Lodge cast iron cookware, is it worth the hefty price?
 

Just wondering. I found a local place that has various lodge brand cast iron cooking ware im interested in getting BUT--its expensive as heck. Is it worth the investment?

Lodge is the only cast cookware left made in the US, I believe, and it is good. Foreign made cookware doesn't have the purity standards of Lodge.
Cheaper cast iron with impurities will not heat evenly.
I think Lodge is sold in Wal Mart, now.

Forget it, go find some vintage stuff, at a flea market.

Go with Lodge on new the flea market idea is a good one always or yard sales. The purity issue is more than even heating as some off shore products have harmful metal contaminates.

I agree with all the above.
Walmart probably has your lowest local price.
Lodge is still a great American product made the way we used to make everything.

In short order, this thread's more or less got it covered: Lodge is good stuff; cheaper products may not perform as well and might leech toxin into food; if you can't afford Lodge, look for used vintage.

If you do get Lodge, consider stripping and re-seasoning it yourself; in my experience you get better results that way.

Lodge is still good cast iron, but Lodge is very heavy. The older Wagner and Griswold and the other brands are a lot lighter. I'm using the older iron and it still works as if it was new. My son is using some older W.C. Davis the is pre Civil War that works very well. If you run across some older ERIE grab it as it is hollow ware and very light.

Lodge is pricey? The last skillet I bought was only about $20.

The older stuff is better though. The new stuff has a rough texture, while some of the old stuff was machined smooth giving it a better non-stick surface. Old Griswold and Wagner stuff is supposed to be very nice.

I don't have Griswold or Wagner, but I do have a Lodge skillet from around the 1920-1930s. I like it better than the new one.

I've seen Lodge at Gander Mountain and on sale (sometimes) at
Shopko.

griswold is the cadillac of cast iron cook ware. i use to have about 30 griswold pans and got them all from rummage sales or thrift stores.

Used American cast iron cookware is expensive. Everybody knows what they have now, and think it's worth a fortune.
Stuff like 4" Griswolds or Lodges go for over $25 at junk stores around here.

Y'all know what this thread ain't got......PICTURES!!!

To answer your question....yes....it's definitely worth it. I have it and I use it. The old Waggoner and Griswold is good stuff, but collectors make it very pricey.

Seasoning cast iron is easy, and Lodge makes a pre-seasoned line and a raw cast iron line. Take your choice if you prefer to season your own, it's not a problem and Crisco is cheap.

On the foreign pots I tried the lids never sealed worth a hoot. You gotta have that. +1 for Griswold & Lodge. You can still find them used.

A strong second for seasoning new cast iron cookware yourself. I haven't found the manufacturer's pre-seasoning treatment to be nearly as good as treating it yourself, using it a lot, and cleaning it properly after use.

Anyone have a good way of seasoning these old things. I have one I need to season up real good. They dont make em like they use to.

I guess I need a definition of expensive by the OP. I find the price to be very inexpensive as compared to other cookware of similar quality and results. I do keep some high end lighter weight non-stick for flipping eggs, high liquid content dishes, and such but I don't know of any other cookware that can touch the quality and price point for the jobs it does well.

The heavy weight of Lodge stuff is certainly something to consider (and dread) when it comes to packing it but I would think it's a good thing as far as actual cooking, as it would hold and distribute heat better.

All my cast Iron is several decades old stuff that I paid very little for. Most of what I have was purchased back in the 1960's when it was dirt cheap. I have no idea what the stuff is bringing today. It certainly is what I cook with most of the time. About the only other thing I use is a crock pot and some stainless steel pots for soups or boiling stuff.

One of my employees is 85 and gave me a cast iron skillet. I bet that she had it more than 50 years. I washed it, and then got it as hot as possible for a couple hours, did it a couple times, burned off all that old crud. It looks better than a new one. Then I re-seasoned it. The inside is as smooth as glass.

I couldn't agree more, cast iron, crock pot and stainless steel. Lasts long, easy to clean, makes good chow.

Yes, they are worth the price. They will last several lifetimes. We don't fry on anything but cast iron. I have several that were passed down from my grandparents, probably from the 1930s or 40s, still cook great. Down side is they feel like anvils!

There is a YouTube video about putting CRUDDY cast iron skillets
in a self-cleaning oven and burning off everything.

You must immediately start oiling and re-seasoning it multiple times.
Makes em' like new.

If you're buying a various-sized skillet you can buy an off brand, but for a dutch oven or if it's important to you that the heat be consistent and retained NOTHING touches a Lodge!

