Discussion Board

I have 3 old cast iron skillets that I have not used in years because they need to be seasoned and I am just not sure how to do that. These were my grandmothers -- one is marked Griswold and other other 2 have no marks on them, but are of a similar age.

For those of you who are loyal cast iron users - what do I need to do to these to get them ready to use and once they are ready, what do I need to do to keep them in good shape? Does not cooking in oil make it more difficult to use them? Also, I have a ceramic top stove -- is that really a problem with cast iron?

Thanks

Sharon

This page looked like a great way to season cast iron. I'm going to try it, but not until winter as I don't want to heat up the whole house when it's already over 100 degrees outside!

However, I think that the stoves with ceramic surfaces strongly discourage the use of cast iron. Check your manual (or look online for a manual) before slappin' a heavy skillet down on that surface!

I'd be leery about cast iron on the ceramic stove top. But I have an aversion to those stoves anyway. You might find these links helpful.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Informat ... pRange.htm
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Informat ... onPans.htm

Thanks!

I had a cast iron skillet that busted on my ceramic top. DON'T DO IT!!!! Crisco and oil and cooking bacon regularly was how I kept mine seasoned. Steaming vegetables with water would pull the seasoning off the skillet. By the way, in case you don't know, griswold is the most expensive and most sought after case iron in the cast iron world. Worth money. Not a fortune, but more than lodge!

WOW - the most sought after??? Who knew?? Thanks! Maybe I should season it before I put it back in the cabinet... : )

A friend gave me the ceramic top stove -- my old stove was in need of replacement. I had no idea of its sensitivities when I got it (nor any idea of what a pain it would be to keep clean -- the opposite seemed to be the case). But, when we took the old stove out to put the new stove in, I learned that I actually have a gas hookup. So, I am enjoying the good features of this stove (like all the burners work), but I think my next one will be gas.

Sharon

That is why, when my old stove had to be replaced a couple of years ago, I did not buy a flat top stove. I was ready to purchase one when the sales person told me to not use cast iron on it. I stopped using non-stick pans and am not willing to also give up cast iron so I replaced it with an old-fashioned electric with the removeable elements.

The instructions for my ceramic stove top say not to use cast iron pans.