I wandered into my favorite thrift store earlier in the week and in the 3+ years that I’ve been going there, I’ve never seen cast iron there.
The store is located in a pretty hip part of town and I don’t think I’m the only one hip to the thrifting game.
I surmise as fast as old cast iron comes in, it flies off the messy shelves.
Except this week because I found two pieces.
I think I can make eggs muffins or who knows what in this piece.
Whatever it’s intended use, I could stop a burglar with it. Theft protection for $10 bucks.
Updated to add: This is an ebelskiver pan for making puffy little filled pancakes. I remember when there was a craze a few years back on blogs about making ebelskivers but I tuned it out because I didn’t have a pan. Well, now I do and can play around.
This piece is small but must literally weigh about 8 to 10 pounds.
Who needs dumbbells? Just get your three sets in with the muffin pan.
And vintage Le Creueset for $6
Or maybe not vintage, just well-used.
I’m fairly certain what I picked up at the thrift store is this 9-inch iron handle skillet, which retails for $110
The pricing structure at thrift stores and antique stores is always amusing. Sometimes true junk is truly expensive.
And sometimes true gems are dirt cheap.
Maybe because this gem is as dirty as dirt is the reason it was $6 bucks.
I found a short and sweet helpful article on how to clean and refurbish cast iron.
A quick google search turns up tens of thousands of hits.
But I really didn’t purchase the cast iron to cook with, but instead to use as photography props. If I can actually cook something in either of them, bonus.
Collecting dishes and filling up my new cabinet is my favorite pastime.
Favorite pastime other than eating Baked Cinnamon Bun Donuts with Vanilla Cream Cheese Glaze, which I intend to make Saturday morning.
I wonder if I could make donuts-muffins in the cast iron? Doubtful. I think I’d end up with the worst stuck-on mess ever. Donuts and muffins aren’t supposed to sear.
Do you have any cast iron? Tips on taking care of it or cleaning it?
Are you a thrift store person? Do you like antiques or collectibles?
The last thrift store round for me was 8 pieces of vintage silverware for $2 bucks and a vintage sifter
I found these thrifty dishes
These dishes and old Corningware
I used to live literally just a few blocks from it and walked in at least once a week. For five bucks, you can really feel like a kid like a queen in a candy store.
I could troll around all day on Ebay, Etsy, and Pinterest looking at vintage dishes, old wood boards, old kitchen utensils and bakeware. Something about it all really speaks to me and I wish I knew the stories behind the pieces.
My parents collect antiques of all kinds and as a child, I used to think my mom with her canning and sewing, my dad with his gardening, their antique collecting, and all their hobbies were boring and used to wonder why on earth anyone could think going into a dirty antique shop was fun.
But I have officially turned into my parents when I get excited about dirty cast iron.
And this store is the creme de la creme for antique furniture shopping that I’ve come across in San Diego, or anywhere. I got my 150 year old+ photography table there (item #5) and could spend days (years) wandering the aisles.
The winner of the Cascadian Farms Cereal coupons is Paula
Thanks for the Zoku Single Quick Pop Maker and Chocolate Station Giveaway entries
Have a great weekend!
Scott, Skylar, and I are going to the Pride Block Party and the Pride Parade. We’re going to have the best time people-watching and soaking it all in.
Ebelskivers are so, so yummy! Although I have to admit…I’ve yet to be motivated to make them myself, instead choosing to enjoy them when others cook some up. But truly – ebelskivers with nutella inside and powdered sugar on top? Mmm, mmm.
But if you’re not going to cook with it, it looks like it would be a great background/dish for something like tarts or some type of pudding.mousse served in mini waffle-cone cups, perhaps? Have fun!
I definitely plan to use the ebelskiver pan soon!
Great finds! I recently came across a large AllClad saucepan at goodwill and was *this* close to buying it but wasn’t sure if the finish was beyond repair. The outside looked fine but the inside was clearly meant to have been nonstick or maybe not? I’m not sure. So I passed. Mistake?
I would have bought it b/c at Goodwill prices, either for cooking or photography, one way or the other, would have used it but that just means you get to go thrifting again!
Great thrift finds! I don’t have any cast iron, but have been thinking about adding a piece to our collection.
I love this post! It must be the MN girl in you that loves a good cast iron. I’m from rural Mankato & love to “hunt” for cast iron pans at flee markets, thrifts, estate sales….I feel like I am turning into my grandmother! :) love your finds!
