Cracked Cast Iron Pans!

What to do with a cracked cast iron pot or pan? First of all don't use it to cook with! I've been told that a cracked pan can explode. Do I know that a cracked pan can explode, no I don't. I imagine though that it can. What I think would happen is that water or moisture would get into the crack and expand into steam when heated and break the pan apart.

Technically would the pan explode, probably not but if full of oil and whatever you are cooking you could end up with quite a mess. Just as likely to happen is that you would get burned by splattered hot food or oil. So please don't use that cracked pan for safety sake.

If it is an old pan that you adore or has been handed down to you from your grandmother or some other cherished relative and you just can't get rid of it. Hang it on the wall of your kitchen as artwork. Old cast iron is wonderful as a decoration and you can tell people that it is Americana art.

If the pan is not so old, or not so cherished or not even a family heirloom then by all means recycle it. Don't throw it out, it can be recycled and cast iron is the original recycled item dating back hundreds of years. Don't use that cracked pan for cooking but use it for artwork or recycle it.