I guess most people give them up because they don’t know what to do with them anymore. I’m so old I remember when a cast iron skillet was *the skillet in everyone’s kitchen. I still don’t think of nonstick as “real”cookware, even though I have it, and use it occasionally. I guess because I know how disposable it is. Please don’t hate me … you all can love yours and that’s fine with me. I’m old and prone to nostalgia.
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Yeah, but on the other hand I’ve yet to find any collectable cast iron at a Goodwill. Apparently the younger CI faddists are buying and then donating the Smithey, et al iterations.
What I did recently find at Goodwill–and bought–was the Lodge 14" CI wok. After stripping, polishing and seasoning, I’ve used it a bit and like it’s un-eveness. $15 rather than $69. And it fits in the Egg. It rings like a bell under the wok shovel.
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I’ve developed a mini hobby of reconditioning used cast iron and giving it away on FB Buy Nothing. Younger cooks appreciate it and a couple even came over for a quick cooking session.
I am just about incapable of passing up a good deal when it comes to unloved cast iron
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Yesterday I went with my mom to the Treasure Chest, a little thrift store in her retirement community. I got a nice haul, nothing kitchen related. Purple scarf and performance earrings for me and a bunch of gifts - little picture frame and holiday card for a secret Santa gift, craft supplies, and a puzzle. $7 for the lot. I’m on the list to be called if they get a glue gun, cast iron, or wooden salad bowls.
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I’m hunting for a large wooden salad bowl too. But I’m picky. I’m looking for one that is turned out of a single piece of solid wood. It might be a while before I find what I’m looking for, but I’m ok with it.
Another long shot search was for a thermapen, but after having it on my radar for about a year, I finally found one. I love using it and knowing I got it at a deep discount second hand.
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With your sleuthing skills, I’m sure you’re find one, although maybe not on the thrift circuit. How large are you looking for, and how much “character” can you tolerate?
If you have one turned, ask about which way the grain will run. Unlike cutting boards, end grain can be a problem.
I saw one at a farmers market in Berkeley last summer. The maker had a table with all sorts of wood handicrafts made for the kitchen and it was clear he made them himself. The salad bowl was perhaps 14-16” across IIRC and was wanted $250.
It was turned out of a nice piece of wood with a beautiful grain through I don’t remember the exact wood type. The edges of the bowl were not ground down and leveled to make a perfect edge. Instead they retained their natural wood shape such that the edge of the bowl was highly irregular all the way around. It might have been turned out of a burl. I wish I had taken a photo.
At the time I thought it was too expensive but now I think the price was fair, just too high for my personal budget. If I bump into him again some day I might give in.
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Saturday was 1/2 price day at my local Goodwill. We found this dress for Sunshine – only $7
For me… I found a light weight induction ready skillet for my Okonomiyaki attempts. I wasn’t looking forward to attempting to flip the okonomiyaki over onto a plate with my heavy cast iron skillet… a steal at $3.50!!
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If you ever run across one of these in a thrift store (or if you already have one), they’re the perfect thing to make okonomiyaki on. I used to use one before and if I decide to make okonomiyaki again, I’d likely try to find one. The okonomiyaki slides off on to a plate and then you just put the uncooked side back on the griddle and cook it. MUCH easier than using a typical frying pan.
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Thank you for the tip!! I’ll definitely keep an eye out for one.
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My pleasure❣️
If you’ve shared your reconditioning technique I’d love to know it. I have a 12” Lodge that I need to get all the way down to smooth and then recondition. Google methods are everywhere but I seem to be bad at it.
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I think a lot of folks rid themselves of CI because they don’t know how to maintain it, or have become addicted to the throwaway nonstick stuff.
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the method i use is sodium hydroxide (lye). i have a largish tub that i keep out back for this purpose. i’ll attach a detangled wire hanger through the hole in the handle so i can easily turn the piece. for some gnarly pieces i might leave it in there for more than a week, but i’ll check it every few days (sometimes that’s all it takes). never fails to strip it down to the surface.
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Also could be good for disposing of carcasses. Aren’t you afraid of keeping a tub of lye in the yard? Please wear eye protection. A small splash in the eye is permanently blinding, without exaggeration.
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Thank you. That sounds way too much for me though.
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Even though we are staying home for Christmas, Sunshine wanted to put on her (new to her) Christmas dress. Its just a red dress, but she wants to call it her Christmas dress – who am I to argue. We found this at Goodwill last week for $4.
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I searched for the cheapest condo in North Arlington Virginia way back in 2007 time-frame. I wanted to buy a beat up condo in a well run building near the Orange Line Metro and renovate it, so I studied how to layout a small, efficient kitchen. I discovered the “7-11 Rule” for a normal sized kitchen. If the space is not 7’ wide and 11’ long, you are going to have a really hard time fitting in a normal 33" wide refrigerator, a full size sink, a 24" dishwasher and a normal size 30" range, while still having a decent amount of cabinet space. I tried to design a comfortable kitchen in spaces that were just 6’ wide or 10’ long, but the refrigerator door ran into the dishwasher door or there was no room to set a hot skillet beside the range, just a wall.
And if your kitchen is 77 sq ft or more, you have a hard time designing a true 1 BR with less than 550 sq ft.
I ended up with a trashed efficiency condo (with an open living room/dining area/sleeping area) that I converted into a Jr. 1BR with a 7’ tall privacy wall (with a 1’ gap at the top for air circulation) between the sleeping area and the living room/dining area. A pocket door made it work a bit better.
I loved that condo! I did my own custom Elfa closets from the Container Store, I did the sanding of the old parquet hardwood floors, I painted it, (and missed a small portion of the ceiling in the living room which irritated me to no end) and I had a contractor reno the kitchen to my design and also redo the bathroom. I could buy flight tickets, lock up the condo and leave for 6 months with no worries. My last 3 houses have been a pain to lock up and leave when I travel. Winter and freezing pipes are my biggest fears.
And I can not think of any reasonable way to segue back to thrift store shopping…
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Ditto. Except about cookware; I have an independent thrift store near me where I’ve scored numerous huge savings. At that store, one stainless or other skillet is just another skillet, just like one sport coat is like another. It’s not every time at the thrift store, but sometimes you get insane value for purchase.
That’s a good deterrent. It might remind me to bring in some of the myriad bags I keep in my car but forget to bring into the store.
