Types of Lodge Cookware Graphic

Lodge Manufacturing: Beyond Cast Iron Cookware

Lodge Manufacturing is a beloved American-made brand that has been making cast iron products for home and commercial chefs out of its South Pittsburg, Tenn. location for more than a century. Since founder Joseph Lodge revived an abandoned railroad foundry in 1896 and began producing high-quality cast iron home goods, the company has been working to perfect its iconic cookware, which is now used in home and commercial kitchens across the globe.1

A recent resurgence in traditional forms of home cooking has reignited demand for the durable, quality cookware of previous generations. Not only is cast iron sturdy and adaptable to various methods of cooking, it’s also the original nonstick cookware material and is still favored for this property today. Read on to learn more about this fascinating cookware, such as the different types of Lodge pans, and how to determine which is best for your kitchen.


Table of Contents

  1. What Kind of Pans Does Lodge Make?
  2. Seasoned Cast Iron
  3. Heat-enhanced Cast Iron
  4. Enameled Cast Iron
  5. Seasoned Carbon Steel

What Kind of Pans Does Lodge Make?

Although the name Lodge is practically synonymous with cast iron, the brand hasn’t rested on its laurels when it comes to quality cookware. As the company continued to grow and evolve, new product lines were developed to meet additional cooking needs.2 Today, Lodge offers grills, griddles, Dutch ovens, tableware, baking pans, and other types of Lodge pans. Like the brand's iconic skillets, many of these pieces are made of the classic cast iron America knows and loves, but there are also new options on the table – and the stove, grill, and oven.

In the last few decades, Lodge has expanded its world-renowned cast iron line to include three additional kinds of cookware: enameled cast iron, seasoned carbon steel, and heat-enhanced cast iron. Below, we’ll cover some details on each type of Lodge cookware and its best uses.

Did You Know...?

Modern nonstick cookware often has a coating that can be scratched, chipped, or peeled with use, requiring the pan to be replaced. By contrast, a quality Lodge cast iron piece can be seasoned again and again, meaning it can last decades without needing replacing.

Image of Lodge pre-seasoned cast iron cookware against a white background

Seasoned Cast Iron

  • Sturdy, extremely durable, and versatile in use
  • Natural nonstick surface can be replenished for the life of the pan
  • Arrives ready to use
  • Perfect for searing proteins
  • Highly resistant to temperature fluctuations
  • Must be washed and seasoned by hand after each use
  • Safe for use with ovens, stoves, grills, or campfires
  • Reacts with acidic ingredients such as lemons or tomatoes

Best Uses: frying, searing, simmering, sauteing, baking, braising, grilling

Notes: Extremely durable, versatile, not recommended for acidic foods

In the early 2000s, Lodge Manufacturing revolutionized the way hesitant home chefs looked at cast iron. Because cast iron must be seasoned before it can be used, it can put people off trying this unique style of cookware. To combat this hesitancy and streamline the transition from buying to cooking, Lodge began pre-seasoning its skillets and other wares.

The seasoning process consists of two steps: coating the traditionally forged pans in culinary-grade soybean oil, then heating them to extremely high temperatures to create a natural, easy-release cooking surface. Well-seasoned cast iron doesn't need much attention and can be quickly wiped clean for back-to-back cooking tasks. It holds its temperature well and can handle just about any food. These pans can react with acidic ingredients, however, imparting a faint metallic flavor to dishes with lemons, tomatoes, or other food acids. Seasoned cast iron must be washed by hand, as putting it in the dishwasher can ruin the seasoning and lead to rust spots.3

For more tips on cast iron cookware, consult our guide to caring for cast iron or study up on seasoning with our cast iron seasoning guide.

Image of Lodge dishwasher safe heat treated cast iron server against a white background

Heat-enhanced Cast Iron

  • Sturdy, extremely durable, and versatile in use
  • Natural nonstick surface can be replenished for the life of the pan
  • Arrives ready to use
  • Resistant to rust
  • Typically used for serving applications
  • Highly resistant to temperature fluctuations
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Safe for use with ovens, stoves, grills, or campfires
  • Reacts with acidic ingredients such as lemons or tomatoes

Best Uses: baking, broiling, grilling, warming, serving

Notes: Extremely durable, dishwasher safe, not recommended for acidic foods

Continuing the tradition of innovation, Lodge introduced heat-enhanced cast iron serveware to its lineup in 2014. After being forged in the same manner as traditional cast iron, this collection undergoes a secondary, patented heat treatment process that seals out moisture and inhibits rust. More importantly, this makes the heat-enhanced cast iron dishwasher safe for streamlined cleaning, unlike some other Lodge pan types. Due to its comparative ease of cleaning, dishwasher-safe cast iron is frequently used for preparing and serving individual portions of food in commercial eateries.4

NOTE: Lodge recommends lightly seasoning heat-treated cast iron after it comes out of the dishwasher to preserve its rust-resistant qualities. This guide to Lodge dishwasher safe cast iron has more information.

