Your Vintage Cast Iron Skillet Could Be Worth Serious Money

LOUISIANA - If you've ever cleaned out an old kitchen cabinet, dug through a garage sale, or inherited some cookware from you Grandparents, you may want to take a closer look at it.

That fantastic heavy cast iron skillet that you've been using for years could be more than just a great way to cook a steak.

Some vintage cast iron skillets can be worth serious money to collectors.

And here in Louisiana, where cookware often gets passed down through the family along with the recipes, there's a pretty good chance you have an old skillet that's been in your family for generations.

So how can you tell whether you've got an everyday skillet or a potential collectible?

There are 5 things to look for...

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Look For A Brand Name On The Bottom

The first thing you should do is flip that skillet over.

The bottom of an old cast iron skillet can tell you a lot about what you've got. Look for a manufacturer's name, logo, number, location stamp or other identifying markings.

Some of the names collectors watch for include Griswold, Wagner Ware, Wapak and older Lodge pieces.

Griswold cookware, in particular, is highly sought after by collectors. Some older Griswold skillets have distinctive markings that can help you identify when and where they were made.

Lodge Cast Iron Pan

Older Skillets Can Be More Valuable

There's a saying in the world of collectables that just because something is old doesn't mean it's valuable, but age can make a big difference with vintage cast iron cookware.

Older skillets can be more valuable because many were made using techniques and designs that are different from what you'll find on today's mass-produced cookware.

Some vintage cast iron skillets made before the 1950s are especially more interesting to collectors.

Check The Condition Before You Get Too Excited

You could have an old skillet from a desirable manufacturer, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're sitting on a small fortune.

Condition matters.

Collectors generally want vintage cast iron that's free of major damage. Things like serious cracks, heavy rust, deep denting, or major warping can hurt the value. A skillet that's in good condition with its original markings still clearly visible can be much more appealing to collectors.

Look For Unusual Or Rare Markings

Numbers, logos, letters, manufacturing locations and other symbols can help collectors determine exactly what they're looking at.

That's particularly important with older cookware because companies changed their markings and designs over the years. For example, finding a recognizable manufacturer isn't necessarily enough. You may need to know which version of that skillet you have.

1. Search the brand and model number online
2. Look up completed listings on auction sites like Ebay.com.
3. Join cast iron collector groups on social media like Facebook.
4. Consider having it appraised by an antique dealer.

You can find out more over at kitchenjournal.net.