My Lodge items are pretty rough - I thought about taking some sandpaper to them before seasoning, but didn’t do it. The ci from my grandma is smooth as glass. I wonder if Lodge is making theirs rough on purpose or is it just cheaper? It does seem like it would be less-non-stick that way. I’ve read as you keep using it, it smooths out. It’s been a few years and I haven’t seen a change yet! Thanks for the flour sack idea.
DW changes: we bought a new one after remodeling and I knew from the one in our CA house that DRYING was an issue. The environmental nazis that took the phosphates out of your detergent also limited the energy a DW can use - so it either cleans or dries. Not both! In CA, I had to dry every glass by hand, it really was that bad. I LOVE my 70’s DW that came with the house - everything is HOT and dry when it is done, some plastic melts but that’s a tradeoff I’d take. We got a kitchenaid that does pretty well - it’s claim to fame was it actually has a heating element and actually dries the dishes. Some DW’s didn’t even have a heating element, just a fan - and some didn’t even have a fan.
Don’t get me started on the HE washers!!!!!
The ‘HE’ washers! LOL
You have one? You, fortunate child, you!
You realize they now have on the market a substance which you add with the soap dispenser that helps to dry spotless. Seen it on the market and read pros/cons of using. Why buy when you can add a few teaspoons of vinegar to the rinsing device in the door and it does the job just as well with a good deal less cash flow?
Hubby does wash dishes on occasion, and I let him. :-)
Normally, I wash, and if here, he’ll dry and put away otherwise I place the dishes on a thick terry cloth tea towel to air dry and when he or I pass by later we’ll put away. Really prefer to put things away myself as he has been known to find a ‘new’ location and when looking, help is needed to find certain items. Drainers and drip pans. Did use these years ago, but so bulky: how do you store them, where do you place them when not in use. Terry towels, if thick work just as well. Why dish drainers? Do they really save glassware? In this house NOTHING saves glassware. CorningWare pots. Two saucepans with lids. BOTH lids broken. Now use a silicon cover (purchased at Wally World) when these are used in microwave. The range cook top (glass) recommends you DON’T use on their surface. ALSO they say do NOT use cast iron on their surface. The pans have been exiled to: corning = microwave; cast iron = oven
Did you know using cast iron you can actually cook a steak or thick pork chops as well as you can on the grill outside? Alton Brown’s method is highly recommended in this household.
Our Microwave died this year and we purchased a new one. EE GADS! The fireworks were amazing. Like crock pots, they have become more powerful and tend to heat up faster than two teenagers in a parked car. A small splatter, if left on the inside surface will be found to give a show HRC would find admirable if she had won. The small “plastic” square on the inside wall was scarred and burned. How to repair. We were able to call a local shop, order a small sheet of whatever this was, cut it to the size needed and replace the blemished piece. All for just a few bucks.
OH, While searching for a micro compatible lid for corning, also found a cozy plate cover microwave safe. This is great for placing over a plate of food which needs to be reheated; rather than using paper towel or whatever to eliminate the splatters. LOVE this piece of non electric equipment.
No heater in DW? Ours did have a heater which worked well. Plastic was lost and tossed, a few choice words uttered Only a fan? LOL know better than to ask if it osculates. :-)
P.S. STILL searching for a plastic butter dish to replace the glass which was broken. Have they ceased to make plastic butter dishes? Prefer glass, but trouble finding one, or more - need extras when the first crashes.
Lodge used to grind the insides smooth before seasoning them. Several years ago they stopped doing that. If you get a pan from before and after the change, you can really see the difference. It’s not the usage that made them that smooth.
Some people take their new cast iron stuff to a machine shop and have them grind it smooth. It can probably be done at home if you have the right tools, but be aware that it’s a very messy job! Wear a dust mask and goggles.
The rough surface is normal with the casting process. The only thing I’ve ever cast was a ring in one of my art classes, but the surface came out with that same texture. Took me days to smooth it out enough to polish.