rachels.haven's Journal

[farmerjan]

They make nickel free stainless...Amazon carries 2 brands; and if you go to Goodwill, you can often find the copper clad Revere Ware stainless that is well used... I scour the stores for it. It is not nickel free but after at least 10 uses of most regular stainless steel, the amount that might leach out is miniscule compared to new pots. I got some as a "bride" in 1971 and look for any I can find for a price of pennies on the dollar. Revere Ware went stopped making their iconic cookware in 2018 or something like that... I do not use any that have aluminum core... the copper bottoms will distribute the burner temps evenly.

Plus the studies done on the leaching was with tomato sauce that is very acidic...and I think that they were done after a long cooking time... I would have to look that up.

Even Walmart has Lodge cast iron pans... often sold in sets. They are easy to season.

I like the 2 pans, but I will bet they were slightly surfaced ground inside, to improve the smoothness and re-seasoned... the dutch oven obviously was not surfaced... was it re-seasoned?
I have no problem with using any cast iron once washed and re-seasoned myself... use a high temp oil to season. And yes, you can use a mild dish soap, wash and dry. Do not soak in water... Then a very light wipe down with an oil or a smidgeon of Crisco makes it perfectly usable again. There are special scrubbers for cast iron, but they often are stainless types.
I like avocado oil for using an oil and for it's high smoke point and very mild "flavor"... there are a couple others, I think sesame seed , or grape seed oil is a close second in mild flavor and smoke point.
If you use a solid... which is easier to use... good old fashioned Crisco is very good. It is not as low in saturated fat but it is a much better choice than some other things.
Once seasoned, using bacon grease is still a good alternative and will impart a little flavor.

I have 2 saucepots that are cast iron but I do not like them much. Using the old revere ware for things like heating vegetables in water or even making spaghetti, is faster and easier. You can always go to a glass/ceramic type pot. I think the old "visions cookware" was glass cooking pots. I used a glass coffee perculator for my ex many many years ago.... and that was boiling water temps.

 

[fuzzi]

I still have my copper-bottom Revere Ware that I purchased as a set around 1978.

I use a cast iron skillet for hamburgers, a glass Visions pot for microwave heating, and I use a ceramic coated "nonstick" skillet for eggs.

 

[farmerjan]

Sorry about the house being sold at a loss... hopefully not too badly; but very glad that the mortgage payment is no longer taxing your budget. Plus not having to deal with the vagrants that kept trying to move in and take over. Peace of mind that it is no longer your problem or responsibility.

 

[Ridgetop]

My mother had Revere Ware but after a while the black composition handles seemed to break. I have a bail handle Revere Ware kettle that was hers and love it.

Would the cast iron pots and pans be too heavy for your glass top stove? I read somewhere that the weight of a fully loaded canning kettle might be too heavy for a glass top stove.