More CI

[captndan]

Have you checked the antique stores? They often have old well seasoned cookware cheaper than the new stuff.

[IrvinF]

Personally I would prefer something new so know what has been in it.

[mbellot]

Personally I would prefer something new so know what has been in it.

That's the nice thing about CI, you can always strip it bare and start over.

[JMSetzler]

I always look for Cast Iron when I'm in antiques stores and flea markets. I always find some, but it's always priced a lot higher than I'd pay for it. People who are selling it tend to want an 'antique' value price for it rather than a yard sale price. Most of the old cast iron I have come across, especially the Griswold brand stuff, tends to have a price tag at 3-4x what I can buy a new Lodge equivalent piece for.

[waldo]

Personally I would prefer something new so know what has been in it.

You can put it in a self cleaning oven, and it will come out spotless, with all residue removed, down to the bare iron, much cleaner than anything you will buy in a store (store and factory employees handled it right after their washroom breaks!) Dust it off, and oil it with Crisco or equivalent immediately or it will rust. (I've seen the rust start to form in less than an hour, so "immediately" is the operative word!) Season it with a thick coat of Crisco, and bake in a 450F oven for two hours.