Cast iron skillet made a very loud cracking sound!!

Oh dear my 6" lodgepole cast iron skillet is toast I think. I was cooking something the other day. Forgot what it was but anyway as the skillet was heating up on a gas stove, I heard the ear shattering loud "crack" luckily the bottom hasn't fallen out yet. I do see on the bottom of the skillet a what appears to be a crack going all the way around. Cooking side of the skillet, I see a partial line half way around the skillet.

:(

Has anyone heard of such thing. I thought Lodgepole skillets were indestructible!! I've had it for over 30 years!!! Now I have to start over. This is a major major bummer!! :( Now my food isn't going to taste the same!!

I ended up cooking with it and few more meals but I see the line getting longer. :eek:

As they say in toon town, "That's all folks!!"

That stinks:( I'd contact Lodge to see if they've heard of it before. I know they can crack if dropped on something hard (concrete) and that very uneven heating can cause it - but it hardly sounds like that's what happened here. I would be very sad if mine cracked. I have 3 and use them 90% of the time. It also sucks because I think they only sell pre-seasoned now. I'm not sure I like that. Mine took a long time to get conditioned - but they're amazing now.

It couldn't hurt to contact Lodge. I don't think they offer an express warranty on their seasoned cast iron, but they may be willing to replace it or give you a discount off a new one. But that stinks.

I also didn't know it was possible! When my Mammaw passed last year I got her skillets, I don't know when she got them but everything she cooked was just better. She was 94 when she passed so there was years of seasoning in them, I would never have the patience to properly season one. Hope they at least warranty it. :(

I have hears that quality really varies on the new stuff, but not the old. I would bet there was some some of flaw in the metal that finally fatigued and snapped.

I believe Lodge cast iron is made in China now and their is not much oversight of production quality. I heard something about "back yard smelting" so it may not even be factory made.

I looked into US made cast iron cookware and it is EXPENSIVE. So, you get what you pay for. But not really because I've had my cheap cast iron skillets for a long time now, so I got the better deal.

ahhh, she's had the skillet for 30 years - so it's not a new fangled preseasoned Chinese product.

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Originally Posted by Melalvai

I believe Lodge cast iron is made in China now and their is not much oversight of production quality. I heard something about "back yard smelting" so it may not even be factory made.

I looked into US made cast iron cookware and it is EXPENSIVE. So, you get what you pay for. But not really because I've had my cheap cast iron skillets for a long time now, so I got the better deal.

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FWIW, not all of Lodge's product line is made overseas. They indicate on their website--and I'd like to assume this is true--that their "seasoned steel" products are still made in Tennessee. Their enamel pieces, however, are made in China.

Can anybody recommend a good cast iron skillet brand? I'm in the market but because of the "made overseas" stuff, I just don't know what is decent.

I buy Griswold skillets at antique shops, flea markets, Ebay, etc. The new stuff just isn't as smooth as a Griswold! Even if I have to invest some time stripping and re-seasoning it, the effort is worth it. Wagner is another good (old) brand.

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

Can anybody recommend a good cast iron skillet brand? I'm in the market but because of the "made overseas" stuff, I just don't know what is decent.

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I know I already said this, but Lodge's "seasoned" cast iron is still made in the USA at a foundry in Tennessee.

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Originally Posted by Dogmama

Can anybody recommend a good cast iron skillet brand? I'm in the market but because of the "made overseas" stuff, I just don't know what is decent.

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Le Creuset. Hands down my favorite. I bought a set of the stuff on Ebay 12 years ago for a ridiculous price, and it's fabulous! Over the years I've bought more pieces. I use this stuff several times a week. It's occasionally on sale at Sur La Table.

And there is a lifetime warranty. I actually burned a chunk of the interior enamel (about 1" square) off one of my pots, and they replaced it for either no charge, or maybe just a shipping charge. Either way, it was a very good deal.

I don't believe La Cruset does a non- enameled line, isn't it all glazed on the inside?

I have a Le Creuset skillet that's bare cast iron on the inside, enamel on the outside. Pretty sure they still make those.

Good to know that Lodge non-enamel products are made here. Thanks!

Wow. I just went to Lodge web site. Do they even make non seasoned cast iron skillet anymore or is it all pre-seasoned?

I bought mine about 30 years ago at ACE hardware store I think. I don't remember spending more than $10 for it. Has it become sort of yuppie gourmet cooking thingy? And the price to reflect it? I think I'm going to have to start looking at garage sales and such. that's a great idea.

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

Wow. I just went to Lodge web site. Do they even make non seasoned cast iron skillet anymore or is it all pre-seasoned?

I bought mine about 30 years ago at ACE hardware store I think. I don't remember spending more than $10 for it. Has it become sort of yuppie gourmet cooking thingy? And the price to reflect it? I think I'm going to have to start looking at garage sales and such. that's a great idea.

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I can't speak to the seasoned versus unseasoned issue, but the prices for Lodge's seasoned cast iron don't seem that high to me, especially when compared to Le Creuset and Straub. A 4 1/2 quart enamel dutch oven from Lodge costs about $92. From Le Creuset, it's $250. But I otherwise agree with you that trying to pick up one at a garage sale isn't a bad way to go.

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

Wow. I just went to Lodge web site. Do they even make non seasoned cast iron skillet anymore or is it all pre-seasoned?

I bought mine about 30 years ago at ACE hardware store I think. I don't remember spending more than $10 for it. Has it become sort of yuppie gourmet cooking thingy? And the price to reflect it? I think I'm going to have to start looking at garage sales and such. that's a great idea.

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Price changes may also reflect a generally increasing shortage of metal. Since most iron goes towards making steel, iron used in its closer to iron form (like for cast skillets) might be in shorter supply due to the demand for steel. Just supposition on my part though...

I find old good quality cast iron skillets and such in junk shops and yard sales. Cheap and high quality, made in USA. Sure I have to re-season them, but I don't mind. It's like bringing a cast-aside back to a useful life.

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Originally Posted by smilingcat

Wow. I just went to Lodge web site. Do they even make non seasoned cast iron skillet anymore or is it all pre-seasoned?

I bought mine about 30 years ago at ACE hardware store I think. I don't remember spending more than $10 for it. Has it become sort of yuppie gourmet cooking thingy? And the price to reflect it? I think I'm going to have to start looking at garage sales and such. that's a great idea.

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$10, 30 years ago, street price of $45 now for a 5-qt non-enameled oven or $30 for a 12" non-enameled skillet ... pretty comparable to inflation I think.

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Originally Posted by tulip

It's like bringing a cast-aside back to a useful life.

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Ha ha! (cast-iron-aside...)

Cast iron is more brittle than steel, it's just the nature of it. If they didn't cool it immediately after forging it, the crystal structure could be quite large, and that would make it prone to cracking.