If you’re not one to take it easy on your cookware, then cast iron might just be for you. This near-bomb-proof material will last for years and years with proper care. And what constitutes “proper care” may be easier than you think. Keep reading to find out more about these kitchen essentials and the companies that make them.
Lodge Manufacturing Company has been producing American made cast iron skillets, pans, griddles and more since it was founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge. Located in the Appalachian town of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, the original foundry burned down and the company has since moved, modernized, and expanded. Lodge’s dedication to quality, technology, and employees have helped it not only survive but flourish. In 2002, pre-seasoned cookware was introduced, eliminating the hassle of its unseasoned counterparts. It was an industry first that has since become an industry standard.
The Wildlife Series
Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Cast Iron Skillets: A kitchen essential in any home, cast iron skillets are extremely durable and versatile, making them perfect for any cooking method from stovetop to oven to grill.
Round skillets are available in sizes ranging from 3.5″ up to 17″, and some sizes may be used with either tempered glass or cast iron lids (lids sold separately). Square skillets are available in 5″ and 10.5″ sizes.
Lodge also manufactures a line of wildlife-themed cast iron cookware features some of America’s most distinctive animals.
Pre-Seasoned Reversible Griddle/Grill
Cast Iron Griddles & Grills: Perfect for endless cooking styles, from traditional southern to ethnic cuisines. Lodge offers griddle and grill pans separately, as well as three reversible griddle/grill options.
Griddles are ideal for cooking everything from bacon and eggs to pizza and pancakes. They conduct heat evenly with no hot spots while maintaining heat efficiency and cooking control. The slightly raised edges keep oil, batter and other ingredients neatly contained. Griddle pans come in two sizes: 10.5″ round and 12″ square.
Grill pans create tantalizing grill marks on meat or vegetables without having to leave the comfort of your kitchen. The raised bars will also let you keep food from simmering in fatty drippings for lower-fat cooking. Grill pans come in four sizes: 6.5″ and 10.25″ round, and 10.5″ and 12″ square.
Pre-Seasoned Dutch Oven
Enameled Dutch Oven
Cast Iron Dutch Ovens: The original slow cooker, cast iron Dutch ovens have been a kitchen staple in American homes for centuries and delivers superior cooking performance. Dutch ovens are perfect for cobblers and soufflés and can also make a great deep fryer. They conduct heat evenly with no hot spots while maintaining heat for efficiency and control.
Available with wire a bail handle, perfect for camp and hearth cooking, or with looped side-handles, making it easy to move from stovetop to the oven. Sizes range from 1 to 9 quarts.
In 2005 Lodge introduced their colorful line of porcelain-enameled round and oval Dutch ovens, available in sizes ranging from 1.5 to 7 quarts. These precise castings and tight-fitting lids absorb and retain heat extremely well. Clean up is a snap and you can marinate, cook, serve, and store food in these versatile vessels.
Camp Dutch Oven Cooking 101
Pre-Seasoned Camp Oven
Cast Iron Camp Ovens: The Lodge portable “camp stove” is the pot that does it all. The flanged lid holds hot coals and inverts for use as a griddle. The integral legs allow the oven to sit perfectly over hot coals. The bail handle is for use with a tripod when cooking over an open fire.
Available in a variety of depths and sizes starting at an 8″ deep 2-quart oven, all the way up to a 14″ deep 10-quart oven. All camp ovens include the Lodge Camp Dutch Oven Cooking 101 cookbook, complete with illustrated guides and great recipes, so you can learn to use America’s oldest cooking implement in no time.
Click here to find more great Camp Cooking recipes from Lodge.
Dutch Oven Liners
Accessories: Lodge has certainly thought through everything you might need to make cooking with cast iron as easy as possible. Whether you’re cooking indoors or out, their line of accessories covers everything from silicone handle covers, egg rings and specialty grill pan scrapers, to Dutch oven parchment paper liners, lid lifters, and camp tripods.
