I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it forever: every household needs at least one good cast iron skillet. While there are all sorts of new players in the cast iron game, made by talented artisans who are trying to keep the profession of smithy alive until the Game of Thrones movie comes out to stimulate interest again, I’m a Lodge man myself. For my money, there’s no more versatile piece of cooking equipment in my kitchen than my 10-inch Lodge skillet, and I reach for it more often than any other pot or pan.
I know that some people are intimidated by the prospect of caring for cast iron, but it pretty much comes down to this: Use it often, wipe it clean after it cools a little bit, maybe give it a thin coat of oil or seasoning spray every now and then and be sure to make sure it’s completely dry before putting it away. That’s it. You can rinse it with water if you absolutely feel you have to, but just don’t use any soap and of course don’t put it in the dishwasher. Follow these suggestions and you should have a cooking tool that only gets better with age and that can be passed on to your grandkids.
If you’re still really stressed about the idea of seasoning your skillet, consider one of Lodge’s new Blacklock premium line of skillets. Named after the original Lodge foundry, these skillets are designed to be 25 percent lighter than their standard line, making them easier to handle and quicker to heat up and cool down. Blacklock is triple-seasoned, so there’s even less to worry about when it comes to caring for them, and you can basically cook anything from meat to a fried egg in one. They cost a little bit more, but nothing compared to the All-Clad or various incarnations of the latest no-stick pans you probably already have in your drawers. Blacklock products are available online or from Williams-Sonoma.
If that still doesn’t convince you (sheesh, people!), how about the chance to save up to 80% off their inventory, including discontinued, overstock and limited-release items, at Lodge's second annual warehouse sale, Oct. 4-6 at their Factory Store in South Pittsburg, Tenn., less than two hours down I-24 from Nashville. It’s worth the trip just to visit the quaint little town that houses the Lodge empire, but this huge sale draws all sorts of visitors for the special deals, plus live music, local barbecue, and games and activities for the whole family.
Sure, some of the deepest discounts may be on specialty items like branded skillets with the name of some college or state on the bottom of the skillet, but really, how often do you flip your skillet over anyway? (Except to make sure it’s completely dry! I store mine with a paper towel in it.) I wholeheartedly suggest you make the road trip to South Pittsburg and bring home a ton of cast iron!
Lodge Factory Store
220 E. Third St.
South Pittsburg, TN 37380
