Cast iron skillet made a very loud cracking sound!!

[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.

[withm]

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

[indysteel]

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.

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.

[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.

[Becky]

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.

[indysteel]

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

[withm]

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.

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.

[Irulan]

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

[OakLeaf]

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

[Melalvai]

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

[nuliajuk]

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.