then clean them and re-season for use. I've never used a dutch oven one but all I prefer to cook on for frying pans.

Mark

 

[Larro Darro]

Lodge is good. I still find some of the good old ones in thrift stores from time to time. But time is the key to thrift store shopping. You need lots of it.

I find more of the cheap stuff, though. I have bought several for just a few dollars. Will try the sander on them. Now they are just stacked up at my camp.

 

[sseelhoff]

Get a Lodge. I have the Lodge Dutch Oven and several cast iron skillets, including one of their grill pans. The more they get used, the better they are. NEVER use detergents on it. I scrub it with the Lodge cleaning brush, dry it well and reoil it every time. As several have mentioned, keep it oiled with vegetable oil after each use. Keeps the seasoning, and prevents rust. My Lodge cast iron cookware is as non-stick as my Sur La Table non-stick pans.

 

[TomSeller]

I am older school, I have 3 sets of Griswold cast iron from the early 1900s (I have 3 houses). Some of of it hand me downs but most from eBay and reconditioned by me. That old school cast iron is better than the day it was made. In fact, dinner is being prepared in a hundred year old Dutch oven as I type. Between uses I mini season it with coconut oil. It solidifies below about 80 degrees, is anti fungal, anti viral and anti bacterial. The Griswold and many of the Wagner pieces are much lighter than the Lodge stuff I see in the stores. If it hasn't been allowed to pit, it is nearly dinner plate smooth on the cooking surface.

 

[IXLR8]

I bought a Lodge "pre-seasoned" cast iron griddle for my wife who loves to cook with cast iron. Pre-seasoned is a joke, season it properly before you use it and you will be fine.

 

[RoyJackson]

Just be advised that not all Lodge products are USA production...look in the bottom for country of origin
That said, Lodge buys some of their castings here in Vermont, others they produce at their foundry in Kentucky.
They are having some kind of special deal through Walmart now, by the way.

 

[jmc]

OP here. Thanks, everyone, for your expertise. Amazon reviewers all like their Lodge cookware too. Good tip on Walmart too.

John

 

[EarPlug]

Not the cheapest but get the old-fashion quality,

Welcome to The Pan Handler!
Griswold, Wagner & Other Quality Vintage & Antique Cast Iron Cookware

 

[AGRIMAN]

I have 4 camp style Dutch ovens and enjoy cooking with them when camping. I often cook with them around the house so they get a lot of use. 3 are Lodge on the other is a off brand (wife bought it at a yard sale). I can tell some difference in way it cooks, but the biggest difference is in the overall quality of the casting. The material is thinner and especially on the lid. The hook is not wide enough to rest against my opener and you will dump ashes in the pot if you are not careful.

 

[dmccarty]

I have bought a cast iron dutch oven and a couple of bread pans from Amazon. The price was very cheap and since we have Amazon Prime, the shipping was "free."

The preseasoning is not very good but better than nothing. I use Canola oil to season and I season a few times before first using the cast iron. After use I season again by adding more oil and then putting the pan back in the oven or on the stove top to use whatever heat is left. Waste not, want not, is what my Granny said. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Later,
Dan

 

[3930dave]

I was in Bass Pro (Toronto) recently. Don't recall the brands, but the cast iron skillets were Made in USA, and they had a line of (I think cast) steel camping cookware - very nice finish, super smooth.

Any of the bigger outdoor chain stores should have a reasonable offering.

Rgds, D.

 

[Bird]

I think Lodge makes good cast iron products, but I have two of the Divided Rectangular Mini-Servers, supposedly pre-seasoned, but I tried repeatedly to re-season them according to their instructions and using vegetable oil, olive oil, and non-stick spray; all with no luck. Admittedly, I don't use them for what Lodge says they're for. I happen to like baking my cornbread in those two for six nice pieces of cornbread. But I simply could not make my cornbread quit sticking in them . . . UNTIL . . . I gave up on the vegetable oils and started using lard. Now they work great!

 

[farmgirl19]

I find that my cast iron seasons better with shortening or lard, than it does with oils. I think many of the cast iron manufacturers recommend shortening over oils too. And sprays just don't work, IMO, and leave a film that comes off on the next food that you cook. I think it has to do with the temps needed to season, and the size of the particles in shortening/lard, vs. oils.

 

[TomSeller]

Not the cheapest but get the old-fashion quality,

Welcome to The Pan Handler!
Griswold, Wagner & Other Quality Vintage & Antique Cast Iron Cookware

Wow, never seen that site before. Given all my Griswolds and the condition I have kept them maybe I can retire. But then I wouldn't have anything to cook in. I use mine daily.

 

[TomSeller]

. The material is thinner and especially on the lid. .

Thinner is not necessarily worse. Griswolds from a hundred years ago are much thinner than Lodges as far as I can tell and are arguably the best cast iron cookware ever made. The castings were perfect back when it was more of an art. The lighter weight sure helps when the wife needs to pick up the pans or when pulling out the lesser used pieces from the back of the cupboard.

 

[buickanddeere]

Cast iron rules. Seen some 16" &17" dia skillets on eBay. Thinking about one of them to cook bacon, home fries or pickerel at camp.
The Canadian Tire store carries a 12" dia unit in the camping section. About the largest that will fit on top of a common kitchen stove. Bought two of them and buffed the casting flash off them with a powered wire brush .