Cast iron or stainless?

[MomtoRyan]

What is your opinion and why?

Also looking for great deals and brands.

TIA

[Sihaya]

Yes!

It depends on what you're looking for. I have a small cast iron frying pan, a large cast iron frying pan, and a cast iron dutch oven. They are all Lodge Logic brand and we asked for and received them several Christmases ago. I have a very nice large stainless stock pot that I won from a blog contest a few months ago and a small stainless double boiler I just got this weekend from Bed Bath and Beyond for $20. I'm still in the market for a stainless frying pan and once we get one, we will be able to get rid of the last of our yucky non-stick pans.

I don't have any stainless baking pans yet, but don't bake enough for it to be a priority. When we do eventually replace our bakeware, I plan on getting a couple of stainless cookie sheets and getting the rest in stoneware (loaf pans and muffin tins).

[Magelet]

I agree with sihaya. yes. Cast iron and stainless steel are amazing. I think every kitchen needs both.

Lodge for cast iron is cheap and american made. It isn't the best (an old wagner is one of the best, and even cheaper at many many many garage sales and estate sales) but it works well once you season it. At the very least, every house needs a cast iron skillet. Or 3. (different sizes) I have two, and want one giant one (I hve an 8 in and 10 or 12 in). I also would like a griddle. and a deep sided frying pan for deep frying.

stainless steel, I don't know about brands (all clad is amazing but not cheap.) you want to make sure it has an aluminum or copper disk in the base, if not a layer throughout, for even heating. I have an all clad stockpot, and a cuisinart pot (bought for maybe 15 dollars at target?). They both work well. I can tell that the stockpot will still be working in my children's kitchens, and the cuisinart will likely not be working in mine my whole life, but no problems at all with it yet, 1 year into heavy use of either.

I also have a copper frying pan that is stainless steel lined, which I love for things that I don't use the cast iron for (sauces, tomatos, etc). Its amazing. again, insanely expensive.

[FairyRae]

I love my cast iron pan for frying and sauteeing things, and use it daily. It has totally replaced my old non-stick pans--well seasoned it works just as well as they ever did! Stainless steel I use more for making soups, broths, one-pot meals, etc.

I *think* I got my 10 inch cast iron skillet here. The price was really good...

[sewchris2642]

Cast iron all the way with one glass sauce pan and one glass skillet for cooking fruit. I've had my cast iron set for 36 years. I use the Visions sauce pan for cooking fruit, making white sauces, and heating the milk, butter, and honey for bread making. I don't like black applesauce or black specks in my white sauces.

I now have 3 sizes of sauce pans with lids, 4 sizes of skillets (5", 8", 10", and 10" that's 4" deep), dutch oven, bean pot, muffin pan, corn stick pan, corn wedges skillet, long griddle (which I can't use on our current electric stove. I miss the gas stove in our last house), round griddle, a butter pot, and a dutch oven with legs for camp fires (which I also can't use on an electric stove). Then add in Erica's cast iron set which I'm storing for her and all of Joy's cast iron she brought with her when they moved in with us. Which is a good thing as now we have enough dutch ovens and skillets to cook meals for 8-9 people.

[MomtoRyan]

Thanks everyone!! I have about a $150 budget for it so if you can share links that would be great. Should I get cast iron that has an enamel coating on it? I have a le creuset (spelling?) small saucepan and a small dutch oven that we received for a wedding present 5 years ago. I also have a stoneware pizza stone that I use alot for cookies, pizza, chicken, etc. I really do appreciate any suggestions on where to buy and what to buy for that matter. Should I buy a set or individual pieces? Here are some that I found in my search that was enamel coated but like I had said before I am not sure which is better.

http://castironcookwareset.com/

http://www.castiron-cookware.net/enameled/

[BedHead]

I prefer the non enamel coated myself, and I buy things one piece at a time. I found a nice big glass saucepan at a garage sale this year for $1, and also a poor old cast iron frying pan at Goodwill that was only $7 that I rescued and seasoned and use all the time now. Oh I also found a nice big stainless steel stock pot at Goodwill which I couldn't turn down so now I have two We got our other cast iron frying pan at a Home Hardware when we were camping and had forgotten to bring one. I got my cast iron wok at BBQ Country. I like shopping at camping stores for cast iron too - I saw a wonderful big dutch oven at an outdoor show and sale, and also at the RV place where we bought our tent trailer.

[savithny]

Check lodge before buying -- some of it is made in China now, so if you are either trying to buy more locally OR you are worried about the lack of safety regulations in Chinese manufacturing, it might make a difference.

I believe just the enamelled Lodge is MIC, but you shoudl really check to be sure.

[MomtoRyan]

Thanks I am going to have to go and check them out in person.

[sewchris2642]

Check out thrift stores, garage sales, camping suppy stores, and army surplus stores for cast iron. I bought my original set from Sears 35 years ago. And the other pieces I got at thrift stores, army surplus, and garage sales. With a couple pieces handed down from my MIL. I picked up Erica's set at a consignment store, $60 for an 8 piece set.

[pixiepunk]

i have a few pieces of cast iron that i do love, but i find that for the majority of my kitchen stainless steel is the way to go. lighter weight (but still hefty), easier to care for and to clean. i love all-clad stuff but it's not cheap. though ify ou happen to live in western PA or near there there is an all-clad warehouse store and 2x a year (june and december) they have a massive sale. my dad goes every time and has gotten some amazing deals on things!