by Christopher Jones
Sear marks are something that we all want when we are grilling food. Whether it is a sandwich, steak, vegetable, or anything that can be seared, the marks make you drool a bit. Speaking from experience, even though cooking wares that are of different materials could offer you the sear marks, they would often fail at cooking the dish properly, which is the main point!
Well, that is why we started using cast iron grill pans. Even heat distribution is what the best cast iron grill pan is amazing at, and we love how easy cooking becomes when we have it handy. We can assure you that the food you will grill on will look appetizing and taste a whole lot better when compared with other cheap quality pans.
Contents
Let us get to the main point. You are here for the best cast iron grill pan reviews, and we are going to provide you exactly that. And we selected after extensively testing the models that are claiming to be the best of the best. From all of them, these are the ones that stood out the most to us:
When we were selecting the best cast iron grill , one of our primary concerns was cooking on different heating surfaces. And that is precisely what we found in this one.
Like we mentioned, this one is compatible with most of the cooking surfaces. Whether it is on a grill or a campfire, it handles the heat quite well. It is also oven-safe.
The item utilizes a unique design. It is reversible. Thus, you can use both the ribbed surface and the flat surface! And the inclusion of the handles will make it easier for you to flip or toss the pan however you want.
It even has quite a large cooking area. You are going to get exactly 20×10.5 inches of cooking surface. Also, as the unit is seasoned, the surface should have a nonstick property.
It has a reversible design, which offers you two types of cooking surfaces. Also, it is pre-seasoned. So, sticky residues will not be an issue for you.
You might be on a tight budget. And you might be wondering if there is any item in the best budget grill cookware or not. Well, let us say that you will be pretty excited about our following recommendation.
As some of the products from Lodge have pre-seasoning, this one also follows the same path. That means you can use it right after taking it out of the packaging. You can also use it on most of the cooking surfaces. It even works well inside the oven.
The handle that it features is pretty large. It has an ergonomic shape to it, which will help you hold it comfortably. And the surface area that you will have for cooking is 10.5 inches.
Aside from that, this one can retain heat exceptionally well. It even offers unparalleled performance in heating the surface evenly. So the food is going to cook evenly on all sides.
The unit is affordable. In fact, this one is the best cast iron grilling 2023 that comes within a budget and does not have cheap features either.
Easy cleanup and easy maintenance processes are not that common for the cast iron indoor grill pan. However, Cuisineart has defied that by bringing this model out in the market.
Unlike the other pans that are available, this item is pretty easy to clean. You can also put it inside a dishwasher and enjoy a hassle-free cleaning experience. Also, this one does not only retain the heat also but adequately distributes the heat evenly.
Additionally, you will find that the product has an enamel coating on the interior, making this one a worthy pick for the best enameled cast iron grill pan. The coating will enhance the heat retention capability even further.
The handle that it sports is pretty wide. It also has a proper design, which offers a secure and comfortable grip. Also, users can stuff it in the oven whenever they need it. It is pretty durable and should last for a prolonged amount of time.
You can wash this one pretty easily. It has a large and wide handle. And it is pretty durable as well. Design-wise, it is unique too.
Offering highly reliable pre-seasoned griddles are what Lodge excels at. And they did not fail to satisfy us with this rectangular pan which is a crowd favorite.
As you might have guessed from the pictures, this one sports a rectangular shape. This unique shape creates a larger surface area for cooking. It is staggering 16.75×9.5 inches!
On the other hand, the surface is pre-seasoned. So you can use it immediately after taking it out of the packing. The ingredients will not stick to the surface unless you plan on burning them! Thus, the cleaning process will become much more manageable. Also, you can use both the upper and lower part of the unit.
It even has two handles on two of the corners. That will give you an edge while trying to control such a large pan. Also, you can use this on a stove, oven, grill, or campfire. It is also brutally strong, which enhances the overall lifespan.
This one offers quite a large cooking area. Also, it is easy to keep clean, and you can heat it on most of the cooking surfaces.
Square pans are among the top cast iron grill pan models right now. And this model from Lodge does not only have that square shape to it, but it also has other things going, which has undoubtedly contributed to a fun cooking time for us.
