I have been drooling over the Lodge Signature series since they were first introduced. I have a cupboard full of Lodge (very well used) and couldn't justify the price until my son direly needed a grill pan. Sooo I gave him my Lodge Logic grill pan (a fine pan in it's own right) and treated myself to this beauty.
I am astounded at the beauty, heft and quality of this pan. The pictures don't do it justice. Superbly crafted in the USA (HOORAY!!!!!), pre-seasoned, with gorgeous, well balanced stainless handles and the date 1896 stamped into the helper handle. The Lodge insignia in stainless is just below the main handle.
Couldn't wait to try it so off to the store for a treat fresh cut 1 1/2" thick prime filets. Rinsed this black beauty in hot water, dried it and right on the stove. Fired it up HOT, sprayed it with canola oil and put those bad boy filets, rolled in crushed pepper, in the pan. Meanwhile, I had a batch of Alton Brown's Bakers going in the oven, a Caesar salad chilling, a demi-glace made and gorgonzola at the ready and my Lodge Fajita pans heating in a 350 degree oven. 5 minutes and a flip, 3 more minutes, drizzle with demi-glace and crumbled gorgonazola and under a lid for about 45 seconds and then on to the hot fajita pans along with the bakers.
HEAVEN!!!! Those filets were better than any I've ever been served in restaurants melt in your mouth tender, juicy, seared to perfection. Serving on the hot fajita pans kept them hot until the very last bite.
The quality of this cast iron pan is just amazing perfect heat distribution and the stay cool stainless handle is a real bonus. (Note: the helper handle does get hot because of it's length) Cleanup was a breeze after dinner I poured hot water in the pan, heated it and then swirled a nylon brush around and through the grooves. Clean as a whistle. Rinsed it, dried it, put it back on the stove for a minute to get rid of any moisture and then wiped it down with a very thin coat of food grade beeswax and mineral oil made for chopping blocks (from Wooden Wonderson eBay). This product helps keep your cast iron seasoned without the rancid smell of oil.
After this experience, I will be buying the other Lodge Signature pans. There are pans and then there are PANS. This falls into the latter category. What a pleasure to use such a beautiful piece that is also exceptionally well crafted, balanced and designed. I haven't had the heart to put it away in a cupboard it's too gorgeous to hide and I'll be using it often.
Hats off to Lodge for an excellent product and applause to Amazon for selling it with the free shipping. This pan will last more than a lifetime. Worth it's weight in gold and now that I've used it, worth every single penny in price. I hope Lodge will add more pans to the Signature line!
Lodge is one of the few cookware products still made in the U.S.Their cookware is widely recommended by experts.A standard skillet like this will run in the mid to high $30's, and I've seen plenty of seconds for $15+ at Marshall's, etc.But those handles will get hot and need a holder.This product goes one big one better, since it has the great looking (and design award winning) stainless steel stay-cool handle (note that the long handle will stay cool about 1 1/2"+ away from the skillet, but the short loop will still need a holder).Pre-seasoning helps a lot.I am dissappointed, though, that Amazon is selling this for $107 delivered when there are several other online sources selling it for $10+ or so less, delivered (Chef's Catalog, a vendor here, sells it for $99 with free delivery).
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This Lodge grill pan is great.It comes pre-seasoned and is very heavy.You will find yourself using both handles to pick it up.It makes good steaks.DO NOT use soap or abrasives when washing this pan it will ruin the seasoning.I got a Lodge Set of 2 Durable Polycarbonate Pan Scrapers,Red and Black and just wash it in hot water.I also bought the Lodge 12 Inch Tempered Glass Lid and it fits just fine.
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I am not going to go into detail of all the pros and cons of this pan. I think they are well listed by the other reviewers however, if you are looking for this pan and wondering why the price has jumped drastically, it is because Lodge has temporarily discontinued the "L" Series (enameled cast iron) and the "Signature" Series (cast iron with stainless accents). You will not find these again till they re-introduce them with new look and design tentatively late 2013. So if you love the signature series buy them while you can or wait till they come back. I personally dont recommend the "L" series over the "Color" series which is not being discontinued but if you really wanted an "L" series get it while you can.
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Excellent product. I use it for steaks and chops. Get the pan really hot so the meat get a good char and finish it in the oven. Easy to clean with just hot water if you do it before it cools down completely. Heavy so it requires to hands but it is worth it.
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I like this pan in that it is very easy to make crapes because no sides.Just trying to move the batter around by rotating the pan does not work well.You have to usethe wood T-Shaped Crape Spreader too.It works on an induction element so that is why I purchased it.What I don't like about it is that it is very slippery on the element and hard to hold and turn the crape at the same time.It's going to take practice I can see.It's a nice size.I also use it for heating up tortillas or making melted cheese sandwiches.It works well as a grill.
