Enameled cast iron cookware

[dragonfly]

I have had my eye on an enamel cast iron pot for a few years, but just couldn't force myself to spend in the range of $150-300 dollars on one. I found a 3 quart Lodge brand enamel pot at Target yesterday, and bought it for 42 dollars. It is now my gumbo pot, and I love it. It distributes heat evenly, is easy to clean, and cost much less than the other brands. I highly recommend it if you are looking for something along these lines.

[Natalie]

I have been coveting some of those cast iron pans myself. The ones made by
Le Crueset.
I saw a decent one at Walmart near the camping supplies and have been mulling it over, I forget the brand name but I wonder if its the same one you bought.

[dragonfly]

I have been coveting some of those cast iron pans myself. The ones made by
Le Crueset.


:) That/s the one I have had my eye one for quite some time now. I'm sure it's great quality, but I don't use one often enough to justify the price. The one you saw was probably the same brand. It's made by Lodge, which is a fairly large dealer in cast iron cookware. I have a few other of their pieces *just plain cast iron* and I love them too.

[Natalie]

I hear you, thats why I haven't bought mine either. I just daydream about it and visit it in the store.
Marshall's has some discounted pieces sometimes but still alot of money to spend.
I think I will go with the Lodge brand, its really about how well it works anyway and not so much about the fun colors I guess...right? right? I really wanted that red one though or maybe the blue, hmm the lime green one is kind of funky but then again so is the orange............nah, gotta go with the sensible one, even if sensible is not always fun. :)

[dragonfly]

I think I will go with the Lodge brand, its really about how well it works anyway and not so much about the fun colors I guess...right? right?

Right:)
The one I bought is red.:D

[Jeffrey Todd]

Try baking bread in it, DF. Like from an old-world bakery.

[justin]

my wife would never have spent the money on one......this year for christmas we got red, blue, and green. i make alot of soup and stew so i really like them.

[Hambone]

If I give yall my wife's email or cell #. Can you explain to her what cookware is? TIA

[NeilV]

Derek,

When you arrive in Tulsa, how much money can I extort from you by agreeing not to track down your wife and telling her about this. I'm placing a big order for Dadant to deliver to the Buzz, and I need to know what the "Derek Discount" will be. ;)

Neil

[MapMan]

I love my Lodge cookware too - but since I use my covered pot also on the grill (smoker), mine is just "plain 'ol cast iron" - not enameled. My favorite use is for stew or chili, and I use my smoker to infuse smoke flavors into the dish. The way I add the flavor is to mix up a batch on the stove top - browning the meat, adding ingredients etc. and then I put it - uncovered - in my Big Green Egg which I've loaded with hickory or apple or other smoke wood. The smoke infuses the stew with a great flavor, and I then allow the dish to slow cook (covered after the smoke process). The Lodge covered pot is great to allow the stew, chile, etc. to cook evenly.

MM

I've also baked bread in it quite often using this no-knead method (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html?_r=1). The bread is outstanding in texture, with huge pockets where the bubbles formed during the very slow rise. You have to try it - very easy - fantastic results!

[dragonfly]

If I give yall my wife's email or cell #. Can you explain to her what cookware is? TIA

:D
Derek, I'm afraid that young women aren't taught how to cook anymore these days.

[dragonfly]

MM

I've also baked bread in it quite often using this no-knead method (http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/08mini.html?_r=1). The bread is outstanding in texture, with huge pockets where the bubbles formed during the very slow rise. You have to try it - very easy - fantastic results!

Wow, thanks a million. I will try it soon. It sounds great from reading the link.

[Jeffrey Todd]

Mapman, that is exactly the article and bread that I baked my first loaves of bread from. I had zero experience with baking bread and it turned out unbelievably good. It never lasts the day out, especially with a little salt and olive oil.
Anyone who has not tried it - you need to.

[USCBeeMan]

Hmmmmmm...

The Lodge company is about an hour from me. Guess I need to take a run over there when my wife's cousin comes down from PA for about 6 weeks. Her cousin has land in "the valley" which is not far from the Lodge company.

[justin]

my wife is doing the" 5 minutes a day" no knead bread every week for the last couple months.its really nice having fresh bread all the time.it also makes great pizza crust,if its already mixed up in the fridge.we seem to be going thru alot of butter and honey.she recently increased the recipe by 1/4,and is giving a loaf away every week to older folks around here.no one is complaining.

[Bizzybee]

If you have a Bass Pro near by, they carry a pretty good selection of cast iron goodies. Lodge is one of their brands also. Of course they have their own as well.

I have pans from them and Wally Whirled both. No better cookware to be had. I love mine!

[Hambone]

Derek,

When you arrive in Tulsa, how much money can I extort from you by agreeing not to track down your wife and telling her about this. I'm placing a big order for Dadant to deliver to the Buzz, and I need to know what the "Derek Discount" will be. ;)

Neil

Track down my wife? Good luck. You got a better chance of finding Juan. :lpf:

What?? A lawyer wanting a bribe from the common wealth. OMG. :D

I can get us a five finger discount. Let me know. :p

Call me butter, cause I am on a roll today!