Use and Care: Lodge offers plenty of tips on how to get the most out of your cast iron. All of Lodge’s pan is pre-seasoned, meaning they have already had a layer of cooking oil baked on, and with a little TLC, they can last a lifetime.
Cooking tips: Cast iron can be used on all stovetops, from induction to electric to gas, even on the grill! Give your cast iron a few minutes to preheat prior to adding your food. While you can always add oil, a low heat setting can prevent food from sticking. Because there is no chemical coating to damage you can use any utensils you like when cooking, even metal. Due to their awesome heat retention abilities, it’s important to remember to use a hot handle mitt or pot holder when handling a recently heated cast iron pan.
Cleaning tips: Cast iron should always be washed by hand. Use warm water and a bristle brush or chainmail pad to scrub it. Add soap if desired but stay away from dishwashers and abrasive metal pads, which can harm the seasoning of the pan. A pan scraper is great for removing stuck-on bits or you can simmer a little water for a minute before removing the pan from the stove for extra sticky situations and then use the scraper after it has cooled enough to handle. Promptly and thoroughly dry your pan with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. You may notice some dark residue on your paper towel or cloth when cleaning. This is perfectly safe; it’s just the seasoning reacting to foods that may be slightly acidic or alkaline. It will disappear with regular use and care. After you have dried your pan and preferably while it is still warm from the wash, rub it with a thin layer of cooking oil. This creates a layer of protection against moisture. Hang or store your cookware in a dry place until next time you’re ready to cook.
Watch the video below to see the basics of cleaning your cast iron cookware or click here to learn more.
Lodge products can be found in the Housewares department at both Owenhouse locations.
At the turn of the twentieth century, a new global perspective on cuisine began to dawn. Dining, once a private activity, went public, and suddenly people experienced the delight of sharing a delicious meal in the company of friends. And in the midst of all the culinary innovation and change, Le Creuset introduced the first vibrant, Flame-colored enameled cast iron cocotte in 1925. This groundbreaking cocotte took a kitchen staple – cast iron cookware – and refined it, making it more functional and more beautiful. Since that time, modern cuisine has continued to evolve and so has Le Creuset; growing to offer products across a range of materials and categories that guarantees every cook will have the right tool for the right job.
Enameled Skillet
Enameled Cast Iron Skillets: Indispensable in the kitchens of home cooks and professional chefs alike. Le Creuset produced the first enameled cast iron cookware nearly a century ago, and the original foundry still operates today, where 15 skilled artisans hand-inspect each piece.
The interior surface of a Le Creuset skillet is finished with a matte black enamel that eliminates the need for the traditional seasoning and maintenance of raw cast iron. Specially formulated for high-surface temperature cooking, the enamel develops a natural patina over time that is ideal for searing, sauteing and frying.
Available in sizes ranging from 6.3″ up to 11.75″ and in 15 unique colors.
Enameled Braiser
Enameled Cast Iron Braisers: Uniquely designed for maximum performance, transforming tough cuts of meat and hearty vegetables into tender, flavorful dishes. Food is first seared over high heat, then finished slowly in a flavorful liquid.
The wide base of the braiser allows ingredients to be placed in a single layer for proper searing; once the liquid is added, the domed lid continuously circulates steam to lock in moisture and flavor. The glass-like interior finish promotes caramelization, resists staining and prevents sticking to make cleanup easy.
Available in 1.5 quart, 3.5 quart and 5 quart sizes, and 17 different colors.
Pumpkin Cocotte
Enameled Dutch Oven
Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Ovens: Long recognized for its strength and durability, cast iron is the prime material for slow-cooking, braising and roasting, thanks to its ability to maintain even and consistent heat. The enameled Dutch oven needs no seasoning, and it’s suitable for both stovetop and oven use.
Available in both round and oval shapes of various sizes, these Dutch ovens also come in a wide variety of colors. The oval shape is particularly suited to longer cuts of meat or poultry.
Seasonally themed Dutch oven designs are also released throughout the year. Some of these designs even become so popular Le Creuset chooses to keep producing them year-round.
