How to Buy Authentic Vintage Cast Iron - The Collector, The Chef or both?

How to Buy Authentic Vintage Cast Iron - The Collector, The Chef or both?

What are the top things readers look for when shopping for authentic vintage cast iron pieces?

When shopping for vintage cast iron, start by thinking about how you cook and live. Ask yourself one simple question: are you a collector, a cook, or a bit of both? We explore this more fully here: Where Do I Begin? Selecting your first skillet. Β  We also have a Cast Iron Concierge questionnaire that will help each of the customer types below find the piece or type of cast they are looking for. Β 

The Collector
If collecting is your focus, start with reputable collectors’ books from Amazon or a local bookstore. Educating yourself on pricing and markings before buying is essential. Most buyers we see are not pure collectors but tend to lean toward cooking as well.Β  You'll wonder why one size 5 skillet is hundreds of dollars more than another, and what makes this one more valuable in price than another?Β  It takes research and time to determine what is going to be the best collection for you.Β 

The Chef
If you plan to cook daily, choose pieces based on what you actually cook with regularity. Cooking for a family may call for a larger skillet. See Larger Skillet Sizes . Cooking for one or two may be better suited to a saute skillet, typically size 5 or 6. See #5 & #6 Saute Skillets We also provide a reference here: Skillet Sizing Chart Start with what you will truly use, then build from there.

The Collector Chef
If you fall somewhere in between, still begin with a piece you will cook with often. Using cast iron regularly helps you learn heat control, stove behavior, and technique. Each piece will β€˜behave’ uniquely, so the manner in which you cook with one piece may be different from another. Once you are comfortable, expanding your collection becomes much more intentional and rewarding.

We hear often from first time customers that they spend weeks, sometimes months, reading our weekly newsletter for the new pieces featured so they can see the variety available before buying.Β  When we post new pieces to our shop every weekend, we try to showcase a wide variety of brands, from the everyday user to the rare and hard to find.Β 

— Philip Shafer
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