This summer while visiting my dad, I had a chance to go to the heart of cast iron cookware in the United States: the Lodge Outlet in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee. (No, I do not have a relationship of any kind with Lodge; I just like their American-made, last-several-lifetimes products.) The Lodge Outlet is located on the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, near Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Birmingham and Huntsville, Alabama. It’s right where Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia come together. Its location no doubt was influenced by its proximity to the Tennessee River and the iron-producing region of the South that stretches from Chattanooga to Birmingham. Lodge has been manufacturing here for more than a century, and Lodge’s products will last for centuries if you take care of them, making them some of the most eco-friendly housewares available.
The outlet has cast iron galore!
And the outlet has accessories, like walnut chargers.
And they carry a lot of enameled cast iron now too, although I think it’s made in China instead of in the US like everything else in the outlet. I love the colors, but I try to avoid Chinese products.
Except I may not be able to resist this casserole dish. Resisting, resisting . . . .
The outlet room is less pretty (thus no photo), but it’s my absolute favorite, because everything is at a really good price. It’s tempting, and you know you’re getting a good deal. And then your cart will start to look like this:
And you may start to worry about whether you’re buying too much, but then you see this sign:
Great! I’ll keep shopping. And then you get to the check-out counter and discover if you spend six more dollars, you’ll get twenty dollars worth of merchandise for free. And you do. And then your cart looks like this:
I’m not a “shopper” by nature, but I have a really hard time restraining myself at the Lodge Outlet.
Some of the things I bought are for gifts, like these 2-and 3-quart Dutch ovens, which will be wedding gifts. They were half price but aren’t seconds; Lodge is just changing the design slightly. I love the idea of giving an enduring gift like a Dutch oven to a couple who likes to cook and eat; they can pass it down to their children and their children’s grandchildren.
I bought some things to keep too–shhhhhhhh. Don’t tell Mr. Homesteader. I’ve already used them around him, but I don’t think he’s recognized that they’re new. Check out this great Dutch oven or skillet lid that doubles as a skillet itself but will also fit in the toaster oven, so I can make my deep-dish whole-grain pizza in the summer without heating up the whole house. Of course, I also really like small cast iron for when you’re not cooking for a whole crew. Check out my papa bear lid/skillet with my new baby skillet and lid.I have used this little fry pan so many times since I brought it home.
It’s not only cute; it works well!
I can have a perfect over-easy fried egg on buttered toast in about 4 minutes, and I can come up with 4 minutes on all but my busiest work mornings!
The lid that fits the little skillet also fits this nifty little pot with legs. I picked up two of them as my freebees, but I wish now I’d gotten more. They’ll be perfect for making individual servings of the chili-cheese-cornbread bake this fall and winter.
Imagine lifting the lids on little bread puddings in these tiny cauldrons!
I also got two more of these wonderful cast-iron plates that work for fajitas, for starting fish on the stove top and then finishing in the oven, and for smaller versions of my thinner-crust whole-grain pizza. I think these “plates” are indispensable, especially with the walnut charger, which makes it so easy to go from oven or stovetop to table.
And ultimately I could not entirely resist the enamelware. I bought this trivet. My kitchen is white with red accents, so this trivet is perfect!
And I got a couple of more things that were neither wedding gifts nor for me. They’re a gift for one of you, my dear readers. And they weren’t on sale or from the seconds area, but that’s okay, because months ago I said that a camping Dutch oven would be my first giveaway. Watch for me to post it tonight or tomorrow morning! I didn’t want readers to miss it in this long post.
Do you have a favorite outlet for an American-made product that warms the cockles of your heart? Have you ever been to the Lodge Outlet?
If you want to know more about using Dutch ovens, check out this recent cook-off, this beginner’s recipe, and this roasted chicken recipe.
Copyright 2010 Ozarkhomesteader, including photographs.
You know that I am crying right now after seeing all that wonderful cookware. I am proud to own such a trusted name in quality cookware! It is difficult to find Lodge cast iron products in Ontario, Canada. It would be great to have an outlet like that here!
Anita, there’s only ONE real Lodge outlet, although there are three other retail stores in the region, I think. You can order online, but the deals aren’t quite as good.
Lodge outlet?!?! Wow. My bank account is happy that its so far away. I went to the le cruset outlet once. It was still spendy. I love the colors but I agree about the made in china thing. All the garlic at our local store comes from china. I refuse!
Lodge is, thank goodness, much less expensive than Le Creuset!
I love cast iron. So many ways to cook in it, easy to
clean, and looks great. Did you see any cake pans in the shape of
a cat? I’m always looking for one. Thanks for this resource.
Hi, Barb. The only place I’ve ever seen really sturdy animal-shaped cake pans was in the huge Renningers’ antique marketplace in Mount Dora, Florida. I know I saw rabbits there. I”m not sure about cats. They do have a web site now. Just search for Renningers and Mount Dora.
Thanks, Ozarkhomesteader. I’ll look for one there.
Of course, now I’m tempted to road trip a thousand miles to shop at Renningers. I’d almost forgotten it.
Thanks Ozarkhomesteader for a great read. I’ve been buying Lodge products for over 30 years. One thing you did get wrong though. Not all Lodge products are made in the USA at least the enameled cookware is made in China, so I will skip that stuff. But the cast iron is the best there is.
Thank you, Pete! You missed my comment about the enameled cast iron. I did say that it’s made in China, right below the third picture: “And they carry a lot of enameled cast iron now too, although I think it’s made in China instead of in the US like everything else in the outlet. I love the colors, but I try to avoid Chinese products.” Even that red can’t tempt me, except in a trivet!