Product Description

This 11-inch enameled skillet is great for cooking on gas, electric, ceramic and induction cooktops, as well as in the oven. Not recommended for use on outdoor grills or over open outdoor flames, nor in the microwaves. The use of vegetable oil or cooking spray is recommended for better cooking and clean up. Select low to medium heat when cooking on stove top, and never heat an empty pan. Use of wooden or silicone utensils is recommended. Lodge color-porcelain enameled cast iron cookware is cast from molten iron in individual sand molds. The porcelain surface eliminates the need to season cast iron. The cast iron vessel has superior heat distribution and retention, evenly heating bottom sidewalls and even the lid. Tightly fitting lid seals in moisture. (Note: Lid is not included with this skillet.) The excellent heat retention reduces the amount of energy needed for cooking. Two layers of very hard, glossy porcelain enamel are chip-resistant and easy to clean. The black cooking surface on the skillet is matte porcelain, not exposed cast iron. Hygienic porcelain enamel is non-reactive with food. Although dishwasher safe, hand washing with warm soapy water is recommended to preserve the cookware's original appearance. 11-inches in diameter, this skillet is 1-3/4-inches deep.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7043 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Size: 11 in
• Color: Caribbean Blue
• Brand: Lodge
• Model: EC11S33
• Released on: 2007-07-15
• Dimensions: 12.00" h x 3.00" w x 19.00" l, 8.65 pounds

Features

• Porcelain surface eliminates the need to season
• Tightly fitting lid seals in moisture (lid not included)
• Superior heat distribution and retention
• Two layers of porcelain enamel are chip resistant
• Hand wash and dry with warm soapy water

Customer Reviews

Functional, but a lot more work than the glossy enameled style
I've had this pan for several months now and had previously been used to frying with regular cast iron or stainless steel. I have a flat top stove and am not supposed to use my cast iron on it so I thought I would try this one instead. I've found that the interior is better than stainless steel for cooking certain things (like over-easy eggs) with a simple clean-up and minimal sticking. It's also good for reheating left-over meals, or making pancakes.

However, when I tried cooking things like sausage, or stir-fry meat, or with any sauces that contained sugar, I ended up with charred bits that would not come off. I tried boiling the pan with vinegar, or scouring gently with baking soda and nothing works. I did of course follow the directions and have never cooked on any setting above medium (usually, I use medium low). Then I made the mistake of frying falafel in the pan. I now have a permanent layer of caramelized oil on the bottom of my pan. Add the two chips on the handle that came off within the first week of use (and I am extremely gentle with this pan), and I would have to say I am fairly disappointed.

I also own the Lodge Enamel 6 quart dutch oven, and that item is fabulous. Not a chip or stain on it, even though I use it extensively. Also, I have fried up some of the same things in the dutch oven as the fry pan - with no sticking/stains in the dutch oven, but with permanently charred bits in the fry pan. Lodge should have made this one with the glossy interior.

Perhaps I'll replace this one with the 3 quart covered casserole since it has the glossy interior.

Great pan
Browns nicely, very nonstick, easy cleanup. I was surprised that the inside was a matte enamel finish that is not smooth like the the inside of the dutch oven . It works just great though. The other good news is that the lid from the 6 quart dutch oven fits it perfectly. Lodge Enamel on Cast Iron 6 Quart Dutch Oven, Caribbean Blue

Now one down side is that this thing is heavy as hell. Without the helper handle it would be very awkward to lift unless you are built like Arnold Schwarzenegger (at least how he used to be built). This isn't for your grandmother (unless she is a weightlifter).

An update. We have had absolutely no sticking problems. We cooked a salmon dish last night with a sauce that had some sugar in it. No problems (and absolutely delicious BTW) . A chicken dish with ricotta, the other day, worked great. I use a little higher heat, up to medium high, then slow it down to medium when browning. Let the food release before flipping.

No soaking, no scrubbing, just the plastic thing (on the other side of the kitchen sponges, can't think of the name), hot water, dish soap and almost no elbow grease.

I'd say it is a bargain. We have mostly Calphalon in our kitchen but are using this extensively. It looks good too.

Good pan
Pretty good pan. A lot easier to maintain and keep clean than a traditional cast iron pan. The "white enamel" style fry pans are more non-stick than this with liquid items like eggs. The "satin enamel" finish in this one, which is a rough cast iron type finish with a dark gray enamel coating, tends to stick less on solid items like steak and bacon.

So you may use a little more fat in this pan than in one of the ones using a smooth bottom white enamel style, which all of the other Lodge pans use.

This type of finish is also going to be a lot harder to scratch or scrape with tools, and wont show a scratch as much.

If you're going to cook cornbread and scrambled eggs 95% of the time...I might consider one of the white smooth enamel bottom. If you're going to sear a lot of meats and dont mind using a bit of fat with your cornbread or eggs, this will work great and you cant beat the price.