Back to cast iron skillets

[thirdeye]

Enough of the public service announcement...Has anyone cut the handles off their CI pans so they can get a bigger one in their cooker and then use a vice-grips for moving/lifting. I'm tempted, but just can't bring myself to defacing them. Griddles and some pans have dual little stubs that take two gloved hands to move when hot. They're worth the two-hand penalty they incur in my opinion.

With the number of vintage pieces, and a huge choice from Lodge you can probably find something to fit your needs without cutting the handle off of a skillet.



I have several griddles with bail handles, that are really handy to cook outside with.

This griddle is double sided, the other side has raised ribs.

 

[SmokyMose]

I use a coffee filter to oil the newer textured pans .

Now that's an idea! You constantly amaze me :-)

 

[chopsaw]

Now that's an idea! You constantly amaze me :-)

I got that off a website . Might have been Kent Rollins . He's my go to for cast iron . After I used his seasoning method my stuff was good to go .
Yeah the coffee filters won't shed particles . Makes sense .

 

[schlotz]

We have a 12" CI pan that has been passed down through the family. It's well over 100 years old now and still great to cook with.

 

[uncle eddie]

Fried sea scallops in cast iron are the absolute best!

I just made sausage patty’s and fried eggs in cast iron this morning. To keep all from sticking, you need to put a tablespoon, or 2, of butter in the skillet or a little oil to start. Don’t be afraid to add a little more if needed. Do all on lowish heat. Fried eggs after sausage are the best!

 

[forktender]

I use grape seed oil in my CI pans. I just wipe them down the same way I do when I'm seasoning them before I cook anything in them. It works for me.

 

[SmokyMose]

I use grape seed oil in my CI pans. I just wipe them down the same way I do when I'm seasoning them before I cook anything in them. It works for me.

I've been using the Grape Seed spray, but after cleaning for storage.

 

[uncle eddie]

I use grape seed oil in my CI pans. I just wipe them down the same way I do when I'm seasoning them before I cook anything in them. It works for me.

I have always used vegetable or canola oil for final wipe down - but cast iron is so tough, and reaseasoning so easy - that I think I will give the grape seed oil a try to see if it is better.

When I need to season or reseason cast iron, I do it in my gas grill. On low heat it hovers around 350-375. That way it doesn't stink up the house and I can be a little more generous with the seasoning and not worry about drippy messes in the oven.

 

[whistlepig]

Foods I have been frying in non stick skillets taste so much better fried in cast iron. Now that I have the cleaning and seasoning down I am really enjoying the skillet. Fried chicken livers tonight. Also going to try some fried chicken soon. Trying to figure out a lid for a 12" lodge fry pan. Chicken livers make a mess.

I also recently bought a Lodge cast iron grill pan. Looking forward to trying it out on my Masterbuilt 560. I think I can do a better job searing steaks with the grill pan.

 

[chopsaw]

Trying to figure out a lid for a 12" lodge fry pan. Chicken livers make a mess.

If you can't come across a lid , you can get the wire mesh splatter guards that lay on top of the pan .
Yeah , once you get them working and figured out , cast iron is the way to go .

 

[SmokinEdge]

Trying to figure out a lid for a 12" lodge fry pan. Chicken livers make a mess.

Obviously Lodge sells a 12” lid. That said, I have two 12” skillets and sometimes use the second skillet upside down on top of the other as a lid when frying. Otherwise I have a ceramic coated 11” dutch oven and it’s lid is close enough to work on the 12” CI or I also have a 12” glass lid for my clad stainless skillet that works as well.

 

[801driver]

I am total electric with glass top surface. I get leery with using CI on it inside but I love cooking with it outside on the grills and smokers. Everything just tastes better. Thanks for all the information.

 

[whistlepig]

I'm using cast iron on a glass top electric. Have been for a while now.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I'm using cast iron on a glass top electric. Have been for a while now.

Me too, 21 years now.

 

[chopsaw]

I'm using cast iron on a glass top electric.

Me too . No issues .

12” glass lid for my clad stainless skillet that works as well.

Yup . Mine doesn't fit perfect , it sits down about an inch from the top . Which is actually better for frying .
I like being able to see what's going on in the pan to .
whistlepig take a number of what size lid will work . Stop by Goodwill or some second hand stores . I bet you find a vented glass lid for cheap .

 

[Brokenhandle]

Anything that fits will work for a lid...

We use this as a lid for our # 14 Griswold skillet. Especially while camping with a pan full of fried taters and onions!

Ryan

 

[1MoreFord]

............................When I need to season or reseason cast iron, I do it in my gas grill. On low heat it hovers around 350-375. That way it doesn't stink up the house and I can be a little more generous with the seasoning and not worry about drippy messes in the oven.

When you do turn the pan upside down so any excess runs out of the pan.

 

[mike243]

I have found if you use lard or any animal fat to season cast and not used for a long time it will turn rancid, I have so much that I don't use often that I learned the hard way lol. Vegetable oil of some sort gets the nod most of the time, also bacon grease in a cast iron skillet makes the best gravy of all time. it can and will keep the finish from forming due to the boiling but sacrifices must be made

 

[chp]

Great ideas on cast iron. I will add two. First option is to use the self clean cycle on your oven to start over if your seasoning isn’t working. The high heat burns off the seasoning and gets you back to clean cast iron. The second option is to use flax oil for seasoning. It creates a great cooking surface!

 

[whistlepig]

Nev

Great ideas on cast iron. I will add two. First option is to use the self clean cycle on your oven to start over if your seasoning isn’t working. The high heat burns off the seasoning and gets you back to clean cast iron. The second option is to use flax oil for seasoning. It creates a great cooking surface!
View attachment 519450

Never heard of Flax oil until you posted this. Did some reading about Flax oil tonight. It was interesting.