not the lowest price (~$30) ever but better than the usual shelf price (80-90). but if you a feel a need to channel your inner Tika Waylan during quarantine life then this is the deal for you.
CamelCamelCamel.
DOH! Now I want pancakes….
How are they better than using non-stick pans?
Good question, I don't know but they are. Maybe it's the thermal mass? The thermal mass of the cast iron gives it a consistent heat when the batter is poured in. I'm making figures up here, but say a thinner or lower mass pan drops the surface temperature by 50 degrees when you pour the batter in, all the reserve heat in the cast iron keeps it closer, say only a 20 degree drop. Also I think the drop is less regionalised across the surface as a result. As I said I made up the numbers but my experience is pancakes cook waaaay better in cast iron. I use my old camping cast iron pan for pancakes exclusively. Burgers and stuff I just use my regular non-stick pan. I also prefer a simple steel wok to a non-stick one as I find the non-stick surface does not last and a seasoned wok does a great job - you can always re-season it, cant re-surface a non-stick.
even heating, can use metal utensils, no non-stick materials to break down over time and get into your food
Also worth making the point that the cast iron pan's seasoning gives it non-stick properties. The beauty about is if you keep the pan seasoning in good condition it lasts a lifetime, whereas a teflon non-stick pan will degrade over time.
I think its also healthier to avoid build up of consumption of Teflon over time. Cast iron will instead leech iron which prevents you having to take iron supplements
Teflon products are now PFOA-free. Unless you have a very old pan.
@jv: Ehhhhh it's not really true. It's like with things that are BPA-free, they just use BPB or similar instead.
Cast iron will instead leech iron
Which can damage your gastrointestinal system. Over time, iron can accumulate in the organs, and cause fatal damage to the liver or brain. Toxic cellular effects occur as well.
https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-Happens-if-You-Take…
a 12" pancake
You can also use the code APPONLY10 for an additional $10 off if you shop through the Amazon app.
Looks like the one with the 'boy scout' design on the base is even cheaper @ $45.51: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07BYF1FMH?th=1
I'm curious to know if the pans with the designs absorb heat as effectively as the standard flat bases.
I'm thinking it goes both ways. It gives slightly more surface area to absorb the heat quicker and the pattern would cause minor thermal discrepancies. In real world use I expect you would not notice much difference, except one has a cool pattern.
Only catch is no free Prime shipping as it's under $49
Do these need to be seasoned before use ?
They come 'pre seasoned', but the general advice is to apply another coat of seasoning before use. FWIW, I didn't, and my pans are pretty OK, but I don't know if they'd be 'better' had I seasoned them myself.
My pancake pan gets seasoned with every use, it just gets a quick rinse over the cooking surface with water and put back.
So you never use soap to clean it?
I never you use soap on my iron pans. As soon as i'm done cooking i run the pan under hot water and give it a once over with a brush i use only for pans. If your pan is seasoned right any food will be off in seconds and the water will bead in the pan.
I never seasoned (as in a baked seasoning process) my Lodge cookware when I first got it, I just made sure to use a reasonable out of oil when cooking to help encourage it to get a better seasoning on it.
Usually a dish brush and hot water is all you need to clean it. If there is some persistent heavy grease then I will use a bit of dishwashinf liquid and quickly rinse it off.
Once cleaned dry it off, put a few drops of oil in and wipe it all over with a paper towel. Usually I just leave the paper towel stored in the pan and it's good good then for many weeks of use. No need to waste a new bit of paper towel each time you clean it.
Since getting cast iron a year ago, I haven't touched a traditional non stick pan again.
$82.95 for me
Wow, that didn't last long
What's the difference between:
The pan listed:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00006JSUB/
And the 'newer model'
https://www.amazon.com.au/Lodge-L10SK3ASHH41B-Pre-Seasoned-S…
Also interested to know this
The difference is the size and an extra red silicon grip.
+1 for Dragonlance reference
Does anyone else season it like they do a wok? Ie. Crank the heat up over a burner and let it smoke?
Normally they recommend doing it in the oven.
Cast iron makes the BEST pancakes!