1. How do I know that the skillet is well seasoned?

Most of the cast iron skillets come pre-seasoned. This means that they are already coated with multiple layers of polymerized oil that gives the pan a non-stick and rustproof finish. An unseasoned cast iron skillet comes in silver-gray color whereas the seasoned pans either come in black or brown color. A pan is said to be well-seasoned when you see an even color all over the pan, without any dark blotches in between. A well-seasoned pan almost looks like a non-stick pan and is deep black in color. A properly seasoned pan can be used to do any type of cooking and it prevents the food from sticking, just like a non-stick pan.

2. How to figure out a fake cast iron skillet?

If you are buying a cast iron skillet for the first time, these pointers can prevent you from buying a fake iron skillet. Check if the handles of the pan are attached using screws or not. The handles in the cast iron skillets are a part of the same iron mold. Thus, if the pan has a handle that is attached using screws, it is a fake one. Check the inside surface of the pan. If you notice a shiny or Teflon-like, or non-stick coating, it is not a real cast iron pan. The surface of real pans looks imperfect with a dull or rough surface.

3. What types of food shall I avoid cooking in the cast iron pan?

An uncoated cast iron pan can give a metallic taste to your food, especially if the coating has worn down. This happens when you cook a lot of acidic foods in the pan. Thus, it is better if you avoid cooking acidic foods like simmering tomatoes for making sauce. Since the cast iron gets extremely hot, we suggest you to avoid cooking delicate dishes like fish as it can break apart easily. Also, until your pan is seasoned properly, it will be better if you avoid cooking sticky foods like eggs.

4. How do I know that my cast iron skillet require re-seasoning?

After using your pan for a while, you might have to re-season the pan. Sometimes, the seasoning layer becomes thin. One of the first indications that it requires re-seasoning is food starts sticking to the pan or if you the color of the pan turns pale gray. In some cases, you might even notice rust spots. As a rule, you should re-season your cast iron skillets at least once or twice a year.

5. Is it possible to remove the seasoning from the cast iron skillet?

Generally, nobody would try to remove the seasoning layers from the skillet but, if you want to remove it, you can keep your pan in the oven on the cleaning cycle. Or, you can place it over the grill till it reaches high temperatures. This way, you can get rid of the seasoning. Once the seasoning is removed completely, you can use it like a new pan.

6. Is it safe to cook in cast iron cookware?

Yes, it is absolutely safe to cook in cast iron pans. In fact, they are a very healthy alternative to the non-stick pans. But, if you have any pre-existing health condition or if a new condition arises due to excess intake of iron, you must avoid cooking in the cast iron pans.

7. Why are cast iron pans so costly in India?

If you buy cast iron pans online, they are quite expensive. One of the first reasons behind it is the weight. It is costly for the traders to pack, store, and ship these heavy utensils.

8. Can I use butter in my cast iron pan?

Yes, you can use butter to cook your food. But, if you are planning to season the pan using butter, then the answer is no.

9. Is the rust that forms over cast iron harmful?

A little amount of rust is not harmful. But, the pan is kept like that for a long time, you must clean it properly and season it again.

10. What is the difference between iron and cast iron?

While buying an iron utensil, you must know that they are available in 2 types – cast iron and iron. Cast iron is made using alloy i.e. mixture of metals. Here, you will get around 97% iron along with 3% carbon and silica. Iron utensils, on the other hand, are made using whole iron metal.

11. Can I fry chips or other food items in cast iron skillet?

Cast iron cookware is considered best for shallow frying. Shallow frying is a healthy and tasty way of cooking where the food gets cooked evenly, without using excess oil.

12. Some cast iron utensils come with a coating of ceramic. Are they safe to use?

Yes, ceramic-coated cast iron pans are totally safe and healthy to use. This enamel coating provides a non-stick coat to the pan so that you can cook all types of foods without worrying about sticking.

13. What size cast iron skillet is the best?

The standard size that we would recommend is a 10-inch pan. It is the considered the best for baking items like most cake recipes and also cook and sauté meats and vegetables.

