As part of my “Make Do and Mend” philosophy, I try very hard not jump straight to purchasing something as the solution for every problem. Often a bit of thought and ingenuity can fix the issue without spending a cent.
Here’s a super simple (and FREE) solution to recurring issue at my house–pots without lids. Sure, I could purchase a lid to fit various lidless pots, but that’s inconvenient (usually when you want a lid you want it NOW), costs money, and gives you one more thing to store (and pot lids are the WORST to store).
Several of my pots and pans don’t have lids. Some of them, like my collection of cast iron cookware, just never came with a lid (and honestly, even if they did it may have been lost years ago–with the exception of my dutch ovens, all my cast iron has been purchased used at antique stores, thrift stores or garage sales). Occasionally there is a pot or pan whose lid got broken, or perhaps lost in a move.
That’s ok–you probably have a fix already in your kitchen! Just reach into your cupboard and pull out a cookie sheet. That’s right–a cookie sheet. It’s usually pretty wide (and if it doesn’t completely cover your large stock pot or fry pan it probably isn’t much of an issue–most of the heat stays inside) and it very heat resistant. Just place it on top of your pot or pan. Viola, instant lid.
It may look a little goofy, but it works.
I frequently use this fix with my frying pan, when I just need a little more heat to stay in to melt something (like cheese on top of scrambled eggs) or to cook a thicker item all the way through (like the blue cheese stuffed burgers in the photo above). My cookie sheets are kept in a cabinet right near the oven, so I don’t even have to move away from the stove when I decide I need to use one.
Hope this “Make it Do” gives you some ideas to use in your own quest to “Make Do and Mend”
Love it! Will have to think of this. The only issue is that you have to remember to clean the cookie sheet afterward.
My mother always taught us to always make do. She had a lid to an old lunch pail that did double duty as a cookie sheet and for baking biscuits, and I still have it and use it myself. I also used cookie sheets, and in a pinch, Corelle dinner plates as lids for pots.
It’s amazing the things we can come up with to “Make it Do” isn’t it?
One day Hubby was making something, maybe an omelet and wanted a lid. I reached in a pulled out a pizza pan. – Same idea as the cookie sheet. Now he pulls one out all the time to cover a pan.
I’ve also used a pizza pan as a pot lid. We drilled a hole in the centre and screwed on a nice chunk of hardwood for a handle. Now, however, the pizza pans in the $ store have holes in them! I went to the Salvation Army store and found the perfect round tray for my large cast iron frying pan. It even has handles. My problem is, it’s Kromex (chrome), and I’m trying to find out if it’s safe. Does anyone have information on this?
What a great idea! I love when folks improvise.
I am super lucky to have lids with most of my pots…okay, maybe more like I wouldn’t buy a pan without a lid because we use them for everything but I am totally going to use this when we start getting new pots because so many come without lids. So crazy!! My mom used to just use the lid that was to the stock pot and it was a lid but just not the right one for the pot she was using. Makes sense because she rarely used that pot and used that lid lots!! Like the cookie sheet idea but my luck it would get too hot and I would burn myself…super famous for doing that in the kitchen a lot!!
Yes, use a pot holder when you are moving the cookie sheet. I’ve also done like your mom and used pot lids from other pots–but some of my cast iron skillets don’t exactly match (plus the cookie sheet is right there and the pot lids are across the room)
Thank you! I was just trying to figure out how to cover my 12″ cast iron skillet for a recipe that calls for it to be covered. I used foil last time, but ran out last week and forgot to restock when I went to the store. I considered using a glass lid with metal rim that I have for another cooking pan, but wasn’t sure if it would work on cast iron, and was a little afraid it would shatter all over dinner if I tried. So- cookie sheet to the rescue! My cast irons didn’t come with a lid, and I only have ONE recipe that even mentions using one, so it seems a little silly to invest in a lid- now I won’t have to! Love finding thrifty tips to keep from wasting resources, next time I won’t even reach for the foil.
I take a lid that I’m not using and that is too big, turn it upside down and put it right on the pot or pan.. works just fine for me.. some have plastic handles.. you might have to unscrew it and put it on backwards (the other side)
Great ideas, thanks for sharing.
me too 🙂
That’s exactly what I’m going to do–I bought a 20qt stock pot and it fits on the range, but the lid handle is too tall. I love the pot and don’t want to return it, so I’m going to invert the lid. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Awesome! I’m not much of a cook, so I only just bought a baking sheet a couple weeks ago, but I guess that was just in time! I’ll try it!
Thank you will try to find the South Africa version of cookie sheets 🙂
I use heavy duty aluminum foil for lid on my 6 and 8″ old cast iron skillets; just enough to cover
skillet top; my old 10 and 12″ skillets somehow came with tops; prob. in box lot from auction;
whatever works.