The cast iron thread

[ekrampitzjr]

Allergy to nickel, especially on the skin, is surprisingly common. It can show up during ear and body piercing.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

And wearing watches.

 

[JoshT]

Since @fastpakr posted a pic a few pages back showing one. Thoughts about cast iron on a glass cook top?

I know years ago, when glass tops were still a farily new thing, the consensus was that the two shouldn't be combined. Considering how many people like using cast iron has that changed?

Since I left Boy Scouts almost 20 years ago I haven't used cast iron much, ok almost never. I've got a few pieces, but I'll admit that I haven't looked at them in years and last time I did they were rusty. Currently have an old coil type electric stove and thinking about repalcing/upgrading appliances and would like to go with a glass cook top. I may not use the cast iron much, but I do want to retain the capability.

Recently I've had people tell me that you can use cast iron on a glass top if it was designed with a smooth bottom for that purpose. Of course I'm not going out and buying some high dollar cast iron just for that. Seeing the way some of you are refinishing your pans, I'm wondering if it would work to just take an angle grinder bottom and sand it smooth next time I'm refinishing them. If not and I go through with the glass top I'll probably pickup a portable single burner electric to use when I want to cook with the old iron.

 

[fastpakr]

I honestly didn't know there was traditional wisdom about not using cast iron on glass. For what it's worth, I've been doing so daily for three years now with no issues or any caution other than respecting the weight of the skillets when setting them down.

 

[Roert42]

I’ve always preferred traditional electric coil stoves over glass tops.
Feels like the coil stoves start butting heat into the pan instantly and the glass tops take a 1/2 hour to start getting hot.

Not trying to create a bunch of work, but it could be pretty easy to convert to a propane stove if you wanted gas.

 

[fastpakr]

Regardless of the heat source, giving cast a while to fully warm up helps immensely. I've never timed it, but it probably takes a solid five minutes to get evenly heated even on a gas stove.

 

[Blmpkn]

I’ve always preferred traditional electric coil stoves over glass tops.
Feels like the coil stoves start butting heat into the pan instantly and the glass tops take a 1/2 hour to start getting hot.

Not trying to create a bunch of work, but it could be pretty easy to convert to a propane stove if you wanted gas.

Glass tops are absolutely awful -__-

I swear.. I could get a pot of water to boil quicker by yelling at it rather than putting it on the stupid stove.

 

[Uncle Gump]

We have a glass top electric... and I manage with it. I prefer a gas stove... but I don't have any issues boiling water quick or using my cast iron. It takes only a couple minutes at most to get them ready to cook.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I much prefer a gas top but electric oven. I need to see if the induction stove works with cast.

 

[sgtsandman]

I much prefer a gas top but electric oven. I need to see if the induction stove works with cast.

Induction works with steel, cast iron, and a lot of stainless. It is supposed to be just as quick as gas and the stove surface stays relatively cool. So less chance of getting burned. The heat generation is in the material of the pan or pot instead of the element or burner.

This is not from personal experience but from I’ve been told by different sources.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Since @fastpakr posted a pic a few pages back showing one. Thoughts about cast iron on a glass cook top?

I know years ago, when glass tops were still a farily new thing, the consensus was that the two shouldn't be combined. Considering how many people like using cast iron has that changed?

Since I left Boy Scouts almost 20 years ago I haven't used cast iron much, ok almost never. I've got a few pieces, but I'll admit that I haven't looked at them in years and last time I did they were rusty. Currently have an old coil type electric stove and thinking about repalcing/upgrading appliances and would like to go with a glass cook top. I may not use the cast iron much, but I do want to retain the capability.

Recently I've had people tell me that you can use cast iron on a glass top if it was designed with a smooth bottom for that purpose. Of course I'm not going out and buying some high dollar cast iron just for that. Seeing the way some of you are refinishing your pans, I'm wondering if it would work to just take an angle grinder bottom and sand it smooth next time I'm refinishing them. If not and I go through with the glass top I'll probably pickup a portable single burner electric to use when I want to cook with the old iron.

Glass top works fine with me.

I hear do be careful because you like have a heavy chunk of cast iron on glass so don't drop it (break your glass top) or drag it around (scratch your glass top)

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Just glue some felt to the bottom of the pan...

 

[ericbphoto]

Induction works with steel, cast iron, and a lot of stainless. It is supposed to be just as quick as gas and the stove surface stays relatively cool. So less chance of getting burned. The heat generation is in the material of the pan or pot instead of the element or burner.

This is not from personal experience but from I’ve been told by different sources.

Induction works with copper. That's how transformers work.

 

[bilbo]

I have had a glass top since I moved out of my parents' house. I hate them. Every one I've ever used adjusts the heat by pulsing the burner, and some things are hard to cook that way. When we had our gas furnace installed in our old house, I had them put a tee and valve in the line going to the kitchen. I figured when the cheap glass top that came with the house went out I would put in a gas range. It just kept chugging along frustrating me, probably out of spite. I'm sure that stove is still working hard making someone else's culinary life miserable.

Our new house also came with a glass top. It's a "smart" range that was rather expensive. It cooks just as crappy as the cheap one in our old house. Since the range is in an island we would have to jackhammer the floor to get gas to it, so that will probably never happen.

 

[JoshT]

I’ve always preferred traditional electric coil stoves over glass tops.
Feels like the coil stoves start butting heat into the pan instantly and the glass tops take a 1/2 hour to start getting hot.

Not trying to create a bunch of work, but it could be pretty easy to convert to a propane stove if you wanted gas.

The glass top stove at my parents house doesn't seem to cook any different than a coil type stove. They e never used cast iron on it that I'm aware of. Not like they don't use it at all, they have got cast iron and use it when camping.

Not interested in gas. Will use a propane stove when camping, but that's about it. I have nothing gas at my house, all appliances are electric. My gas isn't available here, I'd have to have a tank installed and it brought in by truck. Really not interested in doing all that.

I may someday install a gas fireplace, but I'd probably run that off a 100 lb bottle that I could take in for refill. Even that is a stretch though, with electric prices here, adding gas doesn't make much sense.