Rachel
Hi to a fellow MN girl – Mankato, ahhh, so many memories! Hopefully the mosquitoes aren’t as big as golf balls for you this time of year :)
I have been using cast iron since I learned how to cook. My father inherited his father’s griddle which covered two burners (great for pancakes) and we used that to learn how to cook EVERYTHING, burger, pancakes, Texas Toast…being a Texas girl Cast Iron is everywhere…when I moved out of the house and got my first appartment I went out and bought a brand new cast iron pan for 10 bucks at the local Big Lots, It was still silver and shinny…the cashier asked me if I was going to use it for decoration since it wasn’t good for cooking (she thought because it didn’t have the seasoning on it…it was no good). I took it home and imediately seasoned it and I still have it today. Before my uncle passed he gave me 6 different sizes of cast iron pans(even a little baby one) that he had used as a line cook…and ever since he passed, everytime I cook with them I think about him.
I’m sure those pans have some old memories attached to them from the previous owners…I’m sure your going to make some more with them! ENJOY THEM!
What a great story and memories – thanks for sharing all of that :)
Maybe we can do a trade. My shelf is loaded…
I have a great set of cast iron, mostly that i inherited from my grandmother. I use at least one of the pieces, if not more, every single day. eggs, soups, stews, sauces, fruit crisps… it all goes in the cast iron.
They are truly my favorite kitchen things. and they look awesome hanging up on my walls.
i love my cast irons :)
Oooh, I bet your walls do look awesome with it all displayed!
LUCKY YOU!!! that is our gift when someone gets married in our family! we are danish…and that pan makes THE BEST aebleskievers ever…we make a sauce called crack sauce to serve with them….much like the crispy creme topping. way back in the day they used knitting needles to turn the cakes….today i use a fork. enjoy!!
I wish I could learn to make ebelskivers from you! However, it’s my little project to research and read up on and figure it out. Crack sauce. Love that :)
I know what you say about cast iron as a self-defence weapon. I have a few fry pans which have been passed down generations and can barely lift them onto the stove top. No wonder obesity is a modern problem. Our grandmothers had to lift those things every day.
I know – these things will give your arms a nice workout :)
I feel like my cast iron skillet is part of the family! I really really adore it. And usually I just wipe it down with a sponge, no soap. You had some great finds, lucky lady!
Good info on how you care for yours!
Thrifting is my favorite activity, and I love finding antique kitchen supplies and plates and things. You can find some really unique items!! I have two cast iron pans and usually have my husband taking care of seasoning them!
After 12 years of marriage, my husband still doesn’t know where the spoon drawer is…so I’m on my own with seasoning. Lol :)
You know I love a good cast iron pan. Here is what I do to keep mine in tip top shape. While the pan is warm, I rinse it out under hot running water, and scrub the pan with a brush to remove traces of food. NEVER clean your pan with soap, as that will ruin the pan. After I rinse the pan, I put it back on the burner over low heat until all traces of moisture disappear. I then put a few drops of oil in the pan (when it’s dry & still warm) and rub it in with a paper towel until all the oil is soaked into the pan. Keep wiping the pan (you can even use a fresh paper towel) till all the oil is rubbed into the pan, as you don’t want the pan to feel oily to the touch. 

I love all your plates, cute mugs and glasses. I wish I lived closer so I could come by and grab a few things for tomorrow. I have that class with Joy the Baker and I need to bring a favorite mug, favorite napkin and dish. I am assuming they want something with color and whimsy, and I am pretty simple when it comes to my staging accessories so I have no idea what to bring. I’m going to head out in a bit and see what I can scrounge up. Wish me luck ☺
I wish I could loan you some stuff! I’ve spent a little time in Anthro recently :) And have a full complement of frilly dishes to cleaner and more basic. Please give me the rundown on the workshop! Joy is so sweet and friendly; if I lived up there, I would have gone but not in the cards to be traveling up there solo on a weekend. You know how it is when you have a family back home :)
Thanks for the cast iron info…what you said has echoed what about 10 people before you have said, all whom I trust – so thanks mama!!
What awesome finds! Not to be creepy/stalker-ish, but I think we thrift at the same thrift store in San Diego…totally recognize that kitchen section. I’m usually absorbed in the book section, but now I think I need to expand my shopping there!
Lol – every time I post about it, it usually flushes out at least one local reader who comes out and says she shops there; you’re “that person” on this post :) One day say hi if you see me in there!
Score! I’ve seen a le Creuset pan in a thrift store exactly once–and someone else absconded with it. Oh well–I have my own. :) I’ve never heard of ebelskiver, but I’m super excited to see them in future!
There was a man with his hand on the handle of it, picked it up, turned it over, set it down and I literally picked it up the *second* he let go of it!
wow, what a great deal!! so beautiful, averie!!
I’m still thinking about your muffins – those are beautiful!
Cast iron skillets excite me, too, and I’m 19! No shame :P That mini pancake puff one looks A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
You are lucky to have found this passion young! I was crazy for thinking my parents were the crazy ones at that age!