Lodge Cast Iron Skillet

The Lodge cast iron skillet is a classic choice when it comes to cooking with cast iron. These skillets have been around for over 100 years and were the first manufactured in America. In fact they are still made in the United States, and owned by the Lodge family. Cast iron skillets are known for durability, great heat conduction, and versatility. They are traditionally used over an open fire, but work great in modern home kitchens, especially over a gas flame. They come in a variety of sizes and features, including covers, no covers, high sides, curved sides, loop handles or straight handles.

Cast iron is a molded metal, strong and resilient, and often passed down generation to generation. A well cared for skillet only gets better—smoother and seasoned—with age. They can withstand countless re-seasonings. Dedicated cast iron cooks season their skillet regularly by oiling it and baking it in the oven so that the surface becomes smoother, rust resistant, and non-stick.

Cast iron skillets practically never need to be washed—you may want to rinse that egg residue off, wipe the skillet clean and you should definitely dry it thoroughly, however it is actually a real detriment to wash cast iron with soap. This strips away the seasoning that is intentionally built to protect against rust, and that creates the beloved non-stick surface separating cast iron from the rest of the fancy modern cookware materials like all-clad, stainless steel and Teflon.

Cast iron is said to infuse your food with trace amounts of iron, possibly enough to be a boon to your health. This does not mean that you should stop eating broccoli, but whether you will really be healthier from using your skillet or not, it is comforting to think that you are cooking on a safe surface, free of the controversy that surrounds other materials used in modern kitchens. If it doesn’t improve your health, at least it won’t harm your health like Teflon, which may be carcinogenic. With a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, you can use little, to no oil, furthering your health and that of your family.