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Cast iron recommendations

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Kruegs
Kruegs Posts: 128
in EggHead Forum
Thinking of asking Santa for a cast iron skillet. Any pointers on what to look for? I'm primarily looking to be able to sear steaks.
XL BGE; CyberQ Wifi; Adjustable Rig, Woo2 Green Bay, Wisconsin
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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
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    New: Lodge 12 inch.

    Antique: Griswold or Wagner. Lots on ebay/CL
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  • Brisket_Fanatic
    Brisket_Fanatic Posts: 2,884
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    +1 - 12" lodge

    NW IA

    2 LBGE, 1 SBGE, 22.5 WSM, 1 Smokey Joe

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  • Mickey
    Mickey Posts: 19,674
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    They both nailed it.
    Salado TX & 30A  FL: Egg Family: 3 Large and a very well used Mini, added a Mini Max when they came out (I'm good for now). Plus a couple Pit Boss Pellet Smokers.   

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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,522
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    Check out TJ Maxx - they have a never ending selection of CI, most by Lodge. Some really good deals if there is a store near you.
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • Bustersdad
    Bustersdad Posts: 311
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    I've been watching eBay...I've purchased a Wagner Dutch Oven and Griddle.  Have to be patient, lots of people spending lots of money.
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  • ShadowNick
    ShadowNick Posts: 533
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    Also, if you ever find yourself driving through TN, the Lodge Factory store as a huge section of "cosmetic defect" stuff you can get 1/5 the price that work just as well as the stuff that passes QA
    Pentwater, MI
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  • allsid
    allsid Posts: 492
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    On Sat I was in Shopko

    do you have those in your area?

    Lodge skillets were $ 19.99

    Good price-  Good luck!
    Proud resident of Missoula, MT
    https://www.facebook.com/GrillingMontana
    http://grillingmontana.com
    https://instagram.com/grillingmontana

    Check out my book on Kamado cooking called Exclusively Kamado:
    http://bit.ly/kamadobook

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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
    edited November 2013
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    Bustersdad said:
    I've been watching eBay...I've purchased a Wagner Dutch Oven and Griddle.  Have to be patient, lots of people spending lots of money.
    Look for auctions ending in the middle of the night(Lots end at midnight pacific) and use an app like Myibidder o bid up to your threshold within preset parameters of the auction ending.I've scored Griswold griddles for really cheap compared to what they typically average.
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  • yzzi
    yzzi Posts: 1,843
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    Go scout out some consignment stores, garage sales, craigslist, and fleamarkets. You can probably get some for a few bucks.
    Dunedin, FL
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  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,029
    edited November 2013
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    (If you find some older pieces that need restoring)

    Focker has restored many pieces and all turn out beautiful:

    http://www.greeneggers.com/index.php?option=com_simpleboard&func=view&id=1227398&catid=1#
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
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  • ChuckChampion
    ChuckChampion Posts: 203
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    +1 on the lodge.  They are great, and reasonably priced
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  • Kruegs
    Kruegs Posts: 128
    edited November 2013
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    Thanks for all the comments everyone!  So is there a difference between the lodge and some of the high-end (i.e. expensive) cast iron?
    XL BGE; CyberQ Wifi; Adjustable Rig, Woo2 Green Bay, Wisconsin
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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
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    Kruegs said:
    Thanks for all the comments everyone!  So is there a difference between the lodge and some of the high-end (i.e. expensive) cast iron?
    What used to be high-end was everyman cookware that hasn't been made for over 50 years.Wagner and Griswold had excellent composition of ore and were machined at the foundry to give them a flat, ice-like finish. The bottoms are quite thin so they heat up more quickly and evenly while still maintaining the thermal properties of CI. If you knock on the bottom you get a bell-like ringing unlike Lodge, which is more of a clink/thunk. Just look at some of the better examples on ebay and you will see the glass-like appearance. This can be accomplished with Lodge by taking a grinder to the cooking surface and smoothing it out.

    Otherwise, the only difference is the fact that it is no longer made. I'd recommend one that needs refinishing because collectors are looking for prime examples(meaning premium prices). Yard sales and estate sales are great. You can find an old pan in the back of someone's cabinet with years of wear for a few bucks and have it like new with some elbow grease. It kind of annoys me to see when perfectly usable pans are hanging on someones wall as decoration when they could be in use, but I totally understand why they do it- it's classic Americana. No matter where you get it, someone's grandmother made many a meal in it so it holds quite the intrinsic value for some, unlike buying a new piece.

    Lastly, if you go with an antique, watch out for pitting. It can be all the way through the pan and covered by grime/dirt.
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  • yzzi
    yzzi Posts: 1,843
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    And to add to @Eggcelsior good tips is make sure the bottom is flat. Easiest way to test is to put in on a flat surface and give it a spin. If it spins, there's a bump on the bottom somewhere preventing it from laying flat. If it doesn't spin, it's flat bottomed.
    Dunedin, FL
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