Cast iron, an ideal material for a casserole. Perfect for all kinds of dishes and cast iron skillets are indestructible. How indestructible?
As a student I knew a boy who loved cooking – unlike myself at that time. After my studies I bought a house, a small working-class house, built in 1929, for 100.00 guilders.
At the housewarming party that friend gave me a real Le Creuset 1-person (I was still single) frying pan as a present. I mistreated that cast iron pan quite a bit. I was free and busy working and going out. I could cook or bake for myself, but I often couldn’t do the dishes.
As a result, I often found the casserole on a corner of the kitchen counter with a badly moldy leftover stew as its contents. But I still have the casserole. There is no better proof of the indestructibility of cast iron casseroles, in my opinion.
What is the best cast iron skillet for you?
Good cast iron skillets will last for years, if not a lifetime, with normal use. It depends on your preferences and budget whether you choose an expensive or inexpensive one, a large one or a small one, and whether you get one with or without enamel. We’ll help you choose with a Top 10 for different preferences.
The best frying pan of all
Daumonet Carême
Looking for a top-quality cast iron skillet on a limited budget? Then choose the Daumonet Carême This enamelled cast-iron casserole is the best casserole you can buy for a few bucks. The casserole even features a lid with a special drip profile, as you would only expect from professional casseroles. The Daumonet Carême casserole is suitable for all heat sources, including induction, and available in various colours. The diameter is 29 cm, the capacity 3 litres. However, the top of the pan may rust, but this can be prevented by smearing a little oil on it after washing.
- Very cheap
- Inside is enamelled, so easy to clean
- suitable for all heat sources, including induction
- Lid with condensation trap
- Various colours available
- Top edge of pan may rust
- On the small side for large households
Best value for money
Sola frying pan
Not the absolute top quality, but certainly not the purchase price of a Le Creuset either, that goes for Sola’s cast-iron frying pans. They are somewhat lighter and therefore less solid, but more manageable, almost comparable to an aluminium pan.
With a Sola cast iron frying pan, you have an excellent all-round pan for daily use. The frying pan is available in various sizes and colours.
- Good quality at an affordable price
- Available in various sizes and colours
- Good handling
- Less solid than Le Creuset frying pans, for example
The best cheap
Nuovva 24 cm
Just find a good all-round cast iron non-stick frying pan for less than 50 euros. Well, you have found it with this sturdy Nuovva 24 cm frying pan. With a diameter of 24 cm and a capacity of 4.7 litres, you can do anything with it: frying, searing, simmering, you name it. What’s also nice: this pan is available in a wide range of colours, such as red, orange, green and blue.
- Good quality at a low price
- Available in various colours
- Diameter 24 cm, capacity 4.7 litres
- Suitable for all heat sources, can also be used in the oven
- Handles get hot in the oven
The best all-round casserole
Le Creuset Faitout
Le Creuset’s Faitout round casserole is high quality but, thanks to its enamelled cast iron, a lot cheaper than the brand’s traditional casseroles. This is partly due to the stainless steel knob.
This makes the pan a lot lighter and, thanks to the enamelled interior, also easier to clean. A very suitable casserole, therefore, for both novice and advanced cooking enthusiasts.
- Relatively light weight
- Easy to clean
- Available in various sizes
- Suitable for all heat sources, including induction
- Handles get hot in the oven
- Like all Le Creuset frying pans, still firmly at the price
Best small casserole
BK frying pan Bourgogne
BK is a household name in the Netherlands, mainly thanks to its BK Fortalit steel frying pans. But the brand also carries a frying pan made of cast iron. The BK Bourgogne casserole of enamelled cast iron is already available with a diameter from 20 cm. Ideal for a one- or two-person household.
The solid BK enamelled frying pans have a lid with drip rings, so that the condensation drips down evenly over the dish. This keeps it nice and tender. The BK Bourgogne frying pan is available a many, including modern colours. It is suitable for all heat sources and can also go in the oven. Be careful though, as the handles will get very hot.
- Available in various sizes, starting at 20 cm
- A BK frying pan is relatively inexpensive
- Solid enamelled interior
- The BK Bourgogne is available in many colours
- Suitable for all heat sources
- Handles get hot in the oven
Best large frying pan
Tefal Tradition 31 cm
Do you often need to prepare meals for large parties and don’t want to pay too much for a good frying pan? Then go for the largest member of the Tefal Tradition series In our opinion, the optimal frying pan for this purpose. The inside of the pan is enamelled, so the contents will not burn.
The lid has condensation rings and a raised rim. This allows you to put water or ice cubes on it, which creates even more condensation in the pan, and thus an even more tender dish. Just a shame that Tefal opted for closed handles with this frying pan. We find those quite clumsy.
- Large capacity
- Tender dishes thanks to extra condensation possibility
- Inside is enamelled, so easy to clean
- Also available in smaller versions
- Clunky, dense handles
Best top-of-the-range enamelled frying pans
Lodge Enamel
If you are looking for a large round casserole made of enamelled cast iron, be sure to check out the Lodge Enamel casserole. A good casserole for frying meat products, but also an ideal casserole. Lodge is not one of the top brands in enamelled cast iron pans for nothing.
