I’m not sure what is a good budget. Is anywhere between 500 and 1000 USD a good start?

I mean, you can definitely get really nice stuff for that price. But it’s also overkill. Get yourself a nice set of Lodge equipment and some chainmail “sponges” for cleaning.

Le Creuset is also a good brand for a few more buc

Lodge cookware is fine and cheap, I have a few sized pans from them acquired over the years and are still going strong, my only complaint is that the handles on them are very short. I also have a no name random cast iron skillet I got at big lots like 15 years ago that is also just as good as the day it was purchased. You don’t need to break the bank on getting cast iron pans—they are literally just a hunk of iron.

You should however figure out why you want cast iron. It is true that it is basically indestructible, but it has certain properties that can (slightly) affect cooking (specifically it retains a lot of heat for a long time and also heats incredibly unevenly).

Unclad stainless steel is basically the same as cast iron in that it doesn’t have artificial coatings and is nearly indestructible, but also heats faster and more evenly, is lighter, but doesn’t retain heat as well.

But seriously a 12 inch lodge pan is like $20 bucks and is basically all you’d ever need to cook most things

Also biggest advice: you dont need to baby your pans, just cook in them regularly and clean them afterward—they are at the end of the day giant hunks of metal that are heated.

So, I have an inherent bias… I inherited my grandmothers Le Creuset dutch oven that she bought in the 50s. It’s still usable, so I built out a full set around that.

Problem: Le Creuset is STUPID expensive.

But here’s the secret… Find an outlet store near you and sign up for their email list.

They will regularly offer sales from 30% to 70% off.

https://www.lecreuset.com/outlets.html

They also regularly run “Factory to Table” events in certain cities.

Build your own set currently up to 30% off:

https://www.lecreuset.com/buildaset

Spend $200, Save 20%

Spend $500, Save 25%

Spend $1000, Save 30%

Use Code BUILDASET at checkout

I just knocked out this set:
Dutch Oven
Skillet
Saucepan
Braiser
Cassadou

$1,460 -30% = $1,022…

My set, grammas is the 70 year old pot with the loop handle in the middle.

Foodporn:

Lodge is an American manufacturer of quality cast iron cookware. Buy what you need and read the “care and feeding” insert, then follow it.

Do you really need a set?

Starting with 9 inch frying pan should do the trick.

Lodge is a classic and wont break the wallet.

You don’t need anywhere near $500 for a cast iron pan. I bought one on clearance from Kmart 15 years ago and it’s still cooking meal for me. It was probably $30 full price. It’s literally just a pan made out of cast iron. That’s all any of them are.

It’s more important that you take care of the pan, than what the price point is. Sure, you could spend an obscene amount of money on one, or three pans. But if you don’t take care of it it’s a waste no matter what.

Honestly, I would steer clear of sets and go for nicer individual pieces, as you would knives. A skillet, one or two saucepans, and a pot (with lids for all) will get you very far in a kitchen.

I don’t recommend cast iron grill pans, they’re a pain to clean for no real benefit aside from pretty grill marks.

I got this Lodge set plus an extra 10.25" skillet. I also got silicone handle covers because I don’t like burning my delicate fingers🤌💅

That should be enough and under $150. If anything, get an extra 10.25" dutch oven/pot.

I have a few Crofton dutch ovens. I got it from Aldi on various discount days. I think you can find the pots and pans on Amazon. The price and the quality are pretty good. I use my dutch ovens to bake bread and to make a cheese. So far, no issues.

Lodge is perfectly good. It’s not about how much you spend on it but how you take care of it.

You can also try antique stores to see if you can find any. A lot of older cookware shows up at the ones in the Eastern US

I buy them second hand and clean them up.

I’ve had two Lodge fry pans for twenty years. Zero issues. $20 each.

Be careful getting second hand, make sure to do lead tests of anything you buy before you use it for food.

Go on Amazon, buy a skillet, don’t spend more than $25. Use this skillet to learn how to use and care for cast iron. Maybe it’s not for you, or maybe you’ll love it. Either way, you’ll know what to look for in cast iron.

Can I ask, why have you settled on this particular idea for a gift if you really don’t know what to get?

Also, if you’re buying this for someone who loves to cook, they must have some cookware already. What kind of stuff do they have in their kitchen? Do they really need an entire set of cookware, or is there maybe a particular thing that they might appreciate?