Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Mama Needs a Skillet!

Photo Credit: lodgemfg.com
Despite the fact that I'm an avid cook and baker, there are a few items that I'm always surprised that I don't own. One of those is a cast iron skillet.

My dad made a delicious cast iron pizza at a friends' NYC apartment one year when we visited. It came out so good, and I've always wanted to replicate it. When watching the Food Network I always see Paula Deen make such yummy meals in her cast iron skillet - they're obviously not always healthy, but they sure do look good!

I've read a lot about cast iron skillets and understand that they can be heirloom items too especially as they're properly seasoned as they get better with age. A cast iron skillet should never we washed with soap and water either, just rubbed down instead. 

The brand of cast iron I want is a Lodge; I read about it here on Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn. A basic Lodge skillet is only $25! I always imagined that they were upwards of $50; perhaps I mistakenly thought that because they are so heavy (irrational I know!).


There are so many different dimensions of skillets on Lodge's website that it's a bit overwhelming. I guess it's the same as thinking of a fry pan. I have a couple different sizes, but the one I use the most is 9" so I guess that would work for a cast iron skillet too. I could always buy more sizes and shapes later. (The 9" is on sale right now too for only $15.95!)


Do any of our readers have cast iron skillets? How often do you use them? I'm a big breakfast person, and I love to bake. I envision using mine for fried chicken too!




P.S. Lodge didn't contact me to write this post; I just came across them on my own!

3 comments:

  1. I have one but I dont use it that often. That thing is hea-vy. I am pretty sure I didn't buy mine either. I must have been a hand me down from someone. I thought they were really expensive too though. $25 isn't bad.

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  2. I have one. It was given to me. I love it. It is the best for frying, and also goes in the oven and makes the best cornbread. Like K. said, it is uber heavy. I have had mine about 8 years and it still looks new. Make sure to season it well.

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  3. We LOVE our cast iron skillet!!! David used to be the only one that would cook with the cast iron skillets. We have a set of 3 in large, medium, and small. I only make my cornbread in my cast iron skillet. The crust is so crispy especially because I heat it up in the oven first. David will cook just about anything in his. We do eggs but they can stick but I love to cook sausage in it and then make my sausage gravy in the skillet. They can be a pain to clean up though (which is why I don't like making scrambled eggs in mine). My grandma has a collection of cast iron skillets and I'm hoping to get one of hers one day. I love the idea of cooking in the same cast iron skillet that she has over the years. :) You should for sure add one to your kitchen! :)

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