Antique Steel Frying Pans

[Milton]

I am in need of a little help in looking for a gift.My wife wants an antique steel frying pan with a bottom diameter of 9 inches or so.She has looked at the new ones; she don't like!!!
I cannot afford a collectors piece but am looking for one she can actually use in the kitchen,anyone have any suggestions?
If you are not familiar with these they are not cast iron.The steel ones are lighter and easier for us to use while cooking.

 

[Bob R]

Try the local thrift shops, or restaurant supply shops. That is where I get most of my not so common cooking stuff. A lot of people don't understand steel frying pans so they end up with goodwill. They all want the latest and fanciest non-stick. That's fine by me, I get good tools at cheap prices.

bob

 

[labworm]

I would try eBay.

Last year I purchased this Lifetime Stainless Steel Tea Kettle for $19.99 plus shipping. Solid stainless not like today's products.

Seller to follow, sells many items regarding cooking:

mgunnerm203

Lifetime Stainless is still in business, but sales are to be made through one of their representatives only and is expensive.

I believe they only sell sets, I never really checked. So google the above name.

I am a die hard cast iron user.

 

[photobiker]

Like others I like my cast iron. If you can give me some insight to cooking with a steel frying pan. I'm always up for something new.

 

[Milton]

photobiker;two things,they are much lighter than cast(when you are 75 that makes a difference!!) and my wife loves the way they cook eggs in the morning.They also appear easier to take care of.

 

[tops]

Antique steel pan? Do you mean a tin pan? Larry

 

[Qball]

I am in need of a little help in looking for a gift.My wife wants an antique steel frying pan with a bottom diameter of 9 inches or so.She has looked at the new ones; she don't like!!!
I cannot afford a collectors piece but am looking for one she can actually use in the kitchen,anyone have any suggestions?
If you are not familiar with these they are not cast iron.The steel ones are lighter and easier for us to use while cooking.

You need to get here one as light as possible
When she start pounding on your head with it (ding ding ding) you will thank your self.

With the he heavier cast iron or steel, it's THUD.. lights out

 

[THE PILGRIM]

How does she feel about cast iron from Tinnysee?
After a little seasoning, it can be used forever and passed to multiple generations.

https://www.lodgemfg.com/mobile.asp

 

[zelda]

Dad used Gramma's old cast iron pan for making bullets once. Mom found out and he had a ''bad day''

 

[da gimp]

I have my grandpa's old pressed steel frying pan, that he used when he, his brothers & then his kids went fishing on the Missouri River.....it weighs but a fraction of a similar cast iron pan & does as good a job on fried fish, chicken, chicken fried steak, bacon etc...........I agree with your lady on it's weight. We use two cast iron skillets every day, one 9" , one 14" but they are HEAVY...........

 

[GrayGhost99]

For stainless or non stick you will never beat restaurant supply stores. I have never found one where john q public was unwelcome. In fact most welcome with open arms.
You will find wonderful things in them, I buy half sheet pans for less than 3 dollars a piece and they are better than any cookie sheet you'll ever buy.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I got a steel from the cook store and it was nice and heavy
with reinforced bottom and looked nice.

Got it home and tried it out..........
every thing stuck to the bottom.
Tried butter...oil.....even took steel wool to the inside to smooth it out.

Cast iron or non-stick pans for me.

 

[Captain Hornet]

Lodge makes several differant sizes of steel, not cast fry pans. Best place for purchace is Restaurant Supplies | KaTom Restaurant Supply. Check it out. David

 

[shaggist]

Nevada Ed has it right. There is nothing that won't stick to a steel pan. There is no way to 'season' them like a cast iron skillet, so you end up having to scrub them with steel wool and soap evertime you use them. Talk about a pain in the fingers! Just get cast iron and both of you lift it together. It's called teamwork and y'all are a team.

 

[johngalt]

A steel pan interests me. Do they distribute heat as well as iron, or ate they best used on a gas stove?

 

[FTG-05]

I am in need of a little help in looking for a gift.My wife wants an antique steel frying pan with a bottom diameter of 9 inches or so. She has looked at the new ones; she don't like!!!
I cannot afford a collectors piece but am looking for one she can actually use in the kitchen,anyone have any suggestions?
If you are not familiar with these they are not cast iron.The steel ones are lighter and easier for us to use while cooking.

Which ones has she looked at that she doesn't like?

If it's not the Lodge steel pans, get her one of those. Lodge : Seasoned Steel

Far cheaper to buy the Lodge steel fry pans here: http://restaurant-supplies.katom.com/search/Steel-Skillet.html


Good luck!

 

[FTG-05]

Nevada Ed has it right. There is nothing that won't stick to a steel pan. There is no way to 'season' them like a cast iron skillet, so you end up having to scrub them with steel wool and soap evertime you use them. Talk about a pain in the fingers! Just get cast iron and both of you lift it together. It's called teamwork and y'all are a team.

And it appears your both wrong: steel fry pans can be seasoned, according to Lodge the maker of them:

Lodge : Seasoned Steel

And here's a video from a pro chef for cast iron and carbon steel pans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoIO8YOpyN4

And another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7zxQg2nmS0

 

[da gimp]

heck we never have any problem cooking with my grandpa's pressed steel frying pan... but I've got it hidden out....... all the kids , grandkids, even my brothers, sisters & cousins are looking to "acquire" it...........It does a delightful job on fish, chicken, chicken-fried steak, bacon, eggs, sausage, red-eye gravy etc.

 

[Chik a Boom]

Revere Wear with the copper bottom and stainless steel inside has been my cookware for many years. These are my favorite due to the light weight. I find cast iron too heavy and high maintenance and I am a little leery of the coated finishes, although, the ones I have do cook and clean nicely.

For those with "sticking" issues: Make sure skillet is hot before applying oil or hamburger patty or butter or whatever you're having for dinner, and you will find clean up much easier.

 

[Onomea]

I'm with Chik. I just picked up a 9" Revere Ware frying pan -- copper clad bottom and stainless pan -- for $6 at the local Salvation Army a few days ago. Bought some Bartenders Friend scouring powder and put in about 15 minutes of elbow grease. Looks and cooks great. Have an 8" I inherited from my mom that is my favorite omlette pan.

Different pans cook differently, so ya need to get used to the pan and how it cooks. Revere Ware is very light, and heats very fast, but I like it.