The History of Cast Iron Cookware

Cast iron cookware is a staple to have in every household. The versatility and durability are still unmatched by any other type of cookware. But where did the modern-day cookware like Lodge and Staub originate from? Let’s take a look at the history books to find out.

Cast iron originates from around 220 AD in China. It was most commonly used for plowshares, tools, weapons, and of course cookware. In Europe, it first made an appearance in the 15th century as a cheaper alternative for making weapons. More specifically, cannons. England used this cheaper alternative to their previous bronze cannons as an opportunity to grow their army.

In 1707, Abraham Darby patented a new way of making pots, pans, and kettles thinner and cheaper than ever before. This caused a large increase in the availability of cast iron around Europe. Right around this time, this newer version of cast iron was being shipped around the world as colonization was occurring around the same time. This brought cast iron to America and beyond where it was traded with indigenous people.

Around this time, cast iron cookware closely resembles today's dutch ovens. Although, they featured three legs and a handle on top to hang over fire or place in hot coals which was ideal for outdoor cooking. As indoor cooking became more common in the 18th and 19th centuries, the cast iron industry needed to adapt to meet the new standards. That includes more and more skillets and pots were needed.

As the other metals became easily accessible for regular people, cast iron began to fade out of sight. There was a rise in copper and aluminum which took over the cooking industry in the 20th century which lead to a sharp decline in the use of cast iron for daily cooking.

Once people started seeing the benefits of the historical cookware it became a lot more common. People started seeing health issues linked to cooking with modern metal cookware. It’s also known to last forever, literally. With proper care, you can get hundreds of years of use. And, it’s super visually appealing. Now you can see cast iron cookware just as often as you see the other modern cookware.

Cast iron has been around for a millennium and it won’t be going away anytime soon. Get your hands on a cast-iron skillet or pot to take advantage of this amazing cookware by checking out our cast iron cookware.