Hit 15 years on the same cast iron skillet last Sunday

I was making cornbread for a family dinner and flipped it out of the pan and noticed the seasoning has this deep black mirror finish now that I never planned for. I bought that skillet back in 2009 at a thrift store in Spokane for six bucks because my old nonstick was scratched to hell. It has been through three moves, two roommates who put it in the dishwasher once, and countless meals from eggs to seared steaks. The handle is still solid, the cooking surface is smooth as glass, and I have never once thought about replacing it. My sister asked me last week if I wanted a new set of pans for my birthday and I told her no because this one skillet does everything I need. It made me realize I have spent more money on phone cases and coffee makers in that time than on cookware. Anyone else got a single kitchen tool that has outlasted almost everything else you own?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_wade20d ago

Have you tried scrubbing it with coarse salt and oil to keep that mirror finish?

quinnm9020d ago

I read somewhere that salt scrubbing can be too abrasive for old seasoning and it's better to just use a chainmail scrubber and hot water. @the_wade might find that useful if he's worried about scratching up his pan.