Any cast-iron lovers here?

[Hillbilly Rooster]

I have 12 pans rangeing from small to 24" Griswold that is only used on camping occassions or I start a fire in the morning at the house so we can cook eggs, bacon, and potatoes in it all at once.

Pancakes are the best in it.
I saw a small one at bass pro shop in TN. 20" it was rather nice for the price.

 

[Andora]

I love my cast iron! I have Lodge brand because I never see any old ones for sale. I have a smallish pot with a lid (is that a dutch oven?), a small skillet, a huge skillet, and a two sided griddle--flat on one side and ridged on the other.

Only my big skillet is perfectly seasoned. You can cook eggs on it with just a little bit of butter and nothing sticks at all. It's more non-stick than non-stick pans are!

I don't use crisco on mine--I did at first, a couple years ago, and I could never get them seasoned right. They were so sticky. Then one day I read the ingredients on crisco. I don't buy that stuff anymore!

I save a jar of bacon grease for my cast iron. I strain the bits out of the grease before I put it in the jar. After cooking something and rinsing/scraping/drying the pan I get out a spoon full of the grease and rub it into the skillet really good with a paper towel, then heat it on medium until it just begins to smoke. Turn it off, make sure there's no pooled grease left, maybe give it another good wipe with a cloth or paper towel, and put the pan away. Now it's dark colored and extremely non-stick!

The bottom of my well seasoned skillet has a tiny bit of rust on it though. What should I do about that? I'm afraid to rub grease on the bottom, the burner will catch on fire.

Should I scrub the bottom with steel wool and then rinse it and grease up the bottom and put it upside down in the oven to heat? I don't want to ruin the absolutely perfectly seasoned inside of the pan...

 

[Opa]

If God hadn't wanted us to cook with bacon grease he would have made pigs skinny.

 

[phoenixmama]

Quote:
No kidding!

Mother Earth News also has a great article on cast iron.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/1999-12-01/Seasoning-Cast-Iron.aspx

 

[PeggySue]

I scored today on some cookware!!

Last week, I went to some juntique shops south of me, more rural area...Man, were they proud of the cast iron...even the 'antique' Asian made stuff.
I found great deals on a couple of pieces that cleaned up nicely. But every single one of those corn cob shaped pans were $12.95 apiece. Even at different booths and different places.
I want at least 3 because it's a waste of time and fuel to cook them one at a time....but not for that price.
I found the little "one egg skillet" I had been wanting for $5 in good condition. And a bigger one for $6 that needed a little cleaning.
Not bad, but I was in the market for a large Dutch oven, but not a $60 one..... Saw a Griswold waffle iron in hideous condition for $68., no thanks!

Today I went north, to the outskirts of the big city, where I didn't much speak the language.... but I understood the price tags.

I found a great Dutch oven for $20, a big 'un. A griddle for $8, again, really good condition. And I found the corn pans for $3 apiece, I passed on the one made in Taiwan and grabbed the other 3. And I got a deep chicken fryer with lid that fits the smaller Wagner Dutch oven I've had for a long time, but came with a glass lid for $12.
Funny how things just turn in to 'hobbies'.... I'm getting to where I can tell an Asian pan the minute I pick it up.
Can't wait to use that big DO for a brisket I'm making for a company party!!!!

 

[CedarRidgeChicks]

Wow..good deals..sure love my cast iron!!!

 

[Chiefs Mess]

Question:
Years ago cooked with cast iron, loved it. But, my stove was gas. Then when hubby got transfered we ended up with electric cooking. I kept the cast irons for camping but from moving here and there was getting inconvenant (storage, weight). Now that we are planted but, have electric cooking, can I use cast iron on electric stoves?? (the top is the glass style) Also back to camping starting to build up my cooking utensils so having one batch of cooking ware is better than two.

 

[momahenTN]

I 2 am a lover of cast iron. I always try to scout them out at yard sales and such. I have an electric stove and mine still works great. I was cubmaster of my sons scout pack. they offered an outdoor class and it taught me alot.
When growing up my mom Always kept some cast around.

 

[19sarah90]

I love cast iron! I've heard that you're technically not supposed to, but I've been using our cast iron skillets on our glass-top electric stove forever! It's the only thing I use for pancakes, eggs, any type of frying whatsoever! The big "dutch ovens" we use inside the electric stove every once in a while, but we make a fire in the pit outside all the time to bake whole chickens, potatoes and vegetables in. We've also made dinner rolls and desserts (cake) in them out in the fire! THEY'RE WONDERFUL. Not to mention they make great items to threaten with... CLUNK!

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
From what the stove stores say, no you can not use iron skillets on glass tops. I am assuming is that cast iron can scratch the surface or break if you accidently dropped it (duh, it will break my iron cores on my electric stove too but common sense overrides it). I personally dont see any harm in cooking it as long you re careful about the iron skillet and glass top, by not pushing it around, turning it, rubbing, etc.

What does others have to say?

Oh I do season my pans with Crisco and I do have the issue with stickness. Should I use bacon drippings?