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I absolutely love cast iron cookware! I love to cook and truely believe there is nothing better than a good old fashioned cast iron skillet or griddle!

Buy Cast Iron!

When they are seasoned right and taken care of they are worth their weight in gold. You don't need to be an expert to find one, you just have to find one you really like. Sure, there are countless people that have lots of experience in collecting cast iron and know the good from the bad. I believe it's more a matter of trial and error and what you plan to do with it.

I simply cannot pass up the opportunity to own yet another cast iron skillet. My kitchen is absolutely "kluttered" with them and I honestly do use most of them. I prefer the one's that have been well used, the new one's don't hold much interest for me and I absolutely cringe when I turn one over to find out what it is and it says Taiwan on it! blech!!

Ok, so stick to the one's made in the USA such as Wagner Ware, Griswold (my fav), National, Favorite Piqua Ware, etc....there are several. They come in many sizes and I have a real passion for the very small 6" ones. They are perfect for individual servings.  

I have several in all sizes and am particularly fond of the griddles. They normally fit over two burners and make hash browns that are to die for!

Now, some may disagree but I can't imagine using one that was found in a junk store, flea market or garage sale without thoroughly cleaning it first. I know some are gasping now but that is just plain nasty! Why on earth would you want someone else's gunk on your cooking utensils?

I don't believe in using oven cleaner because I think it's just too harsh and doesn't it seep into the cast iron? On the same hand I won't go near Lye, are you serious? Why would anyone want to use something that is known to cause severe skin burns and blindness, nonsense!

I use my handy dandy self cleaning oven. Fill it up and set it for one hour, check them and see if they need a little more time. I have found two hours will clean nearly any amount of baked on gunk and carbon. Take it out and wash it in mild, soapy water. Dry thoroughly by either placing it on a hot burner or putting it back in the oven. You want it to be warm when you oil it for the first time.

Put a light coating of either vegetable oil or bacon grease. Return it to the oven for one hour at 325 degrees, remove, cool slightly and wipe off the excess oil. Then return it to the oven for at least 30 minutes, turn off the oven and just let it sit in there preferably overnight.

That's all there is to it. Im not saying this is the only way but it works for me. Now, this is important....after the initial seasoning, DO NOT wash with soap. You should be able to just use hot water and a scouring pad, place it on a heated burner or in the oven to dry, re-oil it and put it away for next time.

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