Heuck 33002 Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron 3-Piece Skillet Set

New family heirloom
I bought this 3-pack iron skillet set at a discount store years ago for $15 after my sister had gone on about how great her new cast iron pan was. Curious, I thought "they're so cheap, why not try?" At the time I had many really fancy non-stick pans, anodized aluminum pans, stainless steel pans; you name it. Well, I still have those pans, but now they sit in the cupboard while the cast iron pans have gained a permanent place atop my stove. The cast iron pans are *that* fantastic. At first, I thought I didn't like them, because while the set says they're pre-seasoned, it does take a bit more seasoning (rub with lard or shortening and put it in the stove for 15 min, then wipe off) and actual cooking (the real seasoning) in the pans before they get blacker and begin acting like nonstick pans (without chemicals). Yes, you may burn some food at first, but that passes, and the nonstick, heat-retaining result is totally worth it. Expect your pans to blacken with use (blacker=more nonstick)...

"The preseaoned coating is meant to be temporary"???
I purchased this set a month ago. Let me first say that this is a small skillet set - be sure you pay attention to the listed sizes. I didn't and was a bit surprised at how small they were.
After reading the reviews prior to ordering, I made sure that I RESEASONED all three skillets prior to using and also used no detergents, only a brush and water to clean. I only used the largest skillet a handful of times before the coating started to come off! I decided not to go through Amazon and complain, but go directly to the manufacturer, Heuck. This is their response:

"Thanks for your purchase of Heuck cookware. The preseaoned coating is meant to be temporary - it isn't a permanent coating. Normally it wears off with use in 6 months to a year; afterward the pan has to be seasoned. In your case, the use of the brush may have caused the coating to begin to flake off. Sometimes there are rough spots in the coating and part of the coating could flake. It doesn't represent a...

Unless you enjoy eating black paint, buy something else
These cast iron pans are heavy and appear to be of good quality except for the fact that after only two or 3 uses, I get black paint from the pan in everything I cook. I have some lodge cast iron pans and they are wonderful. Spend the extra $2 on lodge pans and you'll love them. The smallest pan in this set is useless.

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