Kitchenware » Skillet

Does anyone know of a website where I can have a piece of antique cookware identified?

Wed, 12 May 2010 15:02:16 +0000

I found an aluminum skillet with a hinged lid decorated with oak leaves and acorns. I'm not even sure it's cookware--could be a bedwarmer? Anyway, info or sites appreciated.

What is all the hype of cast iron cookware?

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:53:35 +0000

I bought cast iron a while back and I've stopped using it. I now use an all clad with aluminum core most of the time. I heard that cast iron was a must because you could easily do the jobs of other cookware with replacements, but you can't replace cast iron for the jobs it can do. I find that ANY job I could do on cast iron I could do on my new pan, probably even better. There's more temperature control, the pan is lighter, I can make rouxs and pan sauces so much easier, it can go into the oven as well. I found the only thing good for cooking with cast iron was steak and southern cooking, which all could easily be made on my more versatile all-clad. Am I doing something wrong? Cast iron is so restricting and specific for certain foods. I can't do anything that damages the seasoning or reacts with iron, which includes anything with acid or long boiling or stewing times. I thought cast iron was the best. Someone please convince me not to trash my skillet
Cast iron, copper, and stainless steel, all have similar heat capacities by weight. Stainless steel has terrible conductivity, but so does cast iron. Copper has superior conductivity plus only slightly less heat capacity. Still need convincing
My pan is definitely seasoned properly. Black and smooth. The problem is, no matter how well seasoned it is, everytime I use something with tomatoes, lemon, wine braises, vinegar, etc I see the seasoning come right off. How did the french cook coq au vin in dutch ovens back then? I don't understand. Cast iron is definitely good for southern food or anything greasy, but I don't want something that heavy and clunky lying around in my tiny apartment when I can cook the same exact foods AND everything else in thick stainless steel.

Can a pin hole in the enamel on enamel-coated cast iron cookware cause enamel to crack?

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:16:46 +0000

We just got a shipment of enamel-coated cast iron cookware today and the skillet seems to have unfinished enamel on it. There's a small, pin-sized hole on the bottom on the inside. We were wondering if anything could get between the enamel and the cast iron or if it might chip at a later date?

Or any other problems it might cause? Please let us know if we need to return the product.

What would be a nice, complete set of cast iron cookware for a large family?

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:44:13 +0000

We'd like to purchase a complete cast iron (Lodge) outdoor cookware set for a large family of 8 that does a lot of camping/outdoor adventures yet can't afford this themselves... I'm not sure exactly what they would need. With so many, would they need a couple of different sizes of skillet and/or dutch oven? Etc.. ??