Cast Iron Collection & Fire Cooking

[rmkrum]

We used to demonstrate cooking raw eggs in the shell on a stick over hot coals. Old Cub Scout trick.


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[bugsbunny]

I came across a TV program called - A Taste of History. It was a PBS show for six seasons and can be found via Amazon Prime. Here is the path for season 6. http://www.amazon.com/A-Taste-Histor.../dp/B00YI2AIDA. He uses a lot of cast iron pieces and spiders to cook in and discusses historical foods and cooking methods. I find it quite interesting!

[mimiandrews]

My son-in-law has a larger dutch oven with a handle like that. It must be about a 14" size, though fairly shallow.

[Lily&Me]

Several years ago I found in an antique shop in upstate NY a pan that looks like an Aebelskiver pan on steroids.

The cooking wells are about twice the size of my traditional Aebelskiver pan. I'd never seen anything like it, and had to have it.

Cast iron, with a gate mark on the underside, the cooking side of it is coated in porcelain, covered in hairline cracks from use. There is a ridge formed around the under part of the outer edge, and two small handles rise upwards

Searching online....there are some serious cast iron collectors out there, organizations, conventions....a man who is a collector and has an Aebelskiver restaurant in California identified it as being made in the late 1800's, probably in Denmark. It was for some kind of cake, similar to Aebelskivers.

He said this pan was made to use on a wood cook stove, set in a well under which hot coals had been placed...thus the ridge and raised handles.

I don't have a photo of it with me. I've never used it, hung it on the wall by the wood stove.

It's beautiful.


Maggie

[53flyingcloud]

Maggie, you are right, some are beyond serious collectors..An example of what one individual I know, collects only these cast iron dimples.

[Lily&Me]

Is that what those are called...dimples?

I have a large DO bought for $15 in a junk store in WVA in 1972 or 73....which I always described as looking as if a ball peen hammer were taken to its surface. I've never seen another like it, and love it.

Cleaned it up and used it regularly while raising my kids, feeding grands, etc.....tho not so much these days.

That looks like a waffle or pizzelle iron, also made for a wood cook stove. ??

I have one similar, tho not dimpled.


Maggie

[Bluestar99]

Maggie, your dutch oven sounds like it has a "Hammered Finish". Those are much harder to find. Sometimes they came with a nickel finish over the hammered outside with the inside raw cast iron. Great piece to own.

[53flyingcloud]

Maggie, they are called both, Dimpled, and/or Hammered finished..
Use whichever term that suits you. And, use your cast iron equally, as it suits you.
Yes, it is as you described it. I personally own several. which I use on my wood burning stove..to make that hardy breakfast while heating the space with the wood burning stove..

[AWCHIEF]

Not cast iron but un-coated carbon steel from Lodge. Discovered these a few months ago. First came the 12 inch and then the 8 inch. After a few uses they become throughly seasoned and simple to clean with a paper towel. For hard core baked on crud might take a few passes with a metal spatula to break it free and then a simple wipe out with the paper towel. After cleaning a few drops of oil to recoat and you are good to go. They make a nice addition to anyone's kitchen that are used to cast iron cooking. To me the biggest advantage is the weight, much lighter than cast iron. I have used them on open wood fires, gas and electric. All work equally well. Many professional chef's use these or similar.

[OTRA15]

Ditto to Michael on the Lodge steel skillets, for which the mfg. also stocks red silicone slip-on handles which can be left on near the campfire (but probably not over an open flame). Excellent savings in weight, very durable, and cannot crack the way cast iron can if it is dropped on a hard surface. Since we downsized to a FC20, every pound saved helps.

[Zybane]

Guys, I think I am going to toss out all of my non-stick pans and get cast iron. Does anyone know of a place that sells pre-polished new cast iron items?

I understand Lodge stuff is very rough these days and that a very smooth cast iron pan is wonderful.

EDIT: I actually found these, they look wonderful:

http://finexusa.com/product-category/sets/

Anyone have or know of this brand?

[pappy19]

Go on ebay and look for a Griswold #8 skillet. Don't pay more than $35 for a pristine one and low shipping. Griswold was the finest cast iron ever made in America. The #8 skillet was the most common made so look for a low cost one, in nice shape, and decent shipping cost. Again, Griswold cast iron is thinner and smoother than anything made in the past 60 years.

[cameront120]

Originally Posted by Zybane

Guys, I think I am going to toss out all of my non-stick pans and get cast iron. Does anyone know of a place that sells pre-polished new cast iron items?

I understand Lodge stuff is very rough these days and that a very smooth cast iron pan is wonderful.

EDIT: I actually found these, they look wonderful:

http://finexusa.com/product-category/sets/

Anyone have or know of this brand?

Those Finex pans are beautiful. I've heard nothing but good things about them.

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by Zybane

Guys, I think I am going to toss out all of my non-stick pans and get cast iron. Does anyone know of a place that sells pre-polished new cast iron items?

I understand Lodge stuff is very rough these days and that a very smooth cast iron pan is wonderful.

EDIT: I actually found these, they look wonderful:

http://finexusa.com/product-category/sets/

Anyone have or know of this brand?

Have one Finex pan. It's very well made, pre-seasoned, looks weird but cooks well. One with a lid is all we could afford, you pay for the quality.

I have many others at home as well, but most are older Lodge pans from the factory outlet. At home I can dedicate smaller ones to cornbread only...


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[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by Zybane

Guys, I think I am going to toss out all of my non-stick pans and get cast iron. Does anyone know of a place that sells pre-polished new cast iron items?

I understand Lodge stuff is very rough these days and that a very smooth cast iron pan is wonderful.

EDIT: I actually found these, they look wonderful:

http://finexusa.com/product-category/sets/

Anyone have or know of this brand?

Suggestion, before tossing all you current pans buy some cast iron (any brand) and learn to use it. There can be a learning curve. There are times when a nice nonstick pan is good to have and nice to use.

[OTRA15]

I was put off at first by the new Lodge pans' bumpiness as noted earlier, but have found that this actually gives them a non-stick quality! As Michael says, there is a learning curve but we use cast iron almost exclusively, even in the new smaller FC20. The heavy items live in the tow vehicle until needed.

Most new CI users are not careful to get the pan hot with oil before adding items to cook. Food WILL stick to a cold cast iron pan. Practice makes perfect. We have a CI omelette pan which never is used for anything else. It is as non-stick as any petro-chemical vessel when heated correctly before adding the eggs.

KISS !!!

No need for Finex at those prices!

eBay cast iron items have proved out also, especially odd-ball things like popover pans (taller than muffin pans).

[FollySteve]

Dido on old Griswold cast iron. The difference in lighter weight and quality compared to new Lodge is obvious. It is a joy to own and cook with.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Zybane

Guys, I think I am going to toss out all of my non-stick pans and get cast iron. Does anyone know of a place that sells pre-polished new cast iron items?

I understand Lodge stuff is very rough these days and that a very smooth cast iron pan is wonderful.

EDIT: I actually found these, they look wonderful:

http://finexusa.com/product-category/sets/

Anyone have or know of this brand?

A flap wheel on an angle grinder smooth out those pans.

[Lily&Me]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Suggestion, before tossing all you current pans buy some cast iron (any brand) and learn to use it. There can be a learning curve. There are times when a nice nonstick pan is good to have and nice to use.

Yes.


Maggie

[Zybane]

I decided and went with the Finex set. I know they are heavy and expensive, but I figure that $500 over a lifetime isn't that much. Is it?