Our Lodge stuff gets used daily often several times a day.

Thanks all of ya.

Moondawg, Yup, I could tell it was great stuff. I was at Cracker Barrel Restr/ last night and looking at several items. I didnt know if it was priced too high or not? They had the large skillet, corn-shaped cornbread pan, pancake griddle, Muffin or biscuit pan, smaller egg skillet, and something else. The stuff I looked at and wanted would be about $350--not sure how much everything else was?

Boat/ Made here is a big plus with me. I used to have a couple old cast iron skillets and the pancake one--but my brother pinched them from me years ago. Those had belonged to my grandfather & gma, and im thinking were circa 1900. All I have now is a stainless steel set--though fairly nice--but made in china (was a Christmas gift several years ago) and just doesnt cut the mustard for me. My other skillet has that black coating on it--but not well done and all scratched up.

Wbras/ I tried the flea market route--they are almost as high as brand new. I tried a few antique stores too--over priced.

Coldshooter, many thanks as well. I amm having probs with my chinese (yuk) skillet. It doesnt sit perfectly flat either-so when cooking eggs, ive got to lift one side a bit just to get the skillet even.

The Pilgrim, thanks on that too. It never occurred to me Walmart had any quality cookware. Im going back Saturday to see what ours has to offer.

Hap/ many thanks.

Maddog, ive never heard of those others, but will do some looking on those. Im in desperate need of upgrade.

Johngalt/ many thanks. Yup--the skillet I saw last night was around $150, and the cornbread or biscuit pan was around $79. I thought that was pretty high even for something sold at the Cracker Barrel.

ACP, thanks. Not sure if there are any Gander mountain stores in Texas? but ill look on their website for price comparisons to get an idea what to expect..

Bagga, thanks and do they have a site to see what their stuff goes for? I figure that since im looking for top stuff, I want the best affordable.

WBra--sorry, cant take pics on my phone--cameras been dead since 2012-grrrr.

Pete, Beruisis, thanks both. How long does it take to well season these? Before my brother permanently borrowed my skillets, they were hand-me-downs-permanently well seasoned. Beru/ I donlt like the chinese made stuff either even though I have a good set--just not great. The frying pan doesnt sit flat either making eggs hard to cook.

ShoulderZ/ since ive never seasoned any, can they be done both on top of the stove-or just in the oven? and how long per coat?

SmokingD/ Thats just it, I dont know what a good price for these are? Just the large skillet and one other item, cost was about $350.

Joe, Moon/Kozmic, thanks all. I had a few that were part of a set that were over 100 years old and my dad used them for decades. I used them too, but one of my brothers seems to think they were automatically his after borrowing and never gave back.

Koz, I think they also had a Dutch Oven, I spied a lid for one but no oven. I want one of those too.

My ex-girlfriend said she picked some up at their plant which I think was in Chatanooga? The only place ive seen Lodge at here--or noticed it--was at the restaurant.

Thanks all for all the advice. It'll take awhile to get since im on fixed income at least for now.

I've got nothing to add to this except that my mom brought all her cast iron cookware from the old country! She brought all she could. I still eat cereal and butter my bread with actual SILVERware

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I think between me and my Son, we just about have every piece Lodge makes?
If you're near South Pittsburg, TN, stop by Lodge, they have an outlet store and also sell "seconds" at a discount.

http://photos.imageevent.com/number9...o/skillet1.jpg

You can even cook ya Dew!:D

http://photos.imageevent.com/number9...o/skillet2.jpg

Ive got a friend flying to Tenn in a few months, im going to see what she can get for me that isnt offered here. Also, I wander if they also make things like Spatulas and such?

the ringo kid,

Google for

Dexter-Russel Stainless Steel heavy duty spatulas,good for cast iron use.

There is a way to clean it, using a battery charger. It is called electrolysis. Check here-----http://www.wag-society.org/Electrolysis/rust_redct_elect_setup.php

do both I like it all

The best price for new Lodge cookwear is at Restaurant Equipment, Restaurant Supplies - KaTom Restaurant Supply. David

Muchos gracias. The best one I have so far is one I ordered from the Food Network--which was from Emeril. It got damaged in one of my house moves. Grrrrr.

No more eating Teflon!

Thank you Sir and this deserves more than one likes. Some of the prices I saw there-were close to or more than 50% lower than what I remember seeing for sale at The Cracker Barrel. Im sold on that site and will be ordering that 5 piece set come April. Im going to have to buy piece by piece afterwards. I want a complete line of their cookware so I can get rid of what I have.

