Where Are Lodge Pans Manufactured?

How Lodge Has Been Making Cast-Iron Pans for 125 Years ‘Dan Does’ host Daniel Geneen takes a tour of the company’s massive factory in Tennessee by Terri Ciccone and Eater Video Jul 26, 2021, 9:01am EDT Cast-iron pans are essential pieces of cookware and one of the most popular, widely available, and affordable brands comes from Lodge Cast Iron.

Lodge is the oldest continuous manufacturer of cookware in America. Founded in 1896, Lodge has proven that cast iron cookware is timeless. Lodge cast iron cookware is made in Tennessee.

Lodge Manufacturing Company, in Pittsburg, Tennessee, has become one of the longest-running manufacturers of cast–iron cookware in America. Lodge cast –iron has been around since the late 1800s. The Blacklock Foundry was started in 1896 by Joseph Lodge producing cast iron cookware as well as other cast iron products.

Our American-made cast iron cookware is the perfect kitchen tool for beginners, home cooks, and chefs. Lodge cast iron cookware can handle any modern kitchen cooktop and the heat of an open campfire. Each of our cast iron pans comes seasoned and ready to use, right out of the box.

It is still owned and managed by the descendants of the Lodge family. Most cast iron sold by Lodge is produced in its foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, which has been in operation since the company was founded.

Lodge is shipped free across Canada on orders over $99. Since 1896, Lodge has been manufacturing cast iron skillets, dutch ovens, camp ovens and more out of their foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee using American iron. With over 200 different different products to choose from Lodge has an item for almost any outdoor or indoor cooking need.

Where is Lodge Cast Iron made?

Originally called Blacklock, founder Joseph Lodge fired up a long-dormant railroad foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee in 1896. Blacklock focused on manufacturing sad irons, tea kettles, kitchen sinks, and cast iron cookware.

Today, Lodge operates a total of five Disamatic molding machines, each capable of making 350-400 molds an hour. We ship an average of one-million pounds of iron product each week—all melted, poured, molded, finished and packaged right here in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, our home for over 120 years.

Sand molding has been around since 680 B.C. It remains the best and most practical way to cast iron cookware. We add a mixture of pig iron, recycled steel, castings from our foundry, and alloys to the electric induction furnace. This furnace runs over 2,000 degrees F and it can hold 10 metric tons of liquid iron.

The foundry converted from a hand-pour operation to an automated molding process in 1950. This created a safer working environment for foundry workers. In 1965 , Lodge became the first American company to use a Disamatic, a Danish molding machine that had once been used for manufacturing during World War II.

In 2002, Lodge debuted seasoned cast iron cookware — an industry first. Prior to this, cast iron was sold unseasoned, with a thin layer of carnauba bean wax to prevent rust during storage and merchandising. The water-soluble wax had to be washed off at home, then the cookware had to be oiled and baked in the oven before it could be used. Now, in the final step of the finishing process before boxing, Lodge cookware is sprayed with soybean oil and baked at a high temperature, creating a ready-to-use, easy-release surface.

To this day, the foundry is still operational; it’s gone through significant changes and improvements over the years, but the overall method of creating high-quality cast iron cookware remains essentially the same.

The water-soluble wax had to be washed off at home, then the cookware had to be oiled and baked in the oven before it could be used. Now, in the final step of the finishing process before boxing, Lodge cookware is sprayed with soybean oil and baked at a high temperature, creating a ready-to-use, easy-release surface.

Where is Lodge manufactured?

Website. www.lodgemfg.com. Lodge Manufacturing Company is an American manufacturer of cast iron cookware based in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Founded in 1896 by Joseph Lodge, Lodge Manufacturing is one of America’s oldest cookware companies in continuous operation. It is still owned and managed by the descendants of the Lodge family.

The Lodge Manufacturing Company has operated continuously in the same location ever since and holds the title of being the oldest cast iron cookware manufacturer in the USA.

Is lodge a hands on process?

In a high-tech world, it was surprising to see how much of the Lodge manufacturing process still employs a hands-on process with machinery that is controlled directly by workers rather than computer-automated. The metal chemistry and other aspects of the production process are monitored by workers during melting and throughout the rest of the process.

They feel their factory seasoning was “how it should have been all along,” and it has helped establish the brand’s identity (and easy-t0-use products) to new customers.