Enameled Oval Trivet
Accessories: Round out your Le Creuset collection with specially designed handle sleeves, trivets, and more. They even offer a wide variety of replacement knobs for their braisers and Dutch ovens if you find yours is starting to look a little shabby.
If you’re looking for more than cast iron accessories, Le Creuset also produces plenty of other cookware, bakeware, kitchen tools, and dinnerware for a well-rounded dining experience.
Use and Care: Enameled cast iron is a remarkable and robust material that performs well with modern requirements for food preparation and cooking. On the table, a hot covered dish will keep food hot for second servings. Cast iron can also be used to keep foods cold. A chilled dish becomes an ideal cold food server on a hot summer day. It can also be placed in the freezer for food storage or advanced food preparation.
Cooking Tips: Cast iron performs well for either slow cooking or high-temperature searing, and can be used reliably on any heat source, including induction, and with any oven or grill. It has the ability to retain heat efficiently, which allows for use of lower heat settings in stovetop and oven cooking. Medium or low heat will provide the best results for cooking, including frying and searing. Allow the pan to heat gradually and thoroughly for even and efficient cooking results. Once the pan is hot, almost all cooking can be continued on lower settings. High heat temperatures should only be used for boiling water for vegetables or pasta, or for reducing the consistency of stocks or sauces. High heats should never be used to preheat a pan before lowering the heat for cooking. Cast iron retains heat so efficiently that overheating will cause food to burn or stick.
Due to the enamel lining silicone, heat-resistant plastic, and wooden tools are preferred. Metal tools, spoons or balloon whisks may be used, but require special care; they should not be scraped over the enamel surface. Do not knock these on the rim of the pan either. Hand-held electric or battery-operated beaters should not be used as their blades will damage the enamel. Knives or utensils with sharp edges should not be used to cut foods inside a pan. Handles and knobs will become hot during stovetop and oven use. Always use a dry thick cloth or oven mitts when lifting and never set a hot pan on an unprotected surface.
Cleaning Tips: Always cool a hot pan for a few minutes before washing. Do not plunge a hot pan into cold water. While Le Creuset’s enamel is designed to be the most durable on the market, thermal shock may still occur, resulting in cracking or loss of enamel. If there are food residues, fill the pan with warm water and let soak for 15 to 20 minutes before washing. A brush can be useful for removing small food deposits, or for cleaning between the ribs on grills. Do not use scourers or abrasive cleaners on the cooking surface. Nylon or soft abrasive pads or brushes can be used to remove stubborn residues. To avoid damaging the enamel, do not use metallic pads or harsh abrasive cleaning agents. Never store pans while they are still damp. Store pans in a dry cupboard or airy space away from steam. Maintain the tightness of all handles and knobs by checking and re-tightening them regularly. Le Creuset enameled cast iron is extremely durable but it may be damaged if accidentally dropped or knocked against a hard surface.
Click here to learn more about caring for your enameled cast iron cookware.
Le Creuset products can be found in the Housewares department at both Owenhouse locations but a larger selection is available at Owenhouse Downtown.
Staub brand cast iron is manufactured in France, a country famous worldwide for its culinary tradition and really good food. With that kind of reputation to live up to it makes sense they would strive to create the highest quality cast iron. As a company, and as craftsman, they’re very passionate about cooking and want you to be also! Each cast iron piece is truly unique and the result of a manufacturing process mixing the best of tradition and modern techniques. Just look for the STAUB seal on every product. Their name is their promise to you that you’re cooking with the best of France. . .wherever your kitchen may be.
Enameled Skillet
Enameled Double-Handled Grill Pan
Enameled Cast Iron Skillets & Grill Pans: The Staub line of skillets sear foods beautifully, be it chicken breasts, potatoes or bacon. The enameled black matte interior imparts texture, promoting exceptional browning, and the cast iron material offers steady, even heat distribution. Low curved sides make it easy to flip the food, which releases easily.
