The Best Cast Iron Skillets for Fire Cooking

Cast Iron Skillets are some of the best ways to cook and get that grill flavor you desire but inside the house. There are a lot of reasons why a cast iron skillet is popular when it comes to cooking and grilling regardless if it’s inside and outside.

With how popular cast iron skillets are today, you may be starting to look into the process of ordering a cast iron skillet for yourself. When starting your search for the perfect pan, it’s important to note that cast iron skillets aren’t like a normal pan. They are very unique and have specific ways of cooking with them which can deter a lot of potential customers away.

Today, we’re going to give you a little bit more information on cast iron skillets, how to use them, what makes the best cast iron skillets, and some of the best skillets on the market today.

What Are Cast Iron Skillets?

Cast iron is a very dense metal and that is nearly impossible to damage. It’s especially known as being the “king of holding heat” when it comes to cooking which is one of the many reasons why cast iron skillet best.

Withholding in heat means that cast iron is great for browning meats, cooking vegetables faster, and less stressful cooking with not having to constantly rotate the pan every so often.

What Makes Cast Iron Skillet Best?

Cast iron pans have gotten more and more popular over the years especially when it comes to searing or grilling. People specifically like using the cast iron skillet seasoning when cooking. The beauty about a large cast iron skillet is that every time you cook with it the more flavor it gets. So as time progresses, your cast iron skillet seasoning will develop and make your foods more flavorful and absorb into your food, providing flavor you couldn’t achieve anywhere else.

That being said, it’s important not to clean your cast iron skillet how you would clean a traditional pan. This is because the soap will strip and interior of the pan and essentially ruin your pan. Once you cook with the pan a few times and discover the flavor that derives from using the pan, you’ll no longer feel a little strange about not washing the pan as you typically would.

To learn more about how to ‘wash’ a cast iron skillet, we recommend this video from Not Another Cooking Show: How to Clean a Cast Iron Pan after cooking

 

Finding the Right Cast Iron Skillet

When searching for the cast iron skillet best, it’s important to take a variety of factors into consideration such as what you’re using it for, the size of your cast iron skillet, are you needing a large cast iron skillet or a small one? One that’s a grill pan or one that’s a smooth pan? Lastly, are you searching for a lid for cast iron skillet?

While you take a minute to think about the question above, we’re here to help you in your search in finding the best cast iron skillet with our list of the best cast iron skillets on the market today.

Best Cast Iron Skillets – Reviews

#5 Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Deep Round Grill

 

 

Available in both blue and red this large cast iron skillet is great for higher temperatures with its matte black enamel interior. The interior actually promotes the development of a patina to enhance your cooking performance which is important when it comes to cooking with a cast iron pan as it’s the added flavor to the dish that draws a lot of people to using this type of pan.

This Le Creuset Enameled Cast iron Signature Deep Round Grill pan also features signature side handles that provide a great grip when lifting the pan and features high ridges to keep ingredients out of fat and spouts on the side for drip-free pouring.

Pros:

• Pouring Spouts
• Deeper side walls
• Promotes development of Patina

Cons:

• No heat handles

#4 Jean Patridque The Whatever Pan

 

If you’re looking for a no-fuss pan for whatever, whenever, meet your new best friend, the Jean Patrique The Water Pan. This cast iron aluminum griddle pan comes with a lid for cast iron skillet and is a decent 10.6″ in size. It’s a high-quality die-cast aluminum pan that allows you to cook an impressive dish.

We love the fact that this large cast iron skillet features deep ridges which help to avoid any unwanted cooking messes and spills. It can be used over gas, ceramic, electric, campfire, or just pretty much whatever heat source you want to use it over.

It features a non-stick surface to get your meals cooking with less oil. Unlike a lot of non-stick pans, this one doesn’t feature any toxins so you can have the peace of mind that your easy cooking isn’t coming at the expense of your health.

Pros:

• Large sides to prevent mess
• High quality die cast aluminum
• Includes lid

Cons:

• No Heat Handles

#3 Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Pan

 

If you’re looking for cast iron skillet seasoning, look no further than this Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Pan. All the “hard” work is done for you with this cast iron skillet with the foundry seasoned, ready to use 10.5″ grill pan.

This is your perfect standard cast iron grill pan that’s great for camping, grilling, and cooking on a variety of different surfaces. Saute, sear, fry, bake and stir fry anything your heart desires with this perfect, cast iron pan.

Pros:

• Pre-seasoned
• Made in USA
• Oven Safe

Cons:

• Hot Handle Holder Sold Seperately

#2 Cuisinel Store Cast Iron Square Grill Pan

 

 

This 10.5 cast iron square pan comes in a variety of different sizes which makes for great cooking versatility. Seriously, the possibilities seem nearly endless with this multipurpose cast iron ribbed skillet. You can sear and grill anything indoor and outdoors on stovetops or on the grill.

We love the added bonuses that come with this cast iron skillet. Bonuses including a rubber handle to avoid burning your hand, a free pan scraper which is great for cleaning since you’re not really supposed to wash cast iron pans with soap and water, and lastly, the option to get a glass lid. This is great if you’re on the hunt for a lid for cast iron skillet, this way you can easily get a lid for cast iron skillet that fits perfectly with your pan.

Pros:

• Precision Heat Distribution
• Easy to Clean
• Free Pan Scraper

Cons:

• Lid purchased separately

#1 Cuisinel Store 2-Piece Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

 

 

Cast iron skillets are an incredible, flavorful way to cook and grill practically on any cooking surface. This deal from Cuisinel Store is unbelievable. For under $50, you can get two incredibly high-quality and well-made pre-seasoned cast iron skillets. This bundle features both a 10 inch and a 12-inch pan with two heat resistant holders which is great because the handles get really hot.

They’re both oven safe and available in a variety of different sizes. With the precision heat distribution, you can perfectly cook your food and enjoy all the pre-seasoned flavor. We especially love when cast iron pans come preseasoned because one of the most popular searches on Google cast iron skillet seasoning. This way, you don’t have to worry about seasoning your pan and know it’s ready to go as soon as you get it!

Pros:

• • Easy to Clean
  • Precision Heat Distribution
  • Great Bundle Deal
  • Free Pan Scraper

Cons:

• Lid purchased separately

Overview

We hoped this post helped you narrow down your hunt for cast iron skillet best. Whether you’re looking for a cast iron skillet seasoning, large cast iron skillet, or a lid for cast iron skillet, we hope that this post helped point you in the right direction and gave you a great insight into the different cast iron skillet on the market today and the benefits of using a cast iron as well.