How many cast iron pans/pots?

[aliah79]

We're going to take a trip to the Lodge Cast Iron outlet this weekend, and I thought I'd get some input on what I should get?

I have one skillet, 10" I believe, and that's it.

I am thinking one smaller and one larger skillet, and then a dutch oven?

I love that store though and could seriously do some damage there! LOL

What do you think is a good selection of cast iron?

Let me add that I also have 4 good quality stainless steel pots. The rest of my frying pans are non-stick though, so I'm trying to replace those. And I don't have any type of covered dish I can use to bake in the oven, just glass casserole pans and cookie sheets.

Thanks!

[mamadelbosque]

I'd definetly get a 12" & 8" skillet to go with your 10" those three are my most-used items by far. Then a 10" dutch oven/pot - I have the one with the wire handle thats made for oven or stove top use. You can use the lid for your 10" skillet too which is awesome:0 Maybe a 12" lid for the 12" skillet.. I like having a 10" round griddle for warming tortillas, cooking pancakes, etc on. I actually use it far more than I thought I would.

ETA: Oh, and they're wok ROCKS. I use it all the time, so if you have the space/money, I'd defeintly go for it too

[swd12422]

I highly recommend their stovetop grill/griddle. It's great for pancakes (you can get 2 or 3 on there at once) and the grill side is nice too.

[frogguruami]

Originally Posted by swd12422

I highly recommend their stovetop grill/griddle. It's great for pancakes (you can get 2 or 3 on there at once) and the grill side is nice too.

Sorry to hijack. Does anyone know if this can be used on a flat top stove?

[mamadelbosque]

Don't see why not, I use all their other stuff on a flat-top stove

[aliah79]

Thank you so much! That was almost exactly what I was thinking I just had to LOL about your title too So any tips for cooking eggs in cast iron? I think that's my one hesitation lol... I have a regular stainless steel wok, so I'll probably just stick with that one since it's not coated or anything. I might splurge on some cast iron muffin tins or something for corn bread YUM!

Originally Posted by swd12422

I highly recommend their stovetop grill/griddle. It's great for pancakes (you can get 2 or 3 on there at once) and the grill side is nice too.

Oh yes! I remember seeing this, I definitely need one of these with a dh and two pancake loving boys in the house! I think I'll get this instead of the flat skillet - it will really suit our needs more, and my grill pans have worn out, so the grill side would be great for us!

Thanks mamas

[frogguruami]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

Don't see why not, I use all their other stuff on a flat-top stove

But with the flat top the griddle won't actually come in contact with the heat source because of the lip on the underside of the pan. So I wasn't sure if it would ever heat up enough.

[dogmom327]

I cook my eggs in butter and it works great in the cast iron. I just switched over to a traditional foods diet though so I cook everything in butter or coconut oil : The eggs stick a little, but it's not hard to clean up. After cleaning the pan, I melt a little coconut oil in it and wipe it all over the pan to re-grease it.

[mamadelbosque]

When my dad cooks eggs he cooks them in lots of butter... when DH makes eggs he usually cooks bacon first and then just cooks the eggs in the bacon grease. Seems to work just fine for them I really don't know, cause' I don't cook eggs... but thats what they do!!

[artemis33]

Hey mama!

Oh wow a Lodge outlet!!!

For eggs: I cook them in cast iron every morning. The key is to get the pan really hot first and then add the fat (I usually use butter or bacon grease). If you heat the pan with the fat in there things stick. If your pan is still hot from the bacon you can add eggs right too it though - just pour off some of the grease first.

I have tons of cast iron. Your plans sound good.

I have a small and a large skillet and another large skillet that has high sides that I use daily. I have a stainless lid from an old pan that fits the large ones but I'd love to get a real lid.

Def go for the dutch oven!!!

Oh and yes, yes on the muffin pans! I got some a year ago at Christmas and looooove them.

I have also have a square deepish one, a square grill pan, a griddle and a cornbread pan that I use regularly but not daily. My cornbread pan sticks a little though so sometimes I just make it in a skillet instead. And there are others

Oh and I have the stove top waffle irons too. I'm not very good with them yet but I'm working on it!

Yes, I have a huge weakness for cast iron

[Minerva]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

when DH makes eggs he usually cooks bacon first and then just cooks the eggs in the bacon grease.

That's what I do, too. Mm, bacon-flavoured eggs! : Cleans right up, too.

[aliah79]

Thanks mamas and : artemis!

Yes we have an outlet 1.5-2 hours away, but we have the actual factory about 30 minutes away too DH says we'll go to the factory store when we go up that way to take D to Vanderbuilt next week.

Thanks for the tips on heating up first then adding fat, I'd always been adding it first... it really does seem to help - though the one pan I have right now is old and probably needs to be reseasoned. I like bacon grease for some things, but not for eggs, we use butter usually.

LOL, I have a weakness for it too, just never got around to buying any more. :