How to Buy Used Cookware
Some of the many reasons people look for used cookware include nostalgia for older pieces, the need for a particular out of production item or just the love of unusual pieces. You can find used cookware at flea markets and at garage sales, but also consider online auctions to find your desired piece.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Search Internet auctions for well-made, beautiful dishes and cookware pieces. You can often find pieces online that are common in some areas, but are obscure and unavailable in yours.
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Look for restored cookware in one-off shops. These stores carry cookware pieces that originally sold for top dollar. The refinished physical and chemical characteristics make the product appear to be new, and they sell at a much lower price.
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Browse your area for a used cookware dealer. A store like this is much better than a thrift store because they concentrate on cookware and nothing else. The staff may also have a great story to pass on, like where the piece came from or who it belonged to.
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Glance at stalls at a trade days' event. You can find cast iron cookware at many of these vendor sites. The vendors peruse the area and buy used cookware to bring to these events.
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Choose heavy, older cookware instead of some of the lighter versions sold in retail stores today. The older pieces were often crafted with better quality and hold up better in the long run.
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Tips & Warnings
Always thoroughly check cookware for chips and blemishes. Many of these are more than just an aesthetic problem. For example, older, blue enamel pans may be toxic if the finish has come off.
