Best Cast Iron Cookware Pans

Here on this page we will look at some of the best cast iron cookware available today and some of the benefits it brings to your cooking and your kitchen.

Not so long ago cast iron cookware was considered old fashioned and nothing like as good as the modern and efficient Aluminum pans with non-stick coatings we were being sold. Now we are beginning to recognize that mother did know best and those old cast iron pots and pans that we threw out thinking they were junk were actually the best cast iron cookware available and much better than our supposedly more advanced modern cooking pans.

Cast iron cookware heats evenly across its base and avoids the problems of hot spots and partial burning we see with many lightweight cooking pans it can also be transferred between stove top and the oven for browning and also used to serve directly to the table where stylish cast iron will be a talking point among your guests and since it retains its heat will help keep food hot.

These days the best cast iron cookware commands a premium price but you may be surprised how well it compares with lesser quality cookware. Any extra price is a small cost when you think that unlike most modern kitchen equipment, cast iron skillets, pans and casseroles you buy today will still be just as good when you are beyond cooking and you pass them on to your children.

There are several different types of cast iron cookware used in kitchens. All come with similar benefits of using cast iron for cooking which are generally considered to be that cast iron cooks evenly and it is very rugged and can easily last a lifetime. It is almost as non-stick as other pans when properly seasoned and it can be heated without fear of damage to sear food and can be used on the stove top or in the oven.

The cast iron cookware types include skillets, casseroles, pizza pans, griddles, grill pans, wok and the classic dutch oven. All are available either as plain cast iron metal finish or enameled in various colors to brighten up your kitchen.

There are several sizes of cast iron skillet available but the most popular is the 12 inch cast iron skillet and to the right you can see one of the most popular skillets available.

The Lodge Logic L10SK3 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet is an heirloom pan you can pass on to your children when you are done with it. The only reason you are likely to stop using it is because there may come a time when the solid weight of it becomes a problem for you to lift when you become old and frail but that is part of the reason cast iron cookware is so loved by it's users. The weight of solid metal makes cooking so much better.

Many people are not aware you can purchase lids for these pans as an optional extra and they are available as either solid cast iron pan lids or glass.

One of the best selling dutch ovens and casseroles available in cast iron is the Lodge Logic 5-Quart Double Dutch Oven and Casserole with Skillet Cover.

Features of this superb cookware are the 5 quart volume. The pre-seasoned finish and the sturdy and convenient handles on either side of the body to enable easy carrying in a safe and secure way but perhaps the cleverest feature of the lot is that the solid cast iron lid can also be used as a skillet as it has a flat top and the sides are more than an inch high. This gives you two cast iron cookware items for the price of one and they should both last you a lifetime.

The sizes are approximately 10-1/4 by 13 by 5-1/2 inches It holds 5 quarts and the lid/skillet is between 1 and 1.5 inches high. All in all a great addition to your kitchens cookware.

If you want to enjoy the experience of a great home made pizza then the Lodge Pro Logic cast iron 14-Inch pizza pan is just what you need to cook your pizza evenly and the cast iron is slow to lose its heat so when you serve up your pizza direct to the table it will retain the heat so you can enjoy all of your pizza hot.

This cast iron pizza pan is a 14-inch round pan that heats quickly and evenly to spread the heat and cook the perfect home made pizza. Like all cast iron cookware it will last beyond your lifetime and can be passed on to your kids but it will provide excellent service for years and years.

If you don't make home made pizza then these pans are great for keeping a delivered pizza hot or a frozen pizza you have cooked hot. Heat the pan on the stove top or in the oven ready to serve your pizza. By serving on the hot cast iron pizza pan you can keep that fresh hot taste for much longer.

If you want to reduce the fat content of your food or you like the look of those seared lines on your meat the cast iron grill pan is what you need and this product, once again, from Lodge is a great buy.

The Lodge Logic L8SGP3 Pre-Seasoned Square Grill Pan is ideal for steaks and burgers and can also be used in the oven up to 500 degrees F. A simple grill pan that does exactly what you need at a great price.

Some people find the simple, raw metal, look of cast iron cookware a little plain so there is a wide range of brightly colored enameled cast iron cookware available to you if you feel you need a bit more color in your life.

Most types of cooking pan are available to match each other in whatever color you prefer and you can see a selection here on the right.

I have chosen to display red cast iron cooking equipment here but other colors available are blue, orange and green which you can view by clicking on one of these items and seaching for alternative color products.

When you are convinced of the benefits of cast iron pots and pans for cooking you will want to replace all your old cooking pans with them and you can get some great deals on cast iron cooking sets where you get several matching pans all together.

The cast iron cookware sets include plain cast iron and enameled cast iron cookware sets which will brighten up the kitchen and look great for a lifetime. Prices vary quite a lot going from about $40 which is an amazing price  to the top of the line sets that can cost around $500 or more.

When considering the cost remember that these pans will last as long as you do. There are no worries about having to replace them in a year or two so get the best cast iron pans you can get and enjoy your investment for years to come. Also, since you will most likely be passing these pans on to your kids in your will you might want to ask them which ones they prefer. :o)

Check out some of the possible cast iron cooking sets on the right and remember these make great gifts for weddings and other memorable occasions.

You can cook pretty much anything in cast iron pans but when you start out it can be helpful to have a cast iron cooking cookbook to give some tips and ideas on how to make the best use of your cast iron pans, skillets and dutch oven.

Professional chefs enjoy the benefits of using cast iron cookware and with these cookery books you will be able to produce some of the older and more traditional meals as well as using them to produce the latest styles of beautifully cooked meals.

These cookery books will always be useful to refer to anytime you are unsure about what to cook or the best way to cook it and they will give you some delicious recipes to impress your friends and family with your cooking ability.

The Lodge Manufacturing Company, South Pittsburg, Tennessee is the only all American cast iron cookware manufacturing company where they have their own foundry for melting the cast iron and moulding it into the sand molds they produce.

Their products are outstanding and they come with an unbelievable lifetime guarantee. When you buy cast iron cookware you want it to be quality cooking pans that you can use for the rest of your life and Lodge are the only brand that guarantee that sort of made in America quality cookware.