Often considered the territory of pompous male chefs looking to impress potential love affairs with their distinctly unclean cookware, cast iron has garnered a bad reputation in recent years – and we’re here to set the record straight. When used correctly and with wholesome intentions, cast iron skillets will transform the way you cook forever.
What exactly is a cast iron skillet?
Versatile and heavy-duty, cast iron skillets are valued by professional chefs and home cooks alike for their ability to reach and maintain extremely high temperatures while distributing the heat evenly.
The nearly indestructible cookware gets better with age, has a healthy non-stick surface which is void of chemicals, and may even help to fortify your food with additional iron. Anaemics rejoice! They’re made by pouring molten iron into sand moulds, which gives them that classic textured surface.
What’s the difference between a cast iron pan and a frying pan?
Rohit Ghai, a chef patron of modern Indian restaurant Kutir, explains: “The two are very different. Cast iron pans are heavyweight and can be used in the oven which many frying pans with plastic handles cannot - this means they can even be used for baking. Non-stick frying pans have a limit on their heat and do not retain heat as effectively as cast iron pans due to their coating.”
What should a cast iron skillet be used for?
According to Norma’s executive chef Giovann Attard, the best thing for a cast iron skillet is meat. He explains: “Cast iron pans are the best for meat in my opinion. I love a cast iron griddle pan, it’s the closest thing you can have to a BBQ inside the house. The heat is distributed evenly, and it holds for a long time, which helps in getting a good sear on your meat.”
Selin Kiazim from the (now closed) luxury Turkish restaurant Oklava agrees, adding: “The cooking surface will always stay flat which is perfect for caramelising a steak. The other big plus point is that a cast iron pan can go in the oven, making it perfect for cooking items where you may want to get a crispy skin with some oven time. I use mine for roasting chicken, cooking fish, searing cabbage wedges etc. I couldn’t do without it, frankly.”
What’s the deal with seasoning a cast iron skillet?
Seasoning cast iron cookware is what makes it naturally non-stick, imbuing it with that characteristic black patina. All seasoning is, is oil baked onto cast iron through polymerisation. Lots of cast iron cookware comes pre-seasoned, but the best way to maintain it is simply to put your precious skillet to use. Every time you cook a steak, eggs, shakshuka or anything else under the sun, you’re adding another layer of seasoning.
How do you clean a cast iron skillet?
So long as you re-season your cast-iron skillet after washing, it’s absolutely fine to use some gentle dish soap. Just make sure you rinse and dry thoroughly, and don’t use too much oil when re-seasoning.
How do you prevent a cast iron skillet from rusting?
Simply put, keep it dry. Make sure you dry it immediately after washing – you can do this over an open hob flame or with a standard kitchen towel. Then make sure to store your pan in a dry location. Re-season as needed and enjoy!
Without further ado, we’ve curated a selection of the best cast-iron skillets on the market below.
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Cast Iron Always Pan
Size: 26.7cm
From the masters of stylish and utilitarian cookware comes the endlessly versatile eight-in-one Always Pan, this time in cast iron. Capable of grilling, searing, braising, frying, sauteing, roasting, baking, broiling, stewing and more – this piece of heirloom cookware is crafted from premium enamelled cast iron for superior browning and non-stick. The best part? No seasoning required.
Buy now £135.00, Our Place
Le Creuset Signature Cast Iron Deep Skillet
Size: 26cm
There’s no such thing as a poor investment when it comes to heritage cookware specialists Le Creuset. This glorious, enamelled cast iron pan is available in an array of signature colourways, though our personal favourite happens to be the classic volcanic orange hue.
It’s equipped with a handy helper handle for even weight distribution, comes with a lifetime guarantee, and is even dishwasher-safe (though true cast iron nuts wouldn’t dream of cleaning their pans this way).
Buy now £189.00, Amazon
Procook Cast Iron Skillet Pan
Size: 26cm
Featuring an all-round enamelled coating to prevent unruly rust, this value-for-money skillet by ProCook is suitable for all hobs including induction and solid fuel, and is also oven-safe up to 260 degrees Celsius. The pan has a particularly smooth surface compared to other cast iron options and comes with a 25-year guarantee.
Buy now £39.00, Procook
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Size: 30.5cm
A true heritage brand, Lodge specialises in cast iron skillets crafted from largely recycled materials. The American cookware brand has been making cast iron pans and accessories since 1896 from their base in Tennessee, pretty much making them the Le Creuset the States. Designed to last generations, this pre-seasoned skillet also features an assist handle.
Buy now £59.03, Amazon
STAUB 28cm Cast Iron Frying Pan
Size: 28cm
Though the chic wooden handle on this vintage-inspired cast iron frying pan by STAUB makes it unsuitable for oven use, it certainly has an unbeatable aesthetic appeal. Cook steaks to perfection thanks to extraordinary heat retention and even distribution, and look good while doing it.
Buy now £179.00, Zwilling
Cast iron griddle pans
Staub Square Cast Iron Grill Pan
Size: 28cm
At 28cm, this square cast iron grill pan is ideal for cooking for the whole family and can fit plenty of meat cuts as well as veggies such as aubergines, tomatoes and asparagus. The deep grooving that covers the entire surface will give your food the perfect charing as it will prevent the ingredients from cooking in their own juices.
The cast iron construction ensures it heats up quickly, distributes the warmth evenly across the base and has great heat retention. The two smaller handles on either side of the pan mean it takes up little space on the hob and can easily be transferred into the oven without taking up the whole shelf.
Buy now £169.00, Zwilling
Overmont Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Griddle Grill Pan
Size: 43.1 x 24.89cm
If you’re after the perfect BBQ substitute for when the weather isn’t in your favour, then this Overmont griddle pan is the closest thing you’ll get (though of course it can also be used outside if the sun decides to make a rare appearance).
The two-in-one option works on all heat sources and is even ovenproof. It measures 43cm in length and almost 10cm in width, making it ideal to sear several steaks on or cook a fry up in no time.
We found the flat griddle to be particularly useful for eggs or multiple pancakes in the morning. Because of its size, the griddle does take up two spaces on a hob but for the amount of cooking space you get, we think it’s worth it. Included in the set are two pan scrapers which help clean any stuck food without damaging the non-stick.
Buy now £28.99, Amazon
Le Creuset Signature Enamelled Cast Iron Grillit Frying Pan
Size: 26cm
Known for its durable kitchenware, this griddle pan from Le Creuset is certainly built to last. Its enamelled cast iron exterior helps heat food evenly and has better lasting heat retention than other pans we tested.
However, the griddle pan is slightly heavier than aluminium options, weighing almost 3kg, but we didn’t find this too much of a problem as the pan features two large easy-grip handles. The pan also has two pouring lips on either side making it easy to drain fat and juices.
Buy now £111.75, Amazon
Vonhaus Seasoned Cast Iron Griddle Pan
Size: 39.5cm x 26.3cm
This square option is the perfect griddle pan for everyday use and allows you to fit far more ingredients than a similar-sized circular pan. We particularly liked its depth as it helped prevent splashes of oil or residue juices. The deep ridges are also guaranteed to give you clean griddle marks on your food. Importantly, the pan is hand wash only so make sure you gently wash it with warm soapy water so the non-stick coating doesn’t get damaged.
Buy now £19.99, Vonhaus