For a real treat cook a sugared ham in a cast iron dutch oven....:D

We have Lodge, Griswold and some Erie pieces. My wife uses them all. They are a great investment. Hers were passed down to her from her grandmother and mother..they were both great cooks.

We use my wife's grandmother's frying pan three or four times a week. I usse my big frying pan I stole from my father. Good cast iron is 2nd or 3rd generation and is slipperier than teflon when properly seasoned. I have a dutch oven that I pot roast all kinds of stuff in as well as make gumbo and chili.
You absolutely need cast iron to make a good roux!

Ringo:

I don't think you'll be sorry if you go with Lodge. As others have mentioned, off-shore products can be questionable when it comes to impurity issues as well as casting process. In fact, if you look at some of the foreign made cast-iron, you can see that the walls of the Dutch ovens aren't of a uniform thickness. Pretty sloppy casting.

I got my first Lodge Dutch oven, a 10-inch, 3-quart model, almost 45 years ago, back when you'd usually only find them in use in cow camps or sheep camps. I still remember what I paid for it...$8.50 at Innes Sporting Goods in Provo, Utah. I questioned if I could afford it at the time.

But, after countless stews, roasts, pies, cobblers, and dozens of sourdough biscuits, it has more than paid for itself.

Since that time, I've added another eight or nine Dutch ovens to the lineup and three or four cast-iron skillets. All Lodge.

They have survived regular home use as well as season after season of elk camps, deer camps, fish camps, horse camps, and backyard cookouts. They have fed literally hundreds of hungry people over the years and are still going strong.

Enjoy!!!:)

At Cracker Barrel? :eek::eek::D

No wonder you thought it was pricey!

I have a couple of restaurant-grade triple-ply stainless steel skillets for which I paid what, for me, was a pretty hefty price. I rarely use them.

My much-less-expensive Lodge cast iron does a better job (Caj is right about the roux).

I have an eight-inch skillet, brand unknown, that my mother gave me. It's been in use in my family for at least a hundred years, I use it only for baking cornbread, which it does superbly. As somebody noted above, it's lighter for its size than newer stuff, but I don't mind the weight of the Lodge.

LODGE IN POST #28
 

16" wide & deep monster with ears instead of a handle will fit most anything 60$ at rural king & will last generations if not horribly abused. That & the ribbed 10" square for steaks does most everything for me. The wife can't lift the big one, it's hard for me, but love going from the stovetop to oven with it.

Gander in Texas
 

Ringo,

Texas has something like 16 Gander Mtn. stores, and at least one has an indoor range!

Jim in Iowa

Thanks, just ordered my Lodge set from Katom. Great price.

the 5 piece set sells on ebay for 84.00 shipped,the price goes up from there a little at a time.
how do you season and how often? and is there a secret to cleaning a cast iron pan? can one be ruined with normal use somehow?
I never owned one and you guys got me thinking I need one.

The 5 piece I just ordered is pre-seasoned.
Cleaning...Never use soap! Hot water and a plastic scrub pad works best. Then dry and oil it. Last forever
The Katom site has them for $67 plus $18 and change for my address for shipping.

We've got a large collection, some inherited, some bought new, various brands. Most used are the skillets and the 7 qt dutch oven. I like the cactus and corn ear molds for making cornbread!!!! We have a griddle but I find the larger skillet to be utilitarian enough that it stays in the cabinet. If you wanted just one piece to start, I'd say the 9 inch skillet (single handle)!

Keep your eyes open and buy it piece at a time. Like someone said, damp cloth only. Once it's well seasoned, oil it like your guns!!!! Wipe on, wipe off.

Best non-stick stuff you'll ever own!!!

The Walmart prices are similar and you can get the pieces you want. I've seen this stuff in Lowes, Home Depot, ... Keep your eyes open. Estate sales too :)

cast iron cookware - Walmart.com

Thinking about that possibility makes me droollllll.........:D

Im greatly looking forward to making pot roast. Once--decades ago--I regretted having to endure a pot roast--God--I love it so--now.

Thank you, im also greatly looking forwards to baking breads too. Im going to get that 5 piece Lodge set come April, and I found two cookbooks I want--one is Dutch Oven Cooking, the other was a book filled with receipes from famous folks singing or acting in Westerns.

Heh heh, thats what I figured coming from them. They did have something I thought was priced fairly--a meal consisting of 3 biscuits and gravy--for about $4.50.