CAST IRON COOKWARE

Thirty or forty years ago, the selection of cooking utensils was not as diverse as it is today and many of us still hang on to that treasured ole cast iron “skillet” as they called it that still has the natural “Teflon” coating brought about by the gradual build up of sediments from frying all sorts of chicken, beef, pork, etc, with cooking oil and fat that would clog up the arteries of a Mammoth or Godzilla.  Let’s don’t forget that Dutch oven that has seen many a Beef and Brunswick stew and the occasional Chicken stew flavored with wild game and maybe a chunk of side meat from a fresh killed hog added for seasoning!

We still have a full set of cast iron cookware, mostly stored of which I will break out a skillet every now and then for a specific recipe.  We used the large 13 inch diameter skillet for frying all types of stuff back in the early 1970s and took several of the cast iron cookware with us camping including a Dutch oven when the weather was cool and we cooked over an open fire pit.  

TEFLON COOKWARE

Then along came the non-stick and easier to clean frying pans which the life span was much shorter than the cast iron ones because a few scratches from a metal spatula or “flipper” quickly sent that pan to land fill, not to mention no good iron oxide from the cast iron skillet but now the non-biodegradable Teflon making its way through your digestive track.

ALUMINUM COOKWARE WITH COPPER CLAD

Not to be outdone, aluminum cookware was a big hit to and without some type of special laminated ply bottom such copper, stainless steel and heavy aluminum, they had “hot spots” and would stick like crazy.

WATERLESS COOKWARE - TOWNECRAFT

Since we are now on an apparent cookware journey maybe leading up to something, a few companies had the bright idea of combing the best of several schools of thought, stainless steel and aluminum to produce a product that heated evenly, fast, fairly non-stick and cleans very easy with only soap and water and the biggest selling point, “Waterless Cookware” with the idea of cooking healthier.  Look no further than Townecraft and several other companies got on the band wagon as well.  Those cookware sets were mostly sold at Pot Parties, not the later pot or marijuana aka Cannabis the 60’s generation introduced but the cookware pots…go ahead and grin because I know you are anyway!

The draw back to these cookware sets was the expense running from around 800 dollars in the mid 1970’s for a complete set and now running from 1500 to 5500 bucks for a complete set, I know because we have a set.  My bride of 51 years as of 2019 and myself were invited to one of those pot parties, not the smoking stuff and I told her before I left we could not afford a set and you guessed it, I was the one that was sold on the spot; seeing was believing and we might have cooked waterless for a month or two before going back to the conventional style of cooking. That set of Townecraft pots and pans are still in usage today, however you can get just as good a pot or pan from Wal-Mart by the name of Tramontia costing much less that will perform just as well and has the multi-laminations as the Townecraft.  Any person starting out today can purchase a complete outfit for a couple hundred dollars.  For example: The enclosed pix is of a Tramontia multi-purpose pot for pasta, steaming, boiling, frying, etc. and costs less than 40 dollars:



I would recommend this pot to anyone and it does just as good as the Townecraft steamer basket/pot, etc.  This pot/basket gets usage for any pasta item and steamed vegetables like cabbage and corn on the cob, etc.…"beautimous" stuff!  Drawback, might be too small for a very large family.

TOWNECRAFT ELECTRIC SKILLET

Not taking away from the Townecraft, their electric skillet which has silicone between the bottom laminations and gets used regularly for any type of cubed steak, fried chicken, etc. and the lid will seal so tight you have to pry it open when you allow the pan temperature to drop.  The trick is simply let it heat back up a little and the skillet will release the seal.  This is one of the most used skillets from the Townecraft set and the only draw back is its size.  Townecraft now has a 13 inch electric skillet available, but can’t see the cash outlay.  It would be nice when cooking for more than 4 people.  The bottom of the frying pan is five (5) laminations thick and the sides are three (3) laminations with stainless steel outer and inner with a layer of aluminum sandwiched in between for even heat distribution.  Pix below:

UPDATE:  I spotted a mint condition Townecraft Liquid Core silicone 13" electric skillet for sale on EBay at a very reasonable price and told my bride about it.  She advised me to purchase it for her as an early Father's Day gift, of which I did.  This model is rated at 1500 watts and our work island/bar stool has GFCI receptacles that will easily handle 1500 watts.  I look forward to using this electric skillet which will no doubt replace the 11" one we have. 

