School me on cast iron!

[CP]

I'm looking for a good 10" skillet for searing steaks but I'm a bit overwhelmed.  What should I be looking for in a CI skillet?  Is one brand better than the others? 

[jrebel]

You're likely to get a lot of differing responses.....and yes there is a difference in cast iron.  That said, a Lodge cast iron skillet will work just fine and it will get better with use.  If you don't have a budget, you could go with Smithy!!  I can't wait to have me a set of Smithy cast iron pans.....man they are beautiful. 

[Sakko300wsm]

I’m getting ready to order up a Smithy or 2 - they are bad ass!!

[MR5x5]

I'd be looking at carbon clad pans.  Much better thermal characteristics than cast iron.

[Boss .300 winmag]

The new lodge ware is the Walmart of cast iron cookware, much better stuff out there made in the USA cast iron. As mentioned Smithy, Lancaster, FINEX, Field Company, Stargazer, these are all premium cookware, plus several more if you research cast iron.

But if you go on EBay, or other on line sites you can find vintage lodge cookware that’s good, along with other brands not made anymore.

I went down the rabbit hole over a year ago because my daughter brought home a bunch of it that needed reconditioned, but anyhow another thread on here covers some of that.


https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,289899.0/all.html

[wadu1]

Most of my hunting/camping cast is older Lodge or Wagner. But my best is a set of 1924 Griswold's 6", 8" and 12". I've only heard good things about Smithy cast.

[jrebel]

Along the same line......I got a set of these lodge cleaning pads in my stocking this year, and they are amazing.  I am still on my first cloth and it is going strong.  We cook with cast iron on the regular so it is getting used a couple times a week minimum. 

https://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Everyday-Scrub-Cloth-Non-Abrasive/dp/B0CR57HD8F/ref=sr_1_6?adgrpid=1338106221779879&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PDPaK3vFfQwkrwCTG5_M6E8VFOeN77Sx7zJQjcVf09-w2HYJWdTcPL0dhgdgY8NEfWhBFBelACo645VK2a46yycxNgr7MQcITU01nd4PNDQMaMeuyDnEJ-r34yOM5j8k4Rmw03nudAF6tjnOLa3jY8zUCVGcaWK56hlWWpOYrxWegAX6-OS7ei1IIfvVQxgWmU2MuOJTSK1Y2hVTkmcxAbCVnAWNds0oKB7jwIdAWHqXjj8CXudXYo1iCk60ciF6C0jhmFIlWf0qWCbbNg-3R7rRooTuRPygG7g-Uq9WKZc.feFMi7aADRvI8Pu45Rdi8Ik4CU9czHg5wwBDsbu6C2o&dib_tag=se&hvadid=83631804789463&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=67422&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83631996935593%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=24625_10488455&keywords=lodge+cast+iron+scrubbing+pad&mcid=d1e7f5321af73df79be7afe1d3a29569&msclkid=b009c9ce231b1ab002b1a056dd3846f0&qid=1771634221&sr=8-6

[EnglishSetter]

Beware, that cast iron and glass top stoves often don't play well together.

I have one 12" vintage Griswold skillet I bought at the flea market decades ago.

[Stein]

Lodge works fine, if you are willing to put in time with a sander they can be almost as good as better ones.  The problem with cheaper ones is the cooking surface isn't polished and has the grain pattern from casting.  Not a big deal with steaks but much easier for stuff like fried eggs when you have.a super smooth surface.

We cook daily on a couple lodge pieces we've had some for 30 years and one or two newer ones.  We also inherited a dutch oven and pan that are third generation and they are noticeably nicer but the food tastes the same...

If you want grill marks they sell a two sided griddle with grill ribs on one side and flat on the other.

[jrebel]

Costco sells this one a couple times a year.  We have the 12" one that costco sells and it is pretty nice pan.  We have been cooking on for the last 2-3 years. 

Great value

https://www.homedepot.com/pep/Tramontina-Preseasoned-2-Piece-Cast-Iron-Skillets-with-Silicone-Grips-80131-654/315029455?mtc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D28I-028_022_GRILLS-NA-MULTI-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PLA&cm_mmc=SHOPPING-BF-CDP-BNG-D28I-028_022_GRILLS-NA-MULTI-NA-PLALIA-NA-NA-NA-NA-NBR-NA-NA-NA-PLA-16071651756-138487087808-2448327735974&msclkid=afca4d2558a1159d14c224bc14aeaeec&gclid=afca4d2558a1159d14c224bc14aeaeec&gclsrc=3p.ds&gad_source=7&gad_campaignid=16071651756#overlay


https://www.costco.com/p/-/tramontina-2-piece-cast-iron-skillets/100392427

[GeoSwan]

Don't forget about enameled cast iron, like Staub. You can treat them like crap and never need to season them.

[HntnFsh]

Beware, that cast iron and glass top stoves often don't play well together.

I have one 12" vintage Griswold skillet I bought at the flea market decades ago.

Ive heard that a lot. But my wife has been using cast iron on her glass top stoves for a whole lot of years with zero issues.
Nary scratch!

[slavenoid]

Don't let it overwhelm you. If you're just searing steaks new lodge stuff will definitely get the job done. There are smoother, lighter, and flashier skillets, but they're really not needed for searing a steak. All honesty I don't own any modern lodge, but I'm a snob who insists on using vintage and antique cast iron for all my cooking.

[Kingofthemountain83]

I have 2 12" skillets one's a deep dish with a lid... The lid happens to fit the other one... I don't know what brand the deep dish with lid is but I got it from my grandma when she passed so I'm sure it's very old... The other kinds sucks... I got from an ex cause I took it camping and cooked over the open fire with it... It has a wood and it burnt a bit... No biggie imo but she left it when she left... I warped the bottom to when I forgot it on the burner so I think it's cheap... But it still works... Got some smaller cast pots too but not a huge fan of them but they work... One is really tapered so it doesn't stand well on grill burners at all and has caused issues... Need wide bottom pots... I'd really like a good dutch oven and learn some camp recipes for it... BEST way to season it is with BACON grease in the oven warm it up to 170 then to 350 for 20 min then turn the oven off and leave the pan in and let it cool down... Then do it again with BACON grease!!! You don't need that crap the store sells... Just cook a pound of bacon and save the grease... It's more then enough...

 I got another 10" ridged searing thing for steaks, chicken, chops... Some cast baking sheets... And now that I'm thinking about it I loaned out a 14" skillet to this lady in Bremeton... That's a good one too... Damnit!

[CP]

Hummm  … $25 for a Lodge, $180 for a Smithey.  I don’t mind paying more if I get more, but I shelled out $160 for a SS All Clad awhile back only to have the bottom warp on it. 

I’ll start with a Lodge, see how that goes.