I can't find this pan ANYWHERE

About 20 years ago, I bought a tiny cast-iron skillet, about 4" in diameter. It lives on my stove because I use it almost every day, mostly to toast pine nuts for our salads, but also to toast cumin, fennel, etc., seeds before grinding and so on.

A good friend has been lusting after my mini pan for a long time, and I'd love to get her one, but can't find one anywhere. It doesn't have a mark on the bottom, but I don't think it's a Lodge because it's lighter and has a longer angled handle than Lodges. I've Googled and checked out every B&M and on-line resource I can think of, including eBay.

Does anyone have a secret source of equipment you'd be willing to share with me? Pleeease?

Thanks!

By Chefjoannam (Chefjoannam) on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 03:42 am: Edit

all my small (4", 5" and 6") cast iron pans were bought used at resale shops like salvation army, goodwill and the church bazaars. cheap, too! otherwise, http://www.surfasonline.com will sell them but you have to pay an arm and a leg if you want it shipped. good luck!

By Adelie (Adelie) on Friday, August 12, 2005 - 06:24 pm: Edit

Well, I went to Surfasonline.com and did a search for "cast iron." I got a dozen enameled cast iron roasting pans and Dutch ovens and one cast iron heat diffuser. That seems to be all the cast iron they carry, which doesn't seem to be possible, but I'm not turning up anything else.

By Cheftim (Cheftim) on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 05:30 pm: Edit

One word, eBay

By Adelie (Adelie) on Saturday, August 13, 2005 - 09:44 pm: Edit

Been there, done that. The ones I've found are all models used by some cast-iron skillet company for their door-to-door salesmen to carry aound and aren't fit for cooking, according to the seller.

But I check in there every few days. Someday...

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 11:44 am: Edit

have you tried target? lol It doesn't have to be name brand ya know. Or you might try looking in camping/outdoor stores.

By Chefmanny (Chefmanny) on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 07:50 pm: Edit

I saw some at Bed Bath and Beyond this weekend, and did not give it a thought until I read this.
They also had a nice pan for single fried eggs!

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 10:15 am: Edit

I've got pans from them.
they're pretty good pans too.
who would have thought that bed and bath would have good stuff for cooking.
great place to meet women too....

"could you help me?,I'm color blind and I don't know if these sheets match"

I love that one.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 12:03 pm: Edit

lol Spike! that's a good line. Make sure your clothes don't match though.

BB&B is a great store imo. They have everything youd need at home for kitchen/bathroom/bedroom Fairly good prices too. I got a H. knife set and some plates, bedding and stuff for the bathroom from them. Great clearance prices

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 09:43 pm: Edit

My clothes don't match, I AM colored blind.

By Snuffaluff (Snuffaluff) on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 12:32 pm: Edit

red/orange or blue/green?

By Adelie (Adelie) on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 03:22 pm: Edit

I've looked at Target, BB&B, and Linens & Things, and found several cast-iron pans, but none that small. I did find, in a foofy cooking store for non-cooks with spectacular kitchens, a mini pan, but it was an ashtray with cig rests and only about 2.5" in diameter, which is too small, even for this. And it had a stubby little handle, so you'd be sure to burn yourself if you tried to use it on the stove.

Back to eBay -

By Miroslavw (Miroslavw) on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 03:38 pm: Edit

this is the best I could do but ouch! 33 bucks

http://www.chefsresource.com/12212.html

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 09:57 pm: Edit

Snuff, everythings green.
or a shade of green.
unless the sun or strong light hits it just right.
then it looks light green. LOL.

By Chefspike (Chefspike) on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 08:10 pm: Edit

you know that town in Virginia (I think) williamson(?) where you can buy all the dishes.
well my first wifes mom had some of those little pans and I think she got them from there.
I think they sold them as a funny ha-ha, but the damn things worked great!
she used to bake cornbread in them.
the handle, if I remember right, was angled up higher than a fry pan.

By Adelie (Adelie) on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 02:03 pm: Edit

That's how mine is - the handle is quite long, and angles up at about a 45* angle, so your hands don't burn.

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Sunday, August 21, 2005 - 11:17 pm: Edit

Is it lighter than most cast iron pans?? When you mentioned cast iron, all I imagined was Lodge pans.....then of course as I am writing this I scroll up and re-read and NOW see your description of the pan. When I worked at The Holly we used a set of larger pans that I considered "steel" they were black (from use?) old....sloped sides and had a long angled handle........now that I can see clearly now...I will see what I can do......

By Chefgibz0 (Chefgibz0) on Monday, August 22, 2005 - 12:02 am: Edit

Ok.......found a few pans....might not be the same.....let me know.......

http://pans.com/products/Bourgeat_Black_Steel_Crepe_Pan_7_78_Inch_18328.html

http://www.decuisine.co.uk/cookshop/cookware/pancake_crepe_pans.html

These are not cast Iron...but I think this is what you are describibg and close to what I worked with....let me know....

By Adelie (Adelie) on Wednesday, September 21, 2005 - 12:32 am: Edit

Well, I found a couple of Lodge pans, 4" square, for doing grilled sandwiches. I bought one, because I can't find anything else, but the handle is short and at the same level as the pan, so requires a heavy mitt. But at least it's a start.


Thanks for all your suggestions.