Recommend me cast iron

[KidVermicious]

You will pay quite a bit for Lodge, but you'll probably get what you pay for. I cook on my grandfathers Lodge 14" skillet, and I don't know if he had it from someone else or what.

Alternatively, my food tastes just as good when cooked on my Wenzel 10", and it was half the price. As Wolf says, with proper seasoning and care, cast iron is cast iron.

[Nonny J. Nonnington, Esq.]

Originally Posted by KidVermicious

You will pay quite a bit for Lodge

No you won't.

Jay, buy the Lodge 12-ounce skillet (10-inch is for wimps and can't even handle a decent-sized flank steak) and the 5-quart or seven quart Dutch oven depending on the quantities of food you make (the 7 is awesome for ribs but is too big if you don't cook for company that often). If you go with the 5-quart you're done for under $50 for the pair after free shipping.

[KidVermicious]

Originally Posted by Nonny J. Nonnington, Esq.

No you won't.

I guess not. Seems like the last time I looked at cast iron, there was a much bigger difference in price.

[Veb]

Lodge is the All-Clad of basic cast iron. It's perfectly decent stuff but don't for a minute fall for their "pre-seasoned" routine. It comes coated with oil but that doesn't make it seasoned.

Since you have some time before Christmas, jayjay, would it be possible for you to prowl some auctions, estate sales, yard sales, antique shops, etc.? The main thing in cast iron to to look for decent weight and smooth interiors. If it feels at all "pebblely" inside, it's no good. There are a lot of excellent brands of fine old cast iron that were made: Griswold is one, though it can get pricey on ebay, but Wagner, Piqua and Wapak are others.

Used cookware in fine when it comes to cast iron. The stuff lasts generations, if cared for properly. (I'm still using my grandmother's cast iron skillets and dutch oven.) If it's rusted, no problem. Just sand off the rust, re-season the pan and you've got a gem. You'll need to season any cast iron anyway, brand new or not, so in your place I'd go hunt for some wonderful skillet orphaned when it's cook passed away.