But, regardless of whether you choose a cast iron skillet or a cast iron frying pan, both offer unparalleled heat retention and versatility.

Cast Iron Skillets, Tried and Tested UK 2023 | Mumsnet 10 Best Cast Iron Skillets, Tried and Tested UK 2023 | Mumsnet

Many of the best cast iron skillets come pre-seasoned, so your first friend egg shouldn’t be a complete disaster. If you’re looking for a new home gift or a practical pan that doubles as a stylish serving dish, this skillet is a fantastic option. This is an easier and more even way of seasoning cast iron, but it will mean using a lot of excess energy to do it. You won’t be able to put them in the dishwasher or bung them back in a cupboard, damp from the draining board. How quickly they heated up: four to five minutes is a decent amount of time to wait for a cast iron skillet to heat up.Extra features: Wooden serving boards, removable handles and protective handle covers are additional, useful features of some high-quality skillets.

12 best cast iron skillets 2023 | BBC Good Food

Before you start cooking with your new skillet, coat it in your favourite oil with a pastry brush and then pop it in a hot oven for an hour.The majority of our final selection came pre-seasoned, but ensuring you add further oil before storing will help in building up a shiny patina that will make your pan non-stick and add to the flavour of dishes, all without the use of artificial or chemical additives. They’re also the go-to pan for travelling and camping, as they can be used on pretty much every heat source. Cast iron pans are more ‘natural’ and seasoned with oil to optimise the quality of the surface – although if you want the pan to last, you need to keep up with maintenance and season it regularly.

Small Cast Iron Pan - Etsy UK Small Cast Iron Pan - Etsy UK

Their durability and sturdiness means they're not limited to the confines of the kitchen; in fact, some of these cast iron powerhouses can be taken outdoors and used on barbecues, fire pits or even in pizza ovens. Weight: keep in mind that the size of the pan directly affects its weight, and these pans can be weighty. litre capacity, it's a helpful size but not overly heavy, and we especially like its the excellent balance and secure feel when moving it around the kitchen. Regular seasoning with oil or fat, along with correct cleaning, drying and storage practices is paramount. Flaxseed oil is our top tip if you want your pan seasoned as soon as possible, as it has a very low smoke point of 225 degrees.

Enamel lined cast iron pans can just be treated like any other saucepan – washed in the dishwasher – but shouldn’t be used over open fire.