Richard Morgan’s new 6-inch cast iron skillet. (Photo by Richard Morgan)

BY RICHARD MORGAN

If you’re like me, you have gone through about a million “non-stick” sets of cookware. In the last ten years, we have bought about six different sets, or at least pieces, of this stuff. We started with some moderately expensive ones, figuring they’d last. Well, they did… for about a year or so, before they were no longer “non-stick.” Since then, we’ve gone through cheap ones, mid-priced ones, copper ones, ceramic ones, etc. They all work great at first, but then…not-so-much.

But last fall, I started seeing ads for cast iron pans. Of course, I’ve used cast iron in the past, and I was never impressed. But this brand SWORE that they were different. The iron was not as thick, so they were lighter. And the surfaces were smooth, not rough like most. And they are designed and manufactured right here in the USA. And of course, since they were solid iron, with no coating on them, they shouldn’t degrade over time. The trouble was, while I could go buy a 6-inch cast iron skillet at Walmart for less than $20, this one was just a bit over $100! Yes, really. There is no way I could justify that.

But then I got an unexpected $100 for something, and I figured the universe was telling me something. So I bought the very small, very expensive 6-inch skillet. And just hoped.

Well, now I love that skillet. As much as one can love a skillet, anyway.

And here’s how I know I love it. I don’t know about you, but I subconsciously tell myself what things I like. For instance, I have some shirts that I just somehow never seem to take off the shelf. I don’t “know” that I don’t like them. But I never pick them out. It’s not a conscious thing at all. But for some reason, I always pick something different.

And this skillet is just like that. Almost every morning when I make my breakfast, I need a small skillet. And I ALWAYS pick this one. Right away. Without hesitation. I don’t even consider the other pans.

So apparently, I love this pan! Or at least that’s what my subconscious is telling me. But why?

• Is it because it’s “almost” non-stick? (Yes, some things still stick, just a little.)
• Or because it takes me back to a “simpler” time? Before non-stick, before Teflon. To a time when Mom cooked, almost always, with cast iron.
• Or maybe because I’m not 100% sure the coating on those other pans is bad for me.
• Or maybe I love it because deep down inside, I feel like, since I paid $100 for it, I HAVE to love it. So I don’t feel like an idiot.

The answer is – I really don’t know. I know I really, really, really, don’t want it to be for the last reason. I’m not sure what that would say about my judgment! But I’m pretty sure about one thing. And that is – I’m overthinking this (which I do a LOT!).

I mean really, I love the pan. Even though it was over $100. (Or maybe because it was over $100?) In fact, I’m thinking of buying the 10-inch version which is more like $165!

It must really be true love!