How do I know what kind of cast iron pan I have?

A real cast iron skillet should be all one piece - no seams and no screwed on handles. Check the pans surface. It should look the same as the rest of the pan with no other materials. A raw cast iron pan will have a dull black/dark grey color and be slightly rough to the touch.

Why are old cast iron pans better?

Many cast-iron aficionados swear that older is definitely better—better as in more durable, conducts heat more evenly, and withstands arduous conditions. While cast-iron pans continue to be made from the same material no matter what the era, production methods have changed as demand increased.

Why does everything stick to my cast iron skillet?

The Cause: Occasionally food may stick to your cast iron cookware. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as not using enough fat or oil when cooking, using cookware that isnt well seasoned, or when breaking in new cookware that hasnt built up additional layers of seasoning.

Will vinegar remove seasoning from cast iron?

Follow this method to completely remove any residual seasoning on a cast-iron pan before reseasoning it. The skillet will rust instantly once youve discarded the vinegar-water solution and rinsed and dried the skillet in step 5, so be sure to immediately apply oil to the surface.