A Cast Iron Q&A with Jeff Rogers

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Jeff Rogers is a cast-iron enthusiast who lives outside Atlanta, Georgia. Here are a few dos and don’ts from the Culinary Fanatic himself. 

What do I need to watch out for when collecting vintage cast iron?

WARPING When hunting for cast iron, bring something with a straight edge so you can test the surface of the piece. I use a credit card, but something like a 6-inch plastic ruler will work even better for larger pieces. Simply hold the straight edge to the surface, inside and out. If you see any light at all underneath the straight edge, then the piece has either a convex or concave warp.

CRACKS When selecting a vintage skillet, make sure to examine it very closely, inside and out, in a well-lit area. If the skillet has a lot of gunk on it, a crack will be literally impossible to detect.

RUST Normally, I don’t fool with rusted skillets. If you’re thinking of purchasing a rusted skillet, try to be sure it is just light surface rust, and that it has not caused any serious pitting on the cooking surface. Once restored, a rusted skillet can be great for cooking, but the depth of the rust will determine if it is collectible or not. My final rule of thumb is this—if the price is high and something keeps you from determining the actual condition of the piece, always walk away.

castiron cleaning

Can I cook on a glass-top stove?

Cast iron is a versatile cookware and can be used on just about all types of stoves and cooking surfaces. The only risk when using a cast iron skillet on this type of stove is obvious—drop it and you’ll shatter the glass. I would use the same type of precautions with glass tops that I use with electric coils. They can get hotter than expected with cast iron, so watch your heat. Also, when moving a skillet on a glass-top, pick it up–don’t slide it.

What foods should I avoid cooking in cast iron?

If you have a piece of cast iron that is extremely well seasoned, you can get away with cooking just about anything on occasion. I stay away from using acidic foods like tomatoes, vinegar, citrus, and things like wine. In a newly seasoned skillet, these ingredients can spell disaster for the seasoning in your skillet, and for the flavor of your foods. I also avoid things that are water-based and have to simmer for a long time. The better your cast iron is seasoned, the more you can get away with.

For inspiration, tips, videos, and more, follow Jeff Rogers (The Culinary Fanatic) on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

11 COMMENTS

  1. I recently visited my mother and used her cast iron to cook with. I was surprised to see how smooth the interior of her pans were. They were like glass. Cooking eggs and other things that normally stick for me worked even better than my Calphon non-stick pan! Is this the goal? To get my cast iron to have this super smooth “glass” finish? The pans I have (much newer, my mother got hers from her grandmother), pre seasoned have a slightly rough texture to them. I had thought that is what we want to keep. When I cook with something sicky (like a fruit cobbler) I end up having to scrub to get all the sugar off and I’m afraid I’m ruining my pan, but will this lead to that smooth texture, if that’s what we want?

    thank you
    Alaric rocha

  2. Hello Jeff,
    Looks like you have a little…..
    I have a #8 10 1/4″ DO. The only marking on the pot is in the center, a cursive rendition of the word “Classic”
    Inside the lid are drippers and in large block numbers 10 1/4, and below that 8
    Lookin’ all over can’t find anything.
    Thanks,
    Frank

  3. I have been told that a cast iron frying pan can be too big for a stove burner. Specifically, I have a Lodge 13” frying pan and a glass top 10” electric burner. I have been told that the outer edge won’t get got enough to fry potatoes. Is this true?

    • Hi Mike,

      There’s no real way to know for sure. It sounds like you might need to do a little trial-and-error experimenting with your cast iron and your cooktop. Let us know how it goes!

  4. My mother gave me a couple of Cast Iron skillets and pots several years ago. they sat under a sink, got leaked on and have developed rust. I’m physically unable to do the cleaning. Is there anywhere in the Atlanta/Marietta area that i can take them to be cleaned and treated?

  5. I think that I have a L’istal cast iron DO from Canada. I cannot find any information on it. I would appreciate any ideas to help me research this item. Thank you so very much.

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