Enjoy the savory flavors of grilled food any time of the year with a stovetop grill pan. Textured ridges produce enticing grill marks while keeping foods elevated, so fat drains away.
Available as round or square pans, in single and double handle configurations, with sizes ranging from 10″ up to 13″ in 8 bold colors.
Enameled Roasting Pan
Enameled Cast Iron Roasting Pans: Enameled cast iron is great for baking and roasting. It retains and stores heat incredibly well throughout the vessel, including the sides, to promote even cooking. The colorful enamel outside adds flare to your kitchen and table. These roasting pans are safe for use on all types of heat sources, including gas, electric, and induction, and are oven safe up to 500F.
Available in two sizes, 8″ x 12″ and 10″ x 15″, and 3 colors.
Enameled Cocotte
Enameled French Oven
Enameled Cast Iron Cocottes & French Ovens: The Staub cast iron cocotte is unsurpassed for slow-cooking meats and vegetables to tender perfection, and for simmering hearty stews and soups. The innovative flat lid features tiny spikes on the interior that continually release condensed liquid back onto the food, yielding moist, flavorful results.
The Essential French Oven with Chistera lid is the latest star in the cast iron collection. Like Staub’s signature flat lid, the domed Chistera lid has excellent self-basting properties. Usually, a convex lid causes condensation to fall to the sides. The innovative, Chistera drop-structure lid solves this problem by putting a twist on traditional spikes. Moisture cascades from the whole lid. This continuous basting guarantees delectable roast chicken and braised short ribs.
Underside of a French Oven Lid
Available in both round and oval shapes of various sizes and depths, as well as multiple colors. The oval shape is particularly suited to longer cuts of meat or poultry.
Learn more about how to clean a cast iron Cocotte on YouTube.
Enameled Braiser
Enameled Cast Iron Braisers: Braiser make the perfect pot for one-dish meals. It will quickly become your go-to cooking vessel, perfect for sauteing, frying, braising, and roasting. The domed lid makes it easy to cook large cuts of meat and its heavy weight helps lock in moisture for flavor-enhanced food. The braiser’s unique design features vintage look handles that encourage easy maneuvering while wearing oven mitts. Staub enameled cast iron is amazingly durable; the pieces resist corrosion, scratching and crazing.
Available in three sizes and 5 colors.
Enameled Tea Kettle
Enameled Cast Iron Tea Kettles: Perfect for tea, hot water and other hot beverages, the Staub cast iron tea kettle is the perfect combination of beauty and function. It can be used on multiple cooking surfaces, including induction, is safe for use in dishwasher, and has been built to last a lifetime.
Enameled Square Grill Pan with Press
Available in one size (1qt), in 6 bold colors.
Accessories: Staub makes a number of accessories to add to your cast iron cooking. Along with everyday items like optional glass lids and grill presses, you can also accessories your cast iron with decorative metal knobs that look like snails or chickens.
Use and Care: As much as people love cooking and enjoy eating – nobody is really into cleaning. But Staub cookware is extremely high grade, not just in terms of its appearance, but also in terms of delivering excellent results. So it is absolutely worth it to maintain the optimum durability of the materials.
Cooking Tips: Cookware with a black matte enamel coating on the inside, like all Staub enameled cast iron, guarantees a nice crust and intensifies the natural flavors of foods. You can use Staub cookware with electric, gas, ceramic, halogen, or even induction. If your piece of cookware has cast iron handles it can also be used in the oven. Learn more about how to use your cast iron grill pan on YouTube.
Cleaning Tips: Staub cast iron cookware can be easily cleaned with any common washing-up liquid and water once it’s cooled down. Do not use any scouring agents or abrasive sponges as that may damage the enameled surface. To remove stubborn and stuck-on residue, it is recommend that you soak your cookware in warm water with a little washing-up liquid or baking soda until all of the residue can be removed, then dry your cookware completely. Learn how to to get rid of resistant residue on YouTube.
Click here to learn more about caring for your Staub cookware.
Staub products can be found in the Housewares department at Owenhouse West.
