![]() Utopia Kitchen Cast Iron Skillet ($17 at Amazon).Calphalon Cast Iron Skillet ($50 at Calphalon).Cuisinel Cast Iron Skillet ($23 at Amazon).Marquette Castings Skillet ($250 at Marquette).Russell Kilgore Other Cast Iron Pans We Tested Strong Contenders ![]() We considered all of these factors during testing to ensure these cast iron skillets perform. And it is important to pay attention to how well the pour spout performs. A helper handle you will be doing anything that requires you to pour ingredients out of the cast-iron skillet. If you have a smaller hand, for instance, shorter handles are a better choice. The length of a handle and the addition of helper handles are all key considerations. You want to pay attention to features that help make cooking a cleanup easier, such as handles and pour spouts. Maneuverability is a consideration when choosing cast iron. "If you look at its durability, it's just not as strong as stainless steel. "It is a molten thing, and it's not stainless steel," she said. In her experience, she's had cast iron pans crack from stress fractures during use and suggests treating your pans very carefully. Some may think cast iron is indestructible, but Willis reminds us it is not shatterproof. If your cast iron rusts or you have other issues, we've got an article to help. A cast iron chainmail scrubber is another easily washable tool you can reuse and pop in the dishwasher to remove stubborn bits. Neutral oils rather than olive oil are preferred. It's good to get into the habit of oiling your cast iron after it is washed and dried after use. Wash your cast iron with water and soap after each use and air dry. "I like something I can use to make tried and true buttermilk cornbread but can also use to roast a small chicken or sear two pork chops," she said. ![]() Chef Willis recommends a 10-inch cast iron skillet for most households, as it provides enough diameter for everyday tasks like making pancakes, frying chicken, and baking cakes. Also, ensure that your cast iron is safe for glass or induction stoves if you have one, as some are not.Ĭast iron skillets come in various sizes, ranging from 5-inch miniature pans to 15-inch options. Most of our recommendations are pre-seasoned, but you’ll want to check the listing to be sure. We saved the enameled cast iron pans for another roundup. This skillet is at the higher end of the Lodge cast iron price range, but testers still said it is a reliable, lightweight pan that performs well for most cooking tasks.Ĭast iron skillets come in various finishes, such as bare, seasoned, and enameled cast iron. Testers also found the pour spouts to be a bit too small to promote a smooth and consistent pour. Although a helper handle is included with this pan, it’s quite a bit smaller and thinner than other models tested and didn’t provide much support when inverting cornbread. Testers found this pan incredibly lightweight, and the width and sturdiness of the main handle made it easy to hold with one hand. The aesthetics match the traditional Lodge look with an homage to the brand's roots. The Lodge Blacklock Triple-Seasoned Cast Iron Pan is the brand's higher-end cast iron skillet. Pros: This skillet is lightweight, easy to clean, and easy to keep seasoned.Ĭons: Testers found the slightly smaller helper handle and pour spouts to be a design drawback. Read on for our top-rated picks, plus a few helpful insights on cast iron cleaning and care. To find the best cast iron skillets, our lab of experts rigorously tested 18 pans to observe their heat conduction, retention, and distribution. We love cast iron so much that we wrote a complete guide to owning it and have a collection of recipes you may want to try. It would be one of the first pans I would suggest to anyone building a kitchen.”Ĭhef Willis is certainly not alone in her love of cast iron cookware. It's fairly inexpensive, whether you get a brand new Lodge pre-seasoned pan or find one at a garage sale or a thrift store. "It's a great metal, it heats up fast, and it holds an even heat. ![]() "Mine is so old and well-seasoned that it can cook anything," she said. Willis uses her skillet so often that she washes it and puts it right back on the stovetop after use. "When I moved from New York and drove the car down, I put the jewelry, the unreplaceable art, and the cast iron skillet in my car.” James Beard Award-winning Southern cookbook author and chef Virginia Willis inherited her grandmother's skillet, which she estimates is 100 years old. A cast iron skillet is an affordable kitchen workhorse that lasts, and many cooks have owned their cast iron skillets for years.
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