This later model has a much lower profile than the 11 inch diameter skillet we purchased with our original Townecraft set of pots n pans back in the 1980s.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 03-19-19.   

My next most used and favorite frying pan is a 13 inch Townecraft skillet;  this one will "break the bank" in cost unless you host a pot party; remember cooking utensils not the plant type of party! Host a pot party and the 400 dollar MSRP pan is yours free, otherwise dig up 250 bucks.  My bride said I had lost my mind when I purchased that frying pan several years back.  She was probably right too, but quality comes at a premium cost most of the time!  It has the same type waterless seal lid as well.

The above Townecraft skillet rarely leaves the stove top, except for cleaning.

FARBERWARE OMELET PAN

Winding this journey down, I can’t help but add a pix of my three (3) dollar omelet pan by Farberware that I purchased at an auction sale in Morven, NC and was offered double my money before I left the sale.  That was in the early 80’s and it is used about every few days or weekly.  Pix enclosed:



I will insert pixs of a couple small sauce pots I also use about daily and weekly for sure.  It is just my bride and myself so we prepare much less proportions that we use to and it is hard to down size just for two people since most recipes are geared for about 4 to 6.  The little pot on the left is by Farberware and the right pix is a Townecraft.

So there you have it, some of my favorite pots n pans.  On a positive note, Townecraft donates used pots and pans they take in on trade or donations and offer them free of charge to people that have house fires and in need.  Some of the recipe selections within this section will have a pix or two of the above pots n pans in use.

It is no doubt I am domesticated as my good friend John Gaddy reminds me once in a while when I decline going to an archery or gun shop because of other things scheduled and he just celebrated his 67th birthday and has never been married.  My "bride" and myself are still friends after 51 years of marriage as of 2019.  Now grin on that statement!

Web published by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 08-21-08 and updated on 01-24-19.

ENAMELED CAST IRON COOKWARE

Since this page was originally published in 2008, I have added a couple enameled cast iron items; being a 5 quart Dutch Oven and a 12 inch diameter Brazing Skillet.

I use the enameled cast iron Dutch Oven for most of my pot roast n veggie meals. 

I use the enameled cast iron 12 inch diameter Brazing Skillet for frying fish most of the time outside on my fish cooker.  This skillet is available from Aldi Grocery Stores and they have them for sale around Thanksgiving through the Christmas season and mine cost $ 29.00 and worth every penny! 

The above Brazing Skilled is manufactured by Crofton and not a high dollar item.  If you want to spent a couple hundred dollars or more for one made by Le Crueset, go for it.  Most of the time, you get what you pay for, but these two inexpensive enameled cast iron items are definitely the exception to the rule.  I don't try to impress anyone with high dollar name recognition cookware, but will purchase what I need. 

I have found out over the decades; "Wants and needs are two different concepts."  God supplies my every need and so much more.  He gave us eternal life through his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  JOHN 3:16.

The enameled cast iron cooks evenly and with minimal clean up.  I do not put them in the dish washer.

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 01-29-19.

COOKWARE SELLING HYPE

The current trend in selling and promoting cookware seems to be, "the more layers, the better the product."  It reminds me of a cartoon about shaving razor cartridges, showing a razor with multiple individual blades stacked up like a manual cabbage grater. 

I certainly don't buy into all this type of hype for any product and/or service.  We all harbor PSYCHOLOGICAL BIAS and if we believe something to be better, it will be better, whether real or not. 

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 02-24-19.

INSTANT POT

My friend Calvin Jones aka Mr. C. who lives in Moore County, NC, recently gifted me with an Instant Pot which gave birth to a couple good Pot Roast n Veggie meals.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE