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Author Topic: Cooking in cracked iron?  (Read 7409 times)

Offline Karen Kale

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Cooking in cracked iron?
« on: March 15, 2014, 06:36:50 PM »
I know some people have a strict “no-crack” policy, but I have a couple users with hairline cracks that work fine, so I pulled the trigger on this one to join my set of user slant logo Eries. My very first skillet was a slant Erie, so I have a soft spot for them.

The price was right (for me), and aside from the seller's well disclosed crack, it’s in really nice condition, so I couldn’t resist. Got it today, but now that it’s in my hands, I’m starting to have concerns about the proximity of the crack to the handle. Is there a risk of the handle breaking off if I were to use it? The crack extends about ¾ of the way down the inside of the skillet, and is very lightly visible on the outside wall as well.

Basically a safety question, just worried about the stress the crack might put on the handle, especially in a 10 filled with food. Is this OK to use?
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Offline Mark Zizzi

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2014, 07:10:39 PM »
I saw that skillet too Karen. If not, it was one just like it. I was thinking as long as you used two oven mitted hands to carry it loaded, and not just rely on the handle..I bet it will cook many a fine meal.  I was a little concerned about bringing it up to 500 degrees in the oven for seasoning..but it might handle that ok..just don't know. Looks ready to use to me anyway.  That's a very nice user skillet, imo ;)
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Offline Dwayne Henson

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2014, 08:52:01 PM »
The only concern I would have would be splitting. People occasionally post here about cooking in a pan, hearing a pop and finding the pan split in half. That could be bad if the pan was full of grease.
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Offline Mark Zizzi

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2014, 03:53:52 PM »
Yikes..yes that could be really bad, Dwayne. I guess Karen should use this pan only for recipes that don't involve much oil or grease.
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Offline Karen Kale

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2014, 04:48:33 PM »
Geez, splitting in half never even occurred to me. With or without grease, that is not something I want to experience.

May be using this pan as a wall hanger. :(
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Offline Mark Zizzi

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #5 on: March 16, 2014, 05:04:34 PM »
Good size for a skillet pizza? Can't get into too much trouble makin a pizza.  ;)
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Offline Cheryl Watson

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2014, 06:51:28 PM »
I will not restore or use skillets with handle cracks.

I do use 2 with very fine hairlines further away from the handle on the sidewall that do not extend to the bottom.  :)
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Offline C. B. Williams

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #7 on: March 16, 2014, 07:22:56 PM »
I don't own anything cracked.   I might add pitted or warped.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2014, 07:24:13 PM by cbwilliams »
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Offline Rick Gilley

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #8 on: March 16, 2014, 07:52:50 PM »
Quote
The only concern I would have would be splitting. People occasionally post here about cooking in a pan, hearing a pop and finding the pan split in half. That could be bad if the pan was full of grease.

I was probably the one that referenced that remark....I am pretty sure I still have that skillet, its rusty now but this would be the perfect post to attach a picture of the split skillet.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2014, 07:55:40 PM by poppop »
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Offline Dwayne Henson

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2014, 08:09:32 PM »
It would be interesting to see, you could even give the measurements of how thick it is!  ::)
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Offline Karen Kale

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #10 on: March 16, 2014, 08:40:07 PM »
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I don't own anything cracked.   I might add pitted or warped.

Well, maybe someday I'll be able to say the same, but today is not that day.

Guess I made a mistake with this skillet, live and learn. Thanks for all the feedback.

I'd like to see a picture of that split skillet too, Rick, if you ever dig it out. Could serve as a warning to others like me.
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Offline Cheryl Watson

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #11 on: March 16, 2014, 08:42:50 PM »
Quote
I don't own anything cracked.   I might add pitted or warped.

I didn't intend to own any cracked ones! :-?

But, that saying "You NEVER know the condition of a piece, UNTIL it has been Cleaned and Restored".... true so true... :'( :'(  The #9 ERIE never showed the hairline until after the first coat of seasoning(the crack had absorbed a bit of excess oil and....  Waaaa!!

Ditto the angus broiler...... >:(

A few pieces revealed fine pitting in spots after cleaning also. :(

Now the ERIE #11 DO... Hairline on Lid, Exterior of bottom great, inside... not so much... but it still deserves a place given the age and rarity factor. 

I have become super selective over time, however....!

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Offline Mark Zizzi

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #12 on: March 16, 2014, 09:29:11 PM »
I still say it could be used for certain things. I know
I would use it..but that's up to you Karen.  ;)
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Offline Karen Kale

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #13 on: March 16, 2014, 10:00:18 PM »
Quote
I didn't intend to own any cracked ones! But, that saying "You NEVER know the condition of a piece, UNTIL it has been Cleaned and Restored".... true so true

Very true, indeed. I have two others ... found the crack on a 6 EPU after cleaning it, across from the handle, and it's now my go to cornbread pan. The other crack is on my beloved first pan, bought when I didn't know any better, and it's a tiny crack on the pour spout, so that gets used too. Cracked pans aren't automatically banished here when it comes to users, but this was a safety question because of the crack location.

I like the pizza idea, Mark. The crust provides some protection in the event of breakage! ;)
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Offline Rick Gilley

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2014, 11:09:35 PM »
Darn, I have some cracked ones now....but didn't know they were cracked until later. And I guess I will own some cracked ones in the future for the same reason. I really wouldn't be to concerned about using a cracked one for cornbread or breaking, but wouldn't use another one for frying.
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Offline Rick Gilley

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #15 on: March 17, 2014, 11:11:06 PM »
Quote
It would be interesting to see, you could even give the measurements of how thick it is!  ::)

I will as soon as I can....pulling an all nighter at the hospital with my wife now....appendix and gallbladder surgery for her. Might be a couple of days
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Offline Dwayne Henson

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #16 on: March 18, 2014, 09:07:43 PM »
All the best Rick.
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Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
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Offline Karen Kale

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #17 on: March 18, 2014, 09:34:28 PM »
Best wishes to you and your wife, hope all went well and she has a speedy recovery.
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Offline Bob Henrick

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Re: Cooking in cracked iron?
« Reply #18 on: March 19, 2014, 03:32:54 PM »
Rick,

Here is hoping to hear soon that your wife is on her way to a speedy and complete recovery.
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