LodgeWildlife Series - 8 Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet with Duck Scene

I was replacing another 10 inch cast iron skillet that I have had for a few years (not lodge brand). It was rusty, rust that I could not wash off and just very unpleasant smelling. Don't know why I ever try other brands. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered this one was from the wildlife series, I got the deer.

Love my pan!

This is my favorite skillet. It’s heavy enough but not too heavy. It holds the heat well and cooks evenly, without dangerous chemicals. It’s versatile: I can use it in the oven or on the stovetop.

Love it, for the price I think it's pretty good. The bottom is flat and does not rock. There are only a few minor shallow sand grain sized holes, which are just manufacturing defects and do not affect the performance.

I’ve been wanting a cast iron skillet for while now because it’s a good way to up your iron intake. My husband has been struggling with iron deficiency for years so we decided to give cast iron a try. However, I’ve heard that cast iron is quite hard to maintain. After receiving my order fairly quickly, I did some research before attempting to use it for the first time. As far as cleaning goes, it should not be put in the dishwasher because it will lead to rusting and rust is very difficult to remove. It just needs to be hand washed with hot/warm water and mild soap with a bristle brush or chain mail. Afterwards, make sure it is completely dry. I usually heat it up on the stove for a little while to ensure that it is bone dry. After it is washed, coat it with a thin layer of vegetable oil with a paper towel or some sort of lint free cloth and you’re set for when you’re ready to use it. It claims to be pre-seasoned from the factory. However, if you’re having trouble cooking without food sticking, I suggest to re-season the pan. To season, apply a thin layer of vegetable oil and setting it upside down in the oven for 1 hour on 450 degrees. Setting it upside down ensures that the oil does not puddle up in one spot while it polymerizes. From my understanding, the high heat from the oven makes a chemical reaction which polymerizes the oil and essentially bonds with the pan. This bonding creates a nonstick layer of coating. Science!! :)For cooking, it is important to let the pan itself heat up on the stove before putting any food in it. The pan should be hot before beginning to cook. If not, the food will stick really bad and it will be a huge mess to scrape off. I suggest cooking with the stove set to medium-high or high. High heat will prevent food from sticking with the help of the vegetable oil coating from when it was seasoned in the oven.I hope this helps!! Happy cooking!

Perfect size and works just the way it is suppose to work. Nothing sticks to the surface when cooking my dish. Heat across the surface is very even and I certainly can prepare enough food in it for my wife and I.

Cast iron pans are one of those things that people either love or hate; I’ve never heard anyone say they ‘sort of like’ cooking with cast iron. Much of the dislike comes from not knowing how to care for cast iron, and the expectation that it will be like cooking with Teflon. Cast iron does take a bit of extra tlc, especially when it’s new, but it will last a lifetime(and beyond) if treated properly. The most important aspect of caring for cast iron is to dry it completely after use; if it is left soaking in water or put away wet, it will rust. There is no cookware that is more versatile; the sky’s the limit when it comes to its uses. It can withstand extreme temperatures, so it’s great to bake in. Any concern about a potentially dangerous coating that will flake off of a pan into food is non-existent. Cast iron holds heat longer, and heats more evenly than the ‘disposable’ non-stick pans that tend to develop hot spots(then wind up in a landfill). Once it has a proper seasoning on it, very few types of food will stick to a cast iron skillet. And if a mallet is needed for pounding a chicken breast thin for cutlets or parmigiana, look no further than an 8” cast iron skillet.The wildlife series meets Lodge’s high standard of quality, with the added bonus of being works of art; each size skillet showcases a different animal. The 8” skillet features a duck, and it’s really beautifully done. It’s too nice to stick in a cupboard; hung on a wall, it would be an attractive addition to any kitchen. This skillet is the perfect size for frying two eggs, cooking a single burger or grilled cheese sandwich, making a small pan pizza, sautéing veggies, or baking a big cookie. It is well worth the price paid, and then some. Lodge is a reputable company that has been around for a very long time; I have a lot of cast iron pieces, and with the exception of one, they are all Lodge. Did I mention these last forever? Put me in the ‘love’ column.

Gifted, he loved it