Antique Cast Iron Cookware

Antique cast-iron cookware has been used since ancient times. Cast-iron was used as early as the 2nd Century BC in Ancient China. Cast iron has been the standard in cooking since then—at least until the invention of the Teflon and other non-stick technologies. While many people have tossed their old iron pans and replaced them by the new “advanced” cooking utensils, the cast iron cookware has still retained it charm. Slowly, more and more people are reverting back to their traditional and antique cookware because the taste that is achieved in them cannot be achieved through modern cooking methods. The advantages of cast iron cookware are numerous: even heat distribution, non-stick surface, highly durable product, simple to care for and very versatile in use. For people seeking to buy these antique cookware pieces, there are certain points to bear in mind:

• Determine the origin of the product—most antique cast iron cookware has the name of the manufacturer inscribed on the bottom of the product. Some popular names include Griswold, Wagner and Lodge. Griswold is more of a collection item because it is no longer manufactured.
• Determine any damage caused to the product—avoid pieces that are warped, cracked and cannot be used for cooking any more.
• Look for any signs of paint on the cooking surface—some dishonest dealers may cover up damaged spots by adding a layer of epoxy resin. This is poisonous when swallowed.

Most cast iron products made in the US or Canada has some value, especially old items like Griswold and Wagner. Prices can go as high as $1000 for frying pans numbered 1. The lid of a number 13 skillet alone can go up to $500. Oval skillets, waffle irons, Dutch ovens and roasting pans come in the various prices, between $40 and $500 each. Some of the antique Lodge products are also very much in demand and can fetch quite high prices.
From a collector’s point of view, the best deals are not where you would expect them to be. Often, cast iron treasures can appear off garage sales, Estate auctions, and resale shops. They can be rusted or dirty but with some minimal cleaning, they can be as good as new. Their value would be quadrupled overnight.
Cast-iron cookware is an excellent collection item for the following reasons:

(i)The good ones are rare and fetch high prices
(ii)There are many of them around, waiting to be discovered. The early manufacturers were very prolific and sold thousands of their products all over the USA.
(iii)The cast iron products last forever so that one can benefit from their accruing value with time.
(iv)They are part of the American history and a prized witness of American engineering.