Eva Katz

If you search for “cast iron” on eBay, you will see about 15,000 cookware items for sale. There are also about 20 cast iron cookbooks presently on the market, not to mention numerous blogs dedicated to cast iron collecting and cooking. And there is, of course, a Facebook group, of which I am now a member, dedicated to celebrating all things cast iron.

I have loved my newly made cast iron pan; it has served me well for many years. But now that I have immersed myself in the world of vintage cast iron, I am sold — hook, line, and sinker. The good news is that you don’t need to fork over a monthly paycheck to experience the joys of cooking on an heirloom piece. Here’s our guide to buying vintage cast iron. Any pan made before 1957 is considered vintage.