Author Topic: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet  (Read 27982 times)

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Offline Smokin Don

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #14 on: November 03, 2016, 09:57:56 PM »
Nice! It does look fairly smooth for a modern skillet. Give it a few years of bacon and it will be as smooth as a baby's butt.
It is already that smooth Ken! Don
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Offline DWard51

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #15 on: November 03, 2016, 10:12:11 PM »
Yep, that was one of their selling points.  The inside is smoothed before shipping.  I keep thinking about taking some 80 grit to one of my newer Lodge pans to make it that smooth (ok, 80 grit followed by progressively finer)

Offline muebe

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #16 on: November 04, 2016, 01:54:40 AM »
That is a nice skillet Don!
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Offline Smokin Don

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet (update)
« Reply #17 on: November 06, 2016, 12:33:11 PM »
Updated with seasoning done and my first cook. Don
Traeger 07E pellet smoker
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I am not aging, just marinating
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Offline Savannahsmoker

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #18 on: November 06, 2016, 03:37:57 PM »
So now that you accomplished your first cook how does the Stargazer compare to say Lodge skillets and others you tried or use?
Art

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Offline Big Dawg

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #19 on: November 06, 2016, 04:38:00 PM »
Belated Happy B-Day, Don ! !

Looks like you you got your wish.





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Offline Smokin Don

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #20 on: November 06, 2016, 06:07:50 PM »
It WAS NOT my B-Day, I just said I was a happy 74 yr. old kid! :) I just got my second cook done with the skillet and like it better than my Lodge. Don
Traeger 07E pellet smoker
Weber E210 gas grill
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal
Camp Chef Pro 30 gas burner
Camp Chef Iron Griddle
Lodge CI Hibachi
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
I am not aging, just marinating
I think I am starting to age!
http://pelletsmokercooking.blogspot.com/

Offline Savannahsmoker

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #21 on: November 06, 2016, 07:50:53 PM »
It WAS NOT my B-Day, I just said I was a happy 74 yr. old kid! :) I just got my second cook done with the skillet and like it better than my Lodge. Don
OK 74 year old kid explain to this 73 year old ( for a couple of weeks anyway) the improvements over the Lodge. :)
Art

Blaz'n Grill Works Grid Iron (Copper)
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Offline Smokin Don

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #22 on: November 06, 2016, 11:34:24 PM »
It WAS NOT my B-Day, I just said I was a happy 74 yr. old kid! :) I just got my second cook done with the skillet and like it better than my Lodge. Don
OK 74 year old kid explain to this 73 year old ( for a couple of weeks anyway) the improvements over the Lodge. :)
Because it doesn't stick Art! With the lodge bacon will always stick, at least for me, a little unless you wait until it releases. With the Stargazer the bacon was always free to move. Fried potatoes I did tonight for supper did not stick nor did the pork chops. I am not satisfied with the Crisbee seasoning I did on it and will post in this Skillet post. Don
« Last Edit: November 07, 2016, 08:04:07 AM by Smokin Don »
Traeger 07E pellet smoker
Weber E210 gas grill
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal
Camp Chef Pro 30 gas burner
Camp Chef Iron Griddle
Lodge CI Hibachi
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
I am not aging, just marinating
I think I am starting to age!
http://pelletsmokercooking.blogspot.com/

Offline Smokin Don

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet (update)
« Reply #23 on: November 07, 2016, 08:29:55 AM »
Crisbee seasoning
I seasoned the Stargazer skillet with Crisbee cast iron seasoning. I have cooked in it twice and was very happy with the nonstick quality of frying in it. It turned a dark brown instead of black. I noted after my first cook there were some light spots; I thought some of the egg whites or flour I used had stuck. It was still smooth and used some 0000 steel wool to see if they would come off but did not.

My second cook was pork chops and fried potatoes and all went well; no sticking at all. After cleaning with hot water and a blue Scotch pad it looked like most of the brown had come off the bottom. It was a grey color. It looked like the seasoning was coming off.

I had got the idea of using the Crisbee from Jeffry B Rogers, the Culinary Fanatic, who is pretty sharp on cast iron. He had used it on a Stargazer Skillet and I never saw any results on his UTube site but found on his Facebook page he had the same results after his first cook. Some of the finish had come off.

I am not sure what I will do, I just did a seasoning using my grapeseed oil on top to see the results. I liked the results so I am going ahead and do it over the top with the grapeseed oil. I have it in now for a second round and will do at least 4 and maybe 6 times total.

Don
Traeger 07E pellet smoker
Weber E210 gas grill
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal
Camp Chef Pro 30 gas burner
Camp Chef Iron Griddle
Lodge CI Hibachi
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
I am not aging, just marinating
I think I am starting to age!
http://pelletsmokercooking.blogspot.com/

Offline Savannahsmoker

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #24 on: November 07, 2016, 11:56:10 AM »
Thanks Don for the update.
Not sticking is a big seller and I guess you are recommending Grape Seed oil over Crisbee cast iron seasoning.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2016, 04:14:42 PM by Savannahsmoker »
Art

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Offline Smokin Don

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #25 on: November 07, 2016, 12:11:08 PM »
Thanks Don for the update.
Not sticking is a big seller and I guess you are recommending Grape Seed oil over 5/16-32 panel nut Crisbee cast iron seasoning.
Yes Art I did a lot of research on what to season with. Flax seed oil is supposed to be the best because of it's a drying oil. It is hard to find and expensive, and it has a short shelf life. Grapeseed oil has a high smoke point and easy to find. I restored two other old skillets and used grapeseed oil with good luck and it is holding up well. A lot of people still prefer the old method of using Crisco.

Another thing I like on the Stargazer skillet is the pretty smooth bottom, makes it better to use on my glass top stove. There are several other makers in the USA making skillets but are more expensive and have a heat ring on the bottom. The heat ring was for cooking on the old cast iron stoves; It raised it slightly off the cast iron and was said for an evener heat distribution. Don
Traeger 07E pellet smoker
Weber E210 gas grill
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal
Camp Chef Pro 30 gas burner
Camp Chef Iron Griddle
Lodge CI Hibachi
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
I am not aging, just marinating
I think I am starting to age!
http://pelletsmokercooking.blogspot.com/

Offline Savannahsmoker

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #26 on: November 07, 2016, 04:18:18 PM »
Another thing I like on the Stargazer skillet is the pretty smooth bottom, makes it better to use on my glass top stove.
Now Don ya sold me with the Stargazer skillet's smooth bottom which is hard to find to go along with the non-sticking.
I am also looking for a cast iron Dutch Oven with a smooth bottom if anyone knows of one.
Art

Blaz'n Grill Works Grid Iron (Copper)
Royall RG 2000 (gone to live with nephew)
Weber Genesis E-330 (Copper)
The Big Easy
Weber Smokey Joe Gold for fun and vacation,

Offline Big Dawg

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Re: Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #27 on: November 07, 2016, 06:56:33 PM »
It WAS NOT my B-Day, I just said I was a happy 74 yr. old kid! :) I just got my second cook done with the skillet and like it better than my Lodge. Don

My apologies ! ! !

Skillet sounds like a winner.





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Offline Pappymn

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Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
« Reply #28 on: November 07, 2016, 08:16:50 PM »
Flax seed worked great on my DeBuyer pans. Little spendy on Amazon and not a great shelf life. Since I did many coats I am hoping it won't be something I need often.
Pappy

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