Cast Iron Cookware

[bojanglesman]

I need some new skillets.  Thinking about cast iron ones.  I know they are a bit annoying with upkeep, but they live forever if you do, and they aren't expensive at all.  I was considering some ceramic ones for ease of cleaning, but they eventually lose their non-stick properties and you have to buy new ones.

Thoughts?

[MBGreen]

For reliability and durability alone...cast iron is the way to go

[Pope]

Lodge cast iron skillet
Le Creuset or Staub ceramic

They’ll last til you’re dead

[bojanglesman]

Lodge cast iron skillet
Le Creuset or Staub ceramic

They’ll last til you’re dead

Lodge was what I was looking at.

[Pope]

When I said ceramic I meant enameled cast iron sorry

[Badger]

I'd lean Lodge cast iron too. Haven't been that impressed with our ceramics/enameled.

[bojanglesman]

Have some old Teflon ones, need to toss those for something less cancery.

[ons]

Cast iron is great, but carbon steel has many of the same advantages with the additional advantage of being very lightweight and faster to get to temperature. A lot of restaurants use them for similar uses as they would cast irons because they're just as durable and easier to use.

[Badger]

I've heard they make thinner lightweight cast iron pans that work just as well if not better (heat up faster) than the standard design.

[CatoTheElder]

I’m a big fan of Lodge. I have an enameled dutch oven from them as well, does everything I need it to.

[Pope]

Cast iron is great, but carbon steel has many of the same advantages with the additional advantage of being very lightweight and faster to get to temperature. A lot of restaurants use them for similar uses as they would cast irons because they're just as durable and easier to use.

Never had carbon steel but may pick up a sautée pan. How do they compare to stainless?

[CatoTheElder]

Never had carbon steel but may pick up a sautée pan. How do they compare to stainless?

It’s closer to cast iron than stainless. Carbon steel heats up and cools down quicker but doesn’t retain heat as well since it’s typically lighter and thinner.