Cast-iron cookware from China

[irislake]

Anybody have any information concerning possibility of lead in the enamel glaze? I bought cheap cast-iron dutch ovens at Giant Tiger (a discount house). After all the horrifying stories about stuff from China I am afraid to use them. I have tried google without getting far. Canada's Consumers Protection doesn't seem to kick in till you know you have defective product.

FDA says cadmium has been discontinued in products from China and high firing temperatures needed for enamel glaze means lead not used.

However, I don't trust the FDA at all --- or Health Canada.

How can I find out if there's lead in a product? These Dutch ovens were under $30.00. An upscale kitchen shop in the same town was selling cast-iron dutch ovens for $500. t0 $700.. However, these were also made in China and high price is no protection whatever. Now that I would spend that much even if I could afford.

Anybody know anything about their cookware?

[mikelgb]

1. home test kit?

http://www.leadinspector.com/

[China_cat]

2. Invest in a lead test kit (cheap)

and check for yourself. We use them for checking lead content in the glazes of imported dishes.

http://www.leadinspector.com/?gclid=CIvlka_Yk44CFQRuZQodXxQbGg

[knitter4democracy]

6. I just bought some.

Thanks for the link!

I have lunch boxes I want to test. I might test some other items, too. That way, I can know for sure.

[supernova]

3. Psst. You can usually find good antique cast iron

at the flea market or the thrift store for very cheap.

What color is the glaze? Yellow? that's usually a clue as to to the ingredients. Is there a way to look up the manufacturer?

[Gregorian]

4. That's an interesting thought.

You'd probably have to send a sample to a metallurgical lab.

In the meantime, avoid it.

[mondo joe]

5. It is by no means inexpennsive, but Le Creuset cookware is lead free.

It's manufactured in the US and France.

http://www.lecreuset.com/usa/home.php

[sarge43]

7. It's worth the investment

If for no other reason, it outlasts the cook.

[Deja Q]

9. Either way, we're cooked.

:hide:

[mondo joe]

11. For those who can do it, I agree. I bought my first Le Crueset in 1990 - it's still

as good as the day I bought it, as are the other pieces I bought later.

And I was not making a good living back then -- it was a big indulgence. But when looked at over time, it wasn't expensive at all. (Though again, you have to have the means to make the investment.)

[supernova]

8. If I ever get wealthy

I'll get a set of Le Creuset :-)

[sarge43]

10. Buy a piece at a time, supernova. n/t

[AngryAmish]

14. Le Creuset is the finest cookware known to man

Plus it is beautiful. The pieces are all timeless. Get a larger dutch oven and you will look for recipes to cook in it.

This is the best post of the week. Everyone should own Le Crueset. Look for used pieces on ebay. It will outlast you and probably your grandchildren. It is that good.

[madokie]

18. This is what we just purchased last week and are loving it

http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/Products.aspx?CatNum=RN782-4051B&JSEnabled=false&mscssid=629c87d5d64d84f6c9132570394690e64xMnVNoVzaGoxMnVNoVza
GW200BB0CC6D6DD59E8E91602B90E0BBD6248F0723820&cmResetCat=true&hdnOnGo=true&find+a+catalog+item.x=9&find+a+catalog+item.y=15

only we bought the red color, plus today we ordered the 11 and 3/4 inch skillet to go with it.

http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/ProductsHOM.aspx?DeptID=21476&CatID=21520&CatTyp=DEP&ItemTyp=G&GrpTyp=PRD&ItemID=0fd1d6e&ProdSeq=5&ProdCount=8&
ShowMenu=T&ShopBy=0&SearchString=le+creuset
+skillets&RefPage=SearchProducts&mscssid=629c87d5d64d84f6c9132570394690e64xMnVNoVzaGoxMnVNoVzaGW200BB0CC6D6DD59E8E91602B90E0BBD6248F0723816&
CmCatId=SearchResults|SearchProducts|25439&S4DeptID=25439&S4PageNum=1&S4PageSize=28&Dep=housewares

[AngryAmish]

21. I'm a red man myself, and that is a fantastic price

For $200 you have cookware that is good for 70 years or more.

It is weird the passions some people have for cookware (I do obviously). Hearth and home and all that I guess.

[madokie]

22. we actually had our first meal this evening using a couple of them

to cook in. I always like cast iron but this enamel coated is new to me. we have a couple enamel coated steel pans that we like real well and now we're going to augment them with some cast iron. to be added to as we go along and figure out what we need or want. Le Creucet have such a big variety too ;-)

[irislake]

12. Thanks

If I find lead I will complain to Giant Tiger, Health Canada, Consumers Protection and so on. Enamel inside pots is white. Outside one is red one is orange. I have heard yellow is most likely to have lead.

[Colorado Progressive]

13. Warner's cast Iron is made in the USA!!!! at least when I bought mine

it was...it may have outsourced

[Ghost in the Machine]

15. Lodge Mfg. American Made Cast Iron

https://secure.lodgemfg.com/storefront/products1.asp?idDept=1408&menu=enamel

[Tsiyu]

16. I have a friend who works there

I'm sure they appreciate your support!

You can order a catalog online. Just got one myself the other day.

If you visit the store they have a lot of seconds you can get for fewer $$$ and that stuff lasts forever, too.

[Ghost in the Machine]

20. I've got a catalog too, and I'm going to make it down to Chattanooga

sometime here in the next couple of months to check them out. I'm interested in one of their sales displays. I was thinking about putting some in my restaurant once I get moved and set up good in there.

[Nay]

23. I just bought a Lodge cast iron skillet 2 days ago, because it's made

in the USA. I will be looking at their cast iron enameled French ovens, too , when I'm ready. I no longer buy Chinese anything, if there is any alternative at all.

[Ghost in the Machine]

24. I've got the 4" cast iron dutch oven and a few skillets. The *only* drawback

about them, for me, is how heavy they are. From my neck injury and two subsequent surgeries, I'm on 10 -12 -lb lifting restrictions for life. My dutch oven, when full, exceeds that most times. I felt it really bad earlier tonight with it full of spaghetti sauce.

I wouldn't get rid of it for the world though...

[BlooInBloo]

17. Exactly what source(s) WILL you trust?

[ThomWV]

19. For years cast iron was all we used - no more

We used to buy up pieces at auctions and for about 20 years cast is all we used to cook anything other than an aluminum pressure cooker. A couple of years ago we went to heavy aluminum primarily because of the weight, and although my wife liked it a lot I didn't care for it at all. So we switched again and now we are using stainless lined copper. Very nice to cook with and once I convinced my wife that there was not reason on earth to polish it she came around nicely.