Image of a Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch oven against a white background

Enameled Cast Iron

  • Sturdy, moderately durable, extremely versatile in use
  • Natural nonstick surface
  • Arrives ready to use
  • Resistant to rust
  • Available in beautiful, eye-catching colors
  • All-in-one performance: prep, refrigerate, cook, and serve
  • Highly resistant to temperature fluctuations
  • Dishwasher safe and safe with acidic foods
  • Safe for use with ovens or stoves
  • Handle with care to avoid scratching or chipping the porcelain coating

Best Uses: Broiling, braising, baking, roasting, sauteing, simmering, frying, marinating, storing, serving

Notes: Moderately durable, extremely versatile, dishwasher safe, acidic food safe

Enameled cast iron is known for its vibrant, eye-catching hues in addition to its wide range of uses in the kitchen and dining room. At its core, this cookware is made of traditional cast iron but is boosted by a coat of enamel for added color and rust resistance. Enameled cast iron isn't quite as durable and temperature stable as solid cast iron, but it makes up for that with its ease of cleaning and flexibility of use. In part because of its vibrant colors, enameled cast iron is one of the most popular types of Lodge pans today.

What creates this collection's vibrant hues is a process in which a glass particulate called "frit" is applied to the outside of the cookware. After drying, the cookware is fired between 1,200 and 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit, transforming the rough frit to smooth, impermeable porcelain. This process bonds the enamel to the cast iron, creating a beautiful, easy-release finish on the cookware's surface.

NOTE: Remember to handle your enameled cast iron cookware with care. Though the core is solid iron, the porcelain finish is subject to chipping if dropped or stored haphazardly.5 Our article on Lodge enameled cast iron has more details on the subject.

Image of a Lodge carbon steel frying pan against a white background

Seasoned Carbon Steel

  • Lightweight, highly durable, and versatile in use
  • Natural nonstick surface can be replenished for the life of the pan
  • Arrives ready to use
  • Longer handle eases maneuvering
  • Perfect for flash-frying seafood and other delicate proteins
  • Heats and cools faster than cast iron
  • Must be washed and seasoned by hand after each use
  • Safe for use with ovens, stoves, grills, or campfires

Best Uses: frying, searing, sauteing, stir-frying

Notes: Highly durable, lightweight, moderate resistance to temperature fluctuations, not recommended for acidic foods

In 2011, Lodge introduced a line of seasoned carbon steel cookware. Lighter than cast iron but equally as tough, carbon steel pans can withstand the most demanding of environments while being less taxing on the chef. In addition to frying pans, Lodge offers paella pans, grilling pans, and griddle pans in this incredible material.

The smoother surface of carbon steel reduces friction when cooking delicate food items such as fish, but it can also make seasoning your pan a bit more difficult since there is less texture for the seasoning to bond with. What you lose in seasoning maintenance is gained in responsiveness to heat. Carbon steel responds more quickly to temperature changes than cast iron, which can save time on busy cook lines. As with cast iron, these pans must be washed and seasoned by hand to maintain their nonstick surfaces and prevent rust spots.6

For more details on this unique material, check out this guide to Lodge seasoned steel pans.

Shopping Tip:

Cast iron, heat-treated cast iron, enameled cast iron, and seasoned steel each have their own cooking characteristics. The type of food you're making and heat source you're using helps determine which option is the best fit for your needs.

References

  1. The Lodge Foundry. Lodge Cast Iron. Accessed April 2023.
  2. We Embrace Our Legacy. Lodge Cast Iron. Accessed April 2023.
  3. Benefits of Cast Iron. Lodge Cast Iron. Accessed April 2023.
  4. How to Clean and Care for Heat-Treated Serveware. Lodge Cast Iron. Accessed April 2023.
  5. How to Clean and Care for Enameled Cast Iron. Lodge Cast Iron. Accessed April 2023.
  6. What's the Difference Between Cast Iron and Carbon Steel?. Lodge Cast Iron. Accessed April 2023.