Like the other pans from the brand, this one also has a pre-seasoned cooking surface. So, you can expect the pan to be non-sticky. The edges are slightly raised, which will allow the fat to drain appropriately.
In addition to that, the construction is pretty rugged. For that reason, it will heat the surface slowly but evenly. Also, the handle is pretty long, which will offer you the ability to move it around quickly.
The handle also has a hanging hole. So you can hang it against a wall or store it inside cabinets, or hang it from a low-ceiling if you want! We will not judge. It even has a proper design to offer a comfortable yet secure grip.
The main thing that made us pick this one up is that it is square in size but has raised edges. It also boasts a long handle that has a hanging hole on the top.
Chunks of meat and veggies might not be the only thing that you would want to grill. You might also like some shrimp and oysters on the menu. That is where this one comes into play.
First of all, the grill has 22 dedicated slots that are pretty large. You can cook large-sized shrimp and oyster on it. It even has large-sized handles on the side that will offer you a firm grip over the unit.
You will have the ability to grill without worrying about food residues because this one is pre-seasoned. In other words, the slots are nonstick. That nonstick characteristic makes it extremely easy to keep clean as well.
Other than that, it is small and pretty light in weight. In fact, this might be the best lightweight iron grill pan that you can find right now. Also, you can heat it up on top of a stove, campfire, and some of the other heating surfaces.
This is ideal for grilling shrimps, oysters, and other seafood in general. The slots t are pretty large, yet it is compact and light in weight.
The brand Nutrichef has been around in the cookware market for a long time. However, this griddle that they brought out recently has been seeing a lot of sales. To know why you need to carry on reading.
Like some of the other griddles that are available, this one has a reversible design. That means you can either use the ribbed surface or the flat surface. Both the surfaces are nonstick, which will ensure that you can easily flip meat and fish off of the surface.
Aside from that, it can withstand up to 480 Fahrenheit of heat. And the cooking surface is pretty large, enabling you to cook a large batch. There is a handle on each of the ends, which will let you move it around pretty easily.
It is also compatible with most of the heating surfaces. Starting from stovetop to induction oven, you can heat it up on any of them. Finally, when all is done, you can toss it in the dishwasher.
This one utilizes a reversible design. It also works on an induction oven and other places.
Another offering from NutriChef that has amazed us is this square pan. It offers a superior nonstick performance that is not really that common among other offerings.
To start with, it is heat safe to up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. That makes it capable of working with different heating areas. It is induction oven-ready and compatible with stoves as well.
The pan also comes with a side drip spout. This spout will do an excellent job in dripping the excess oil that your meat might produce during the grilling process. The enamel coating will also contribute to making it capable of retaining heat properly.
Alongside that, the ridged surface on the top will make sure that you get the right amount of sear marks on the top. Also, it is capable of providing the heat evenly to each of the ridges.
The nonstick coating on this one lets you move the food around without any issues. Also, it has a drip spout, which will let you easily drain the excess oil and fat.
If you were looking for professional cast iron bbq cookware,then you can stop your search right here because we have found the right one for you!
You might be asking what makes it professional. Well, our answer would be the fantastic build quality. The rough texture on the top will ensure that you get professional-looking grilled meals. Food should have the perfect amount of browning.
Aside from looks, the food is going to taste great as well. Thanks to the enamel coating on the top, it should be able to provide heat evenly to each side, no matter where the ingredient is on the pan.
Additionally, there are large handles on the sides. And as it comes pre-seasoned, it should be naturally nonstick. Cleaning the surface and handling it will be an effortless task for you.
It has a premium build quality. The surface is rough, which offers beautiful sear marks. Also, this one can evenly distribute the heat on the surface.
There are a couple of things that you should factor in before making the purchase. Those will increase the chances of you ending up with the best cast iron grill pan.
You should make sure that your favorite pan can retain heat properly, or else you will have to use a lot of power or cooking gas to grill the dish. On the other hand, the ones that can retain the heat well can cook using a low amount of cooking gas or power.
Another thing that you should factor in is whether the unit can evenly distribute the heat or not. Without having this capability, the meat or fish will not cook properly on all sides. And nobody wants to dig into a steak and find raw meat on one side!