14. How to re-season a cast iron skillet?

Scrub skillet well in hot soapy water Dry thoroughly Spread a thin layer of melted shortening or vegetable oil over the skillet Place it upside down on a middle oven rack at 400° Place foil on a lower rack to catch drips Bake 1 hour; let it cool in the oven

15. Are cast iron skillets sticky?

Cast iron skillets will act just like non-stick pans, when they are pre-seasoned, and also when you keep seasoning them. We have discussed about seasoning cast iron skillets in our buying guide. You can refer it to learn more.

16. How can you tell if a cast iron skillet is good or not?

Cast iron skillets are heavy Their handles will be a part of the pan and not attached with screws They will not be rusted or discolored If the surface of the skillet is shiny like Teflon or non-stick then it is not an original item

17. How to maintain a cast iron skillet?

The moment you are done with cooking on your cast iron skillet clean it with warm water. Do not leave it in cold water, as it may rust. Also, wipe the interior surface with paper towel to remove the extra food and oil. For further information, go through our ‘Buying Guide’.

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Guides, Kitchen

How To Choose a Cast Iron Skillet

Updated by

Apoorva

on Dec 19, 2020

While looking for the best cast iron skillets in the market, there are many factors that you will need to consider.

These factors can help you decide how easy and comfortable it is to use that particular pan. Let’s check out how to find the best cast iron cookware.

Table of Contents

1. Uncoated or Enameled:

There are two types of cast iron skillets available: uncoated and enameled.

Most of the cast iron skillets available in India belong to the uncoated category. Since most of the uncoated cast iron pans come pre-seasoned, you can start using the pans immediately. But, with additional use and seasoning, the pan becomes even more non-stick.

Before using the skillet, it is very important to go through the instructions that come with the skillet set to check if it requires extra seasoning. If yes, it also mentions the recommended way for that particular skillet.

The only disadvantage of uncoated cast iron skillet is it is a reactive metal. Hence, if you cook acidic foods in these pans for a longer period of time, the seasoning can be damaged and you might even get a metallic taste from the food. Nonetheless, with a well-seasoned pan, you might not face any problems while cooking acidic foods for a short period of time. But, if you are planning to braise tomatoes for a long time, you should use a different pan.

The enameled cast iron skillet doesn’t need any seasoning and a few of them can even be washed in dishwashers. The special enamel coating helps in preventing the food from coming in contact with the raw metal. Due to this, you can cook any type of food, including acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus foods in this enameled cookware.

The only con of the enameled skillet is that the coating might crack or chip over the time, making the cookware unfit for any further cooking. The enameled cast iron cookware can be used on the stove. You can even use it in the oven, but the knobs of the lids might not be able to handle the extremely high temperatures inside the oven.

If you are looking for an affordable option, you can buy an uncoated cast iron skillet. If budget is not a constraint for you, then you can go ahead with enameled cast iron skillet.

2. Size:

The cast iron skillets are available in various sizes. The most versatile and commonly available sizes are 8-inch (20 cm) or 12-inch (35 cm). If you live in a large family with more than 5 members, we suggest you to buy a 10-inch or 12-inch skillet. But, if you live alone or in a small family, you can buy a smaller model.

While selecting the size, remember that the cast iron pans are a bit heavier than the usual non-stick pans. So, choose accordingly.

3. Weight:

Weight is one of the disadvantages of cast iron skillets. They are quite heavier when compared to other cookware of the same size.

Whenever you are buying a cast iron skillet, make sure you check the weight. Don’t buy a pan that is heavy for you to lift because after adding food to it, it will become even more heavier and you might not feel comfortable cooking in that pan.

The weight of the pan also has an impact on storage options. Not all the shelves are strong enough to bear heavy weight of the cast iron pan. Thus, store it in a place where the shelf can handle its weight.

The heavier skillets hold and distribute the heat effectively and evenly. Thus, if you like cooking in a traditional way, you might not mind the heavy weight of the skillet.