Bayou Classic 7434, 14" Cast Iron Skillet

First off, the packaging was horrible.It came in a box not much bigger than the pan with NO packing at all.The handle was sticking out the side of the box when I got it!!No biggie though.I opened the box and found the pan to be of poor quality, the handle was barely long enough for me to hold in my hand and with no handle opposite, it would be a chore to move this baby around when you had a few pounds of food in it!!The casting was REALLY rough and you could see that there was about a 3 inch spot in the middle where the casting was very thin.This thing was junk and I sent it back to be replaced by a Lodge.Bayou Classics are cast in China and they look like it!!Wish I knew that before I ordered it!!

First, I would say this pan should be Ok for outdoor, campfire type use.I had hoped to use this as an indoor stove top frying pan, and so I was disappointed with some features of this cast iron skillet.First the good: price was low (about $16, free shipping), compared to other brands similar size skillets (at $40 -$65). It is very heavy, it has pouring spouts on the sides and a short lifting assist handle on the side opposite the big straight handle.The handle has a hole for hanging. (It is NOT the pan shown in the picture for this item.) The not-so good: The reason for the low price, it seems, is barely adequate manufacturing and design.The skillet, manufactured in China, is rather roughly cast and the sand mold used apparently had some minor slumping so there are uneven thicker areas on the inside walls of the pan.As mentioned, the pan surface is fairly rough and porous, indicating a poorly prepared sand casting mold.The pan is usable nonetheless, but might be difficult to keep clean or have a good "nonstick" quality even if well seasoned.The bottom of the pan that would sit on the burner is not flat, as I expected a frying pan bottom to be.It has a large raised "Bayou Classic" logo cast into the bottom center, and a thin raised ring around the bottom edge, to allow the pan to sit flat on a flat surface without rocking around on the raised logo in the middle.Unfortunately, the ring is very uneven and the pan I received rocks quite a bit.Also, this is a very poor design for use on an electric stove, or induction electric stove because very little of the pan bottom would be in contact with the heating element.This design might be fine however, for cooking over a campfire, hot coals, or a gas burner stove if the burner grate will fit and support correctly on the raised ring/logo casting on the bottom of the pan. The pan arrives grey cast iron, (poorly packed in a flimsy torn cardboard box) thickly coated with paraffin to prevent rusting.This must be removed and the pan seasoned (like all cast iron pans) before use.Instructions included with the pan explain this process. They also warn you not to use the pan while drinking, intoxicated, or on prescription medication....!?I have several other cast iron pans (made by a US manufacturer) which I use frequently, and they are of MUCH better quality than this Bayou Classic pan.I would only recommend this pan for outdoor campfire type use, or if your budget requires the cheapest possible pan you can find.You will be much better off spending a little more to get a quality cast iron pan that will last a lifetime and be a pleasure to use.

Buy Bayou Classic 7434, 14" Cast Iron Skillet Now

The pan size is 14" from pouring lip to pouring lip.The actual inside measurments are 12.75" at top, 11+" inside bottom of skillet and 2.375" deep.Quality is good but not Lodge.At price w/free shipping it was a deal.

Read Best Reviews of Bayou Classic 7434, 14" Cast Iron Skillet Here

Let me rephrase that, my husband loves it.He's the cook and I bought this for him.He uses it every day and thanks me everyday for buying it.Enough said.

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This is a solid piece of cookware.It retains heat, cooks evenly, and cleans up easily.I use for everything from hash to steaks (when it's too cold to want to use the grill).The only cautionary note for some would be on upper body strength...it is a substantial hunk of cast iron, rather like cooking with something carved out of an engine block, or a manhole cover with sides.

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