Lastly, you should ensure that the handles are comfortable to hold onto. Also, do check whether you can get a firm grip over them or not.
They have a higher capability of retaining the heat. These can also distribute the heat evenly. Additionally, the durability of the cookware is usually exceptionally high.
It depends on the nonstick capability. The ones that have proper nonstick characteristics can resist stickiness very well. So those are the ones that you would want to get if you want a hassle-free cleaning experience.
The enamel coating enhances the heat distribution property of the pan. Also, the coating can create a nonstick surface.
Frankly, choosing the best cast iron grill pan is indeed challenging, as all of them look and feel the same! But since we have broken down all the information here, hopefully, it is now much easier to distinguish. So, get a cast pan and get grilling!
Scanpan Professional 10.25 inch Square Grill Pan, 10.25 IN, Black - Walmart Link
Cast Iron Grill Pan - Square 10.5"-Inch Pre-Seasoned Ribbed Skillet + Handle Cover + Pan - Walmart Link
Anolon 84062 Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick Square Griddle Pan/Grill with Pour Spout, 11 - Walmart Link
FINEX 12" Cast Iron Grill Pan, Modern Heirloom, Handcrafted in The USA, Pre-Seasoned with - Walmart Link
GreenPan Chatham Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, 11" Grill Pan, Gray - Walmart Link
All-Clad E7954164 HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Dishwaher Safe PFOA Free Grande Grill - Walmart Link
Calphalon 2029646 Premier Hard-Anodized Nonstick 11-Inch Square Grill Pan, Black - Walmart Link
Berghoff Gem Non-Stick Ceramic Coated Grill Pan with Removable Handle, 24cm, Cast - Walmart Link
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle With Handles, 20 Inch x 10.5 Inch - - Walmart Link
Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan, Square, 10.5 Inch - Walmart Link
GreenPan Paris 11 Inch Ceramic Non-Stick Square Grill Pan, Gray - - Walmart Link
Calphalon Signature Hard-Anodized Nonstick 12-Inch Round Grill Pan - Walmart Link
TeChef - Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan with New Safe Teflon Select Non-Stick - Walmart Link
Staub Cast Iron 12-inch Square Grill Pan & Press Set - Dark Blue - Walmart Link
Scanpan Professional 10.25 inch Square Grill Pan, 10.25 IN, Black - eBay Link
Cast Iron Grill Pan - Square 10.5"-Inch Pre-Seasoned Ribbed Skillet + Handle Cover + Pan - eBay Link
Anolon 84062 Advanced Hard Anodized Nonstick Square Griddle Pan/Grill with Pour Spout, 11 - eBay Link
FINEX 12" Cast Iron Grill Pan, Modern Heirloom, Handcrafted in The USA, Pre-Seasoned with - eBay Link
GreenPan Chatham Healthy Ceramic Nonstick, 11" Grill Pan, Gray - eBay Link
All-Clad E7954164 HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Dishwaher Safe PFOA Free Grande Grill - eBay Link
Calphalon 2029646 Premier Hard-Anodized Nonstick 11-Inch Square Grill Pan, Black - eBay Link
Berghoff Gem Non-Stick Ceramic Coated Grill Pan with Removable Handle, 24cm, Cast - eBay Link
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle With Handles, 20 Inch x 10.5 Inch - - eBay Link
Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan, Square, 10.5 Inch - eBay Link
GreenPan Paris 11 Inch Ceramic Non-Stick Square Grill Pan, Gray - - eBay Link
Calphalon Signature Hard-Anodized Nonstick 12-Inch Round Grill Pan - eBay Link
TeChef - Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan with New Safe Teflon Select Non-Stick - eBay Link
Staub Cast Iron 12-inch Square Grill Pan & Press Set - Dark Blue - eBay Link
About Christopher Jones
Chris is a true globetrotter. He has been to many destinations and tried different types of food from all over the world, yet he still loves finding new places and tasting their specialties. Chris has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and so he decided to go back to school at age 24 for his MBA at University of San Francisco so that he could have a better understanding of business strategy in order to start his own company. His favorite motto is “how can one live well, travel well, and work well without having good food every time?”
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