How can you tell if a cast iron skillet is vintage?

They did this from the late 1940s. All the way to the 1970s. And this is one way to instantly

How do I know if my cast iron is valuable?

From then on, the Nances began their search for unusual pieces of cast iron. Valuable ones are identified by distinctive marks on the back. Griswold, Wagner and Erie are the names you’ll want to find, although a skillet without a name can be identified by Nance and other collectors.

What does the number on the bottom of a cast iron skillet mean?

The number actually refers to the diameter of the pan in inches across the bottom of the pan, not across its flared top, which is the industry standard way to measure skillet size. … According to Lodge: “The 10 comes the days from when cast-iron pots and pans were sized to fit on the numbered eyes of a woodstove.

What is considered vintage cast iron?

Only cast iron made between the late 19th and mid-20th century is considered “vintage.” That’s basically anything produced before 1957. Most cast-iron goods from this time period were made by just a handful of companies: Birmingham Stove &amp, Range. Griswold Manufacturing.

How can you tell if a cast iron skillet is real?

A real cast iron skillet should be all one piece – no seams and no screwed on handles. Check the pan’s surface. It should look the same as the rest of the pan with no other materials. A raw cast iron pan will have a dull black/dark grey color and be slightly rough to the touch.

What is the oldest cast iron skillet?

The oldest cast iron artifacts date from early 5th century B.C. China, in the Jiangsu province, and such tools were widely used in the region by the 3rd century B.C. Cast iron slowly made its way to Western Europe, likely via the Silk Road, and wasn’t an important material until the 14th century A.D.

How do you date a Lodge cast iron skillet?

This is the newer lodge this is the one that’s grainy. This is the one that’s a wrist breaker. It’s

What does SK mean on the bottom of a cast iron skillet?

It may be marked SK for the skillet, G for griddle, or DO for Dutch oven. These letters are common on vintage Lodge cast iron pieces. Other brands (like Wagner) will sometimes use letters instead, like H. Pans are also sometimes marked with model numbers like 8, 10, or 90.

What is the rarest Griswold skillet?

One of the rarest of all Griswold skillets the Block EPU (BEPU) is the hardest among the 13s to find as so few were made (people tended to buy them less for the fear of unlucky 13). This one is a beauty with a heat ring, glassy cooking surface and nice mill marks.

How do you date a Wagner cast iron skillet?

Is vintage cast iron safe to use?

Cast iron pans can leach a sizeable amount of iron into your food, exceeding dietary intake in some cases. Acidic foods will contribute to much more leaching while an old, heavily-seasoned pan will leach much less iron than a newer one. … Steel is made out of iron, after all.

How do I know if my cornbread is moldy cast iron?

The most notable identification mark for a BS&amp,R cornbread skillet is the solid center of the pan. On the underside of the pan, there is an indentation to match the center of the pan.

How can you tell a fake Griswold?

There. And i wasn’t paying a lot of attention. But by the time i discovered the fact that it was a

What is the best oil to season a cast iron skillet?

All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.

Should you spray cast iron skillet with Pam?

Do not try to use nonstick sprays like Pam to season your cast iron skillet, as they contain other ingredients that aren’t good for your pan. … No more trying to pour oil into the pan and pouring too much. And goodbye to excess oil that gets sticky if stored too long on the pan.