Ally's Kitchen
You just never know what’s going to rouse Facebook folks to comment on your fan page. I mean some of the things I post that I think are really cool go dead in the water, then other things that don’t even seem to have much flair or appeal rally big time with likes and comments. 
That’s the multiple personality of Facebook—it’s like a grab bag, a tossup, and always interesting to see what sticks and makes the foodie world on FB take the time to comment.
I found the honey hole! Cast iron skillets—and, it’s all about the memories. So many of the cast iron skillets that are in our kitchens now came from our parents and grandparents. These things are in the same category as priceless antiques, fabulous jewelry, inherited items that must be kept in the family!
Growing up in West Virginia cast iron skillets were the mainstay in my Mom’s kitchen…in my grandma’s kitchen…well, in most all of my friends’ family’s kitchens. I can remember many a skillet of white biscuit gravy being made by Cathy’s daddy, a hard-working coal miner, in the big cast iron skillet on Saturday mornings! Mom used to fry up the bestest crispy chicken livers in the cast iron and other great foods—cornbread, greens, hamburgers, and, oh, the favorite, fried potatoes and onions.
I wanted to find out more about others’ cast iron skillets, if they had any, how many, where they kept them, why they liked them, and what memories they might share around their love of cast iron skillets.
One hundred and thirty-size (136) foodies responded to my post. I was blown away!
In that group of folks, there was collectively 240 cast iron skillets. I actually had expected more, but it seems that the average number
that each owned was about 1 skillet each. Now, that doesn’t mean there were some off the bell curve anomalies here. While most folks claimed that they had anywhere between one and four skillets, some were literally cast iron skillet junkies—two foodies owned 16 pieces, one counted 14 pieces, and another four proudly claimed 12 pieces—now that’s a lot of cast iron. Stack them up, and you’ve got some serious weight going on!
I was also interested in where people keep their cast iron skillets. Now, I keep mine either primarily in the oven—sometimes I get fancy and make room for them on the bottom shelf where the other skillets and pots call home, but they usually end up back in the oven. So, it didn’t surprise me when I tallied these results as to where cast iron is kept!
#1 Oven
#2 Cabinet/cupboard/pantry
#3 Stovetop counter top
#4 Drawer below oven
#5 MSC hanging closet, back porch, garage, camper, storage building closet, special drawer
The best part of this ‘research’—scientific at that—are the comments about their cast iron skillets—I’ve pulled a few to share.
We all know that the heart of the home is the kitchen, and if this is true, then the main arteries have to be those cast iron skillets and cookware—let’s hope keep the love alive—give your kids and young people cast iron skillets for gifts or special occasions!
Chris Clark Simpson: I have 21 of various shapes and sizes I use for cooking. Nine very small ashtray size that I plan to display on a wall. All were purchase second hand at auctions, yard sales and thrift stores. I am still collecting and am happy to find one. Most people say they are too heavy to use, but that is one reason I love them! I use them daily and my favorites are stored in the oven. Here’s just a few of the 136 comments!
Annette Duffey: I have 7 all different in size. My first and favorite handed down from my Mom she used it to cooked cornbread in when we were young, and now I use it for the same. A true Southerner wouldn’t dare cook cornbread in anything else! LOL!!
Bob Dziewiontkoski: Oven. 6 pieces. My all-time favorite rummage sale buy was a 10″ and a 12″ Lodge skillet for 25 cents each.
Once a Mom Always a Cook: I have 3 and 2 were my grandmother’s cast iron skillets. I keep them in my oven, of course when it’s not on! Memories…
Rich Man’s Food: I’ll show you mine when I return this afternoon, hanging from my copper rack. My 17 year old just bought his very own tiny one for his egg! (So proud, lol!) 
Beverly Ellis: Oh I forgot about my cast iron griddle. I got that for Christmas last year to replace that crappy warped piece of junk aluminum one. it stays on the counter propped against the wall above the cabinet w/ the skillets and Dutch ovens.
Darrell Michael Atkins: There is no replacement for a great cast iron skillet. Lard still the best for getting them ready.
Lisa Dean: I have them in my cabinet, stacked with wax paper in between. It was a tip I got from a friends mom a long time ago. She said paper towels or towels would soak up any of the seasoning. I never questioned her because she was one of those country Momma’s who just seemed to know everything. (In a good way of course). Let’s see, I have about six pieces I think.
Nancy Goodman: I have 12, 4 of which were my grandmothers, they have their own special drawer!
Anne Humphrey: I have just the one..scavenged from landfill many years ago.I use it for real hot cooking of steaks then it is washed, dried & oiled then put back in the oven for storage…woe betide any other ‘cook’ who dares to leave it soaking in water!
Kim Bieszk Rogers: Own 4. Keep them handy in the oven! Memories of my grandparents cooking and baking in cast iron, then my parents.
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