A Lodge Enamel casserole can be used on any heat source, including induction. Of course, you pay for that quality. Lodge Enamel pans are more expensive than most enameled cast iron frying pans, but a lot cheaper than, say, a Le Creuset.
- Excellent all-round casserole
- Easy to clean
- Suitable for all heat sources
- Available in various sizes and colours
- Expensive for an enamelled cast iron frying pan
The best budget casserole with enamelled interior
MOA C26
The MOA enamelled cast iron frying pan is one of the better pans in this field in terms of price: priced a lot lower than the renowned brands, but still of good quality. So an excellent price/quality ratio.
The pan is suitable for any heat source (including induction) and of good build quality. An enamelled cast-iron frying pan that also has a nice appearance, without having to pay top dollar.
- Excellent price/quality ratio
- Enamelled, so easy to clean
- Suitable for all heat sources
- Available in various modern colours
- Other sizes also available, such as MOA C29 and MOA C30
- Slightly lighter quality than the top end, so the pan does not retain heat as long
Best casserole for roasting meat dishes
Staub La Cocotte
Meat preparation and Staub are almost synonymous. This is due to the unique design of the inside of the lid of these pans. A clever pattern of small bulges ensures that condensation drips back into the casserole very evenly. Meat dishes that are stewed or roasted thus remain deliciously tender.
It is also perfect for cooking vegetables or making a stew. You can buy Staub La Cocotte pans in many different versions. From a small 2.25-litre pan with a diameter of 23 cm to a large oval of 41 by 50 cm, which holds no less than 12 litres. There are also high and low versions. The only and eternal disadvantage: the price.
- Unique condensation system for moisture circulation
- Suitable for all heat sources
- Wide range of versions
- Inside enamelled
- The price
Best low skillet
Le Creuset Campagnard
The Le Creuset Campagnard casserole is an outlier in our Top 10. Whereas all other frying pans have a high rim, this is instead a low frying pan. Still, we think it belongs in this list because of its versatility.
Despite its limited height, you can of course perfectly cook all the products you can think of in it. An additional advantage of low pans is that they can also be used on the table to serve dishes. A disadvantage is that really large meat products do not fit in these pans.
- Suitable for all heat sources, including induction
- Enamelled cast iron, so easy to clean
- Casserole also looks nice on the table
- Available in various sizes and colours
- Large pieces do not fit in the frying pan
The ten best cast iron skillets listed
To make choosing even easier, the ten best skillets are listed below.
Buying a cast iron skillet: what to look out for?
Cast iron skillets allow you to make a lot of dishes: casseroles, stews, searing steaks, soups and much more. To slow cook large pieces of meat, you normally use this pan. In the colder months, preparing a hearty meal in a good skillet is a must. In summer, use it on the stove to sauté or simmer all kinds of seasonal foods.
Nowadays, all casseroles can be used on all heat sources. Gas, electric, induction, infrared, halogen, it’s all possible. Although a pan made of steel, such as the BK Fortalit, will deform faster and therefore function poorly on induction. If you want to use the casserole for oven dishes as well, be careful that there are no plastic parts on it.
What choices should you make?
If you are going to buy a casserole, then you need to answer the following questions:
- How big is your budget? Our advice is to look at that broadly. The better skillets will last a lifetime, so they are well worth their money.
- Are you going for pure cast iron, or an enameled skillet? Un-enameled skillets you have to “burn in” to create a non-stick coating.
- What will you use the skillet for? Just to roast meat, or do you also want to prepare stews and sauces in it?
- What size do you need? Most casseroles are between 24 and 32 cm in diameter, but there are also 15 or 60 cm diameter casseroles.
- Do you choose a round casserole or an oval casserole? An oval casserole is particularly suitable for searing and stewing large pieces of meat.
- Do you prefer a particular color? Do you opt for traditional red or black? Or do you prefer blue, white, yellow or green? It’s all possible.
Tips for your purchase
Before you finally purchase your cast iron skillet, it’s important to realize a few things. We list them:
- Cast iron is porous. A skillet made without enamel will have to be “fired in” first, or it will burn. That burn-in works like this: you rub the clean pan with oil and put it inverted in a 230-degree oven for half an hour. Do this twice.
- Cast iron is also heavy. If you’re not that strong, don’t prepare dishes in it that require shaking. Mercury it for a while in a cooking store; a cast aluminum skillet might be an alternative.
- Cast iron cannot withstand acid. Therefore, unglazed cast iron skillets are less suitable for preparing acidic dishes, such as tomato sauce. Again, an aluminum casserole offers a solution.
- Did you know that pans made of cast iron retain not only heat, but also cold? Therefore, they are great for serving cold dishes in in the summer.
Hi, I’m Thomas!
Passion for food and writing
Together with my friend Laura – the foodie on our team – we review kitchen appliances to make the choice easier for you. This way, you know which appliances are good and we save you a mis-buy!
Frequently asked questions about cast iron skillets
Yes and no. Most cast-iron cookware is oven safe, as long as there are no plastic parts on it. Consult the manufacturer’s guidelines or send a message to their email address to be sure. Cast-iron pans cannot go in the dishwasher.
A two- to three-quarter-litre casserole is enough for dishes for two people. A four- to five-litre casserole will leave you with some leftovers.