[Hambone]

:D
Derek, I'm afraid that young women aren't taught how to cook anymore these days.

Tell me about it. The other day. She was making some hambuger helper. She breaks out the line. "I don't know why they call it hamburger helper. Taste just fine by itself."

[MapMan]

Tell me about it. The other day. She was making some hambuger helper. She breaks out the line. "I don't know why they call it hamburger helper. Taste just fine by itself."

Sounds like you should both attend some cooking classes. Seriously, the couples that cook together, stay together! Preparing meals can be a great time, not a hassle - stay away from the "boxed dinners": roll up your sleeves, have a little wine, and have a good time chopping vegetables, have a little wine, browning meat, rolling out some pasta, have a little wine, then sit down to a comfortable meal - with more wine (and candles). ;)

MM

[dragonfly]

Tell me about it. The other day. She was making some hambuger helper. She breaks out the line. "I don't know why they call it hamburger helper. Taste just fine by itself."

Is she aware that cookbooks have step-by-step instructions? I know that guys don't need instructions, but they come in handy for a gal who cooks.;)
You might also consider taking up an interest in the food network, and watch shows like Rachael Ray and Alton Brown. Brown's show is pretty fun to watch. Seriously.

[Bizzybee]

Kinda reminds me of Julia Child dipping into the sherry and babbling around the set :rolleyes: Guess you never have a bad meal if you can't remember what it was you ate............ :D

[Hambone]

Is she aware that cookbooks have step-by-step instructions? I know that guys don't need instructions, but they come in handy for a gal who cooks.;)
You might also consider taking up an interest in the food network, and watch shows like Rachael Ray and Alton Brown. Brown's show is pretty fun to watch. Seriously.


The only shows I like on there is Giada's and Sandra Lee's :s :D

Good list so far keep them coming. Her birthday is coming up.

Cookware
Cookbooks
Cooking Class for 1

[MapMan]

The only shows I like on there is Giada's and Sandra Lee's :s :D

Good list so far keep them coming. Her birthday is coming up.

Cookware
Cookbooks
Cooking Class for 1

Those are the two I don't like! Giada is too snooty ( I hear she is a real b* to work with), and Sandra Lee is to frilly - must be those curtains or whatever she used to hawk. ;)

Alton Brown and Paula Deen are the best. :thumbsup:

You stated cooking class for 1 - if you cook, you s/b able to teach her!

MM

[dragonfly]

Those are the two I don't like!

Me too:D
Actually, it's not that I don't like them, but Giada's show is usually stuff that I am not interested in cooking, and Sandra's a light-weight. I like Ray's show because she is so no-nonsense and she makes stuff that is generally pretty healthy, although a little heavy on the fat at times. I love Brown's show because he gets into the science behind it. It's interesting to nerds like me.
I bet I know why Derek likes Giada and Sandra.;)

[Hambone]

Actually I am kidding about the cooking stuff. Just so ya’ll know. I do almost all the cooking myself though. It’s one for the things I really enjoy. My wife bought me a real nice cook set last x-mas. All Clad I think.

[Hambone]

I love Brown's show because he gets into the science behind it. It's interesting to nerds like me.

A. Brown is my favorite show. I love the science part too. I have a couple on tvio to reference back to.

[dragonfly]

Actually I am kidding about the cooking stuff. Just so ya’ll know. I do almost all the cooking myself though.

My son does almost all the cooking in his house too, and he enjoys it. I suppose it's my fault. I raised him to be self-sufficient so he wouldn't have the need to marry a mama substitute.

[crazytranes]

:ot: My wife and I cook together almost every night. Sometimes I take the lead, somtimes she does. I think that it has really strengthened our marriage. :gh: It gives us more time to talk together.

Back on topic: We have a cast iron dutch oven w/ glass lid that we picked up "Curbside shopping." A little steel wool and elbow grease got rid of the rust. A little Crisco and time in the oven sealed it up nicely. We use it for a lot of different things (especially the no-knead or 5 min/ day bread) and we LOVE IT!!! We also have a cast iron frying pan from my mom that we don't use as much. Anytime we do use them, we just give them a light coating of oil and rust has never been a problem.

We have looked at the enameled cookware, but felt that it wasn't worth the price since we have something that works just as well that was free.

[dragonfly]

We also have a cast iron frying pan from my mom that we don't use as much. Anytime we do use them, we just give them a light coating of oil and rust has never been a problem.



I have quite a bit of cast iron, and I love it.




We have looked at the enameled cookware, but felt that it wasn't worth the price since we have something that works just as well that was free.

The one I bought was worth the 40 dollars, but I couldn't bring myself to pay in the 150-200 dollar range.
You can't beat the price that you paid for your dutch oven. That's great.:)