Cast