Cast iron skillet made a very loud cracking sound!!

[smilingcat]

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.

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

[Blueberry]

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.

[indysteel]

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.

[Aggie_Ama]

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.

[Irulan]

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.

[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!