Bundt pan ID?

[Jared Spencer]

Let me first say, I have absolutely no experience with bundt pans, muffin pans, corn stick pans, popover pans, gem pans or the like, vintage or modern. In this early stage of my cast iron obsession I have focused on cookware, not so much bakeware. That said, I've been in a local shop a couple of times over the past month and seen this bundt pan at $25. I've picked it up, but my initial impression was heavy and pebbly, and I didn't really want or need it so let it be.

Today when in the shop I decided I wanted to try a cake in a bundt pan when I saw this again. Doing a quick check on ebay, I saw that virtually none of the cast iron bundt pans have sold recently for less than $100. Induced into an immediate state of buyer's fury, I got the pan for a hair short of $23.

Now that I am home and looking over it, I'm back to my initial feeling; I don't think it's particularly old (it's very thick and heavy and has a pebbly surface I associate with preseasoned pieces). My guess is Lodge, mid 90s to mid 2000s? I don't think Lodge makes these anymore.

Anyway, if I made a mistake, at least it was a cheap mistake. Even if I can't flip it (which was really my intention as soon as I saw the sold listings on eBay), it will serve as a reminder to not jump into something I don't know about until doing the research - a reminder I shouldn't need, as this kind of sillyness seems to be something I manage to do over and again!

Here is the pan:

image by twillightkids, on Flickr

image by twillightkids, on Flickr

[Cheryl Watson]

Given the current frenzy over anything Bundt... I'd have snatched it up also!

It is a Lodge Bundt pan, circa 1990's - 2000

And people are paying 'ridiculous' prices for these right now....

 :P :P

[Jared Spencer]

So then, do you think I should keep, or sell? Quick check on eBay shows unmarked Lodge's going for $120-160. Would I really expect to get anything like that for this pan???

[Russell Ware]

Jared, please do not confuse a pebbled finish for low quality. Lodge did not pre-season these pans either. When cleaned and seasoned properly, these make fine baking pans. I have one. I have baked in it. The cakes drop right out when I inverted the pan. You paid a very low price for your pan. I would recommend that you keep it if you are halfway serious about using one - especially for what you paid for it. I have seen it sell for over $100 on ebay, but the sellers are not advertising them as 'made by Lodge.' Sellers continue to sell it as 'antique' or 'vintage' with erroneous dates for its date of manufacture. Lodge has manufactured these pans at least twice. First in the 1960's and then again 1990-2000. A pebbled finish is only a sign of how the iron used to make the pan has changed over the decades, as well as change in the casting process, i.e. automation (which also accounts for that unsightly weight gain).
The choice is still all yours. But I do hope you keep the pan.

[Jared Spencer]

Jared, please do not confuse a pebbled finish for low quality. Lodge did not pre-season these pans either. When cleaned and seasoned properly, these make fine baking pans. I have one. I have baked in it. The cakes drop right out when I inverted the pan. You paid a very low price for your pan. I would recommend that you keep it if you are halfway serious about using one - especially for what you paid for it. I have seen it sell for over $100 on ebay, but the sellers are not advertising them as 'made by Lodge.' Sellers continue to sell it as 'antique' or 'vintage' with erroneous dates for its date of manufacture. Lodge has manufactured these pans at least twice. First in the 1960's and then again 1990-2000. A pebbled finish is only a sign of how the iron used to make the pan has changed over the decades, as well as change in the casting process, i.e. automation (which also accounts for that unsightly weight gain).
The choice is still all yours. But I do hope you keep the pan.

Russell, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to mislead. I know the pebbled finish has nothing to do with quality. I just meant that it pointed to a younger piece in my thinking (which I think is correct, still). I'm sure the pan cooks fine; I'm just not sure it's something I want to keep, particularly if I can flip it for [ch8776] 4x what I paid for it!

[Claudia Killebrew]

People are using these things for way more than a sweet Bundt cake. Garlic knot pull-a-parts, pizza flavored monkey bread, stuffing, bacon wrapped meatloaf, etc. Google "savory Bundt pan recipes" and you'll get an idea of what you can do.

[Jared Spencer]

Cleans up pretty nice!

image by twillightkids, on Flickr

image by twillightkids, on Flickr

I am going to sell this on eBay, but before I do, if anyone on the forum would like to contact me concerning possible trades I'd love to here from you. I'm particularly interested in first or second series Erie skillets. Shoot me a PM if interested.

Mods, if the above paragraph isn't Kosher I apologize in advance and please edit/delete as needed. Also, if not, where would I put an interest check for trades? It seems like the classifieds are for WAG members only, which I am currently not.

Thanks!