Common cast iron: Common cast iron pieces, like every day skillets, waffle irons, dutch ovens, etc... are usually more expensive for three reasons: 1. Age 2. Look 3. Availability.
Expensive Cast Iron: Often crafted using more meticulous manufacturing processes, ensuring uniformity and better overall quality. Cheap Cast Iron: May come with a less effective or uneven seasoning layer, which can lead to sticking and rusting.
The modern cast-iron skillet landscape includes pans that are much lighter than their traditional counterparts, pans with longer handles, and some with a smoother finish. Some pans cost less than $20, while other artisanal designs can set a buyer back $100 or more.
The long lifespan of cast iron along with the growing demand for second-hand instead of new makes vintage cast iron a common find in the antique market. The value of antique cast iron skillets can start at similar to new prices, but a super rare Wagner or Griswold can fetch up to $1,500 apiece.
Field sizing is based on vintage cast iron conventions, so our No. 8 size means a 10 ¼" width, edge-to-edge. Dimensions: 10 ¼" diameter.
The most sought after Wapak cast iron are the pans with the “Indian head" medallion on them, which was produced from 1903-1926. The rarest and most collectible is the #4 skillet--until recently.
The difference between a well-seasoned Griswold and a modern Lodge pan is like night and day—Griswold pans release food effortlessly, are lighter to handle, and can hold their seasoning for years.
Grey cast iron is characterised by its graphitic microstructure, which causes fractures of the material to have a grey appearance. It is the most commonly used cast iron and the most widely used cast material based on weight.
Cast iron cookware is safe to use on ceramic-glass stoves and cooktops and shouldn't cause damage to the pan or cooking surface when you follow the right tips. Because cast iron is heavy, always place it gently on the cooktop and pick up, rather than slide, when you need to move it around.
You should only need to fully re-season your cast-iron cookware one to two times a year, but you may also want to give it some extra seasoning love anytime you cook something that requires a heavy-duty cleaning.
Griswold's Reputation For Quality Ironware
And you can expect finely cast ironware with few imperfections on the cookware's interior and exterior. While a rough exterior does not affect the cooking experience, you'll be grateful for a smooth cooking surface free of casting bubbles often present on vintage pans.
In our opinion, the answer is yes. We're big fans of any brand that offers a lifetime warranty on its products and Le Creuset is one of them. In fact, its ceramics are so well made that they often outlive the people who originally bought them, with items being passed down to the next generation.
Rust or Pitting – Check the piece all over to see if there is any rust or pitting. A little rust is OK and can generally be cleaned off during re-seasoning. However, if there's pitting and the cast iron has been eroded away, this pan will be extremely difficult to salvage and likely won't be worth your time.
Myth 6: Vintage is Better Than New
The Reality: The material may be the same, but the production methods have changed. In the old days, cast iron pans were produced by casting in sand-based molds, and then polishing the resulting pebbly surfaces until smooth. Vintage cast iron tends to have a satiny smooth finish.
Don't let that scare you off—a cast iron skillet can last a lifetime (or longer!) and is easy to maintain if you remember a few simple cleaning tips. If you ever mess it up, don't worry: The great thing about cast iron is that it's easy to restore.
The price of the skillets we tested ranged from $18 to $350.
Why is Le Creuset cookware so expensive? The short answer is: because you get what you pay for. Le Creuset makes some of the best cast iron cookware on the market, including the best Dutch oven money can buy.
What oils can I use to season cast iron? All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.
Griswold Manufacturing (/ˈɡrɪzwɔːld, -wəld/) was an American manufacturer of cast-iron kitchen products founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in business from 1865 through 1957. For many years the company had a world-wide reputation for high-quality cast-iron cookware.