Treasure Hunt! The persuit of cast iron cookware.

[phyregod]

My favorite cooking tool is the cast iron pan. They are old, basic, and give you a manly feel when you cook with them. Heavy, durable, near indestructible and fairly versatile, the cast iron pan will undoubtedly outlive everything else in your kitchen.

But, when shopping for cast iron cookware, my favorite method is to stay away from the stores. Get your nose out of the catalogs and hit up the antique stores. (You can cheat and hit eBay, but that takes allot of the fun out of the whole process)

I like Wagner Ware pans, as they are fairly common, give you something to search for (so you will have a set of pans, not a random combination of various brands), and are a proven brand. Not to mention a collector's item.

Hunting for pans is exciting to say the least, as you will find them covered in gunk, rusted, and generally ugly. Surface rust is fine, but if the rust is eating through the metal, the pan is all but finished. Make sure there are no cracks or chips in the pan, and make sure it isn't warped. Even the most grime covered, nasty looking pans can be restored to beautiful condition with a little elbow grease.

I would recommend a set of four pans. 8", 10", 12", and 15" if you can find one. The 6" pan is common, and I do own one, but I've never found a use for it... So you can get that one if you want, it’s your option. My 15" pan is a "lodge" brand. I plan on replacing it with a Wagner ware pan as soon as I can find one that size. Come to find out, those are very rare.

[phyregod]

(part 2) It seems I exceeded the 3000 character post limit

Once you get your grubby rusty pans home, its time to clean them up. Start with brillo pads and soapy water. You want to get the pan clean and silvery colored. No black. If that fails you, you may need to go more extreme with it. I used a wire wheel with a drill (be sure to get a softer metal wire wheel, stay away from carbon steel or heavy duty stuff. Fine bristles). Using very light pressure and warm soapy water, scrub the entire pan with the wire wheel. Be sure not to press hard or stay in the same spot for very long. Follow that up with 800 grit wet or dry sand paper, paying special attention to the interior of the pan.

Another option that I considered for cleaning which would work well is taking the pan to your local sand-blaster. He will be able to clean your pans to brand new condition for fairly cheap. I would recommend this over the wire wheel process. Just be sure he uses a blasting media that is not harmful to the cast iron. Once it’s all clean and silver colored, you can season your pan and enjoy them for the rest of your life. Yes, they will outlive you.

When it’s all said and done, you will have pans that you can be proud of. Pans that you worked hard to find, and brought back from the dead. These will be YOUR pans, not just some random store bought stuff. And you can pass them down to your children and children's children. They make a nice heirloom and a great cooking tool.

Good luck!

Seasoning Pans ---> http://www.jeffnortham.com/forum/index.php?topic=14.0

[jeff]

My mom gets her cast iron pans from the thrift shop. they're dirt cheap IF you can find them.

[wicked1]

I have been doing this very thing for a while. Call me old fashioned. Hey I still shave with a straight razor. Anyway the only thing I dont like about the cast iron pans is how hard they are to clean up when done. Seems everything in the world sticks to them like glue. I just recently got a big cast iron pot and cooked chili outside in a fire. It rocked. I didnt know you could ever get them to turn all silver. Best I have ever got is some silver but mainly black even after scrubbing forever.

[BE350Z]

Cast iron is the best! I love how the heat is dispersed evenly rather than where your typical skillet will channel the heat right where your heat source is. Another great place to look for some good cast iron is at garage sales... Just make sure its well seasoned and get ready to do some cooking!

[jeff]

I dislike how cast iron will hold heat. If used for the right purpose it's a great pot. However for most of your everyday use it's too much.

Cast iron is the best! I love how the heat is dispersed evenly rather than where your typical skillet will channel the heat right where your heat source is.

This has to do with the quality of your pans.

If you use a cheap pan, you'll have hot spots. If you use a nice pan. it will heat evenly.

If you're trying to get the best even heat distribution for the money, no doubt, a cast iron pan will do a great job, while costing you next to nothing.

[eazzzzzzy]

Griswald always made the best ---I have sets that are prob a 100 yrs old--Dutch ovens--The pans in differant sizes--with lids.. and skillets ---Great for pancakes--They are all --compared to store bought ones now days thinner material that heats quicker and cools quicker---Nother words easier to control

[BE350Z]

Right on Jeff! I never had much of a problem cooking on an open flame but now that im in an appartment with just the electric range things have changed! The cast iron is the only way to go now since the burners we have seem to be all or nothing

[Cannysage]

cast iron is awesome for omlettes. I use it a lot when i'm camping, straight over a fire where the logs are burning. :P

[lil]

I've found that one of the best places to find cast-iron cookware is at the flea market. Sometimes you can find great ones under $5. I never thought you could get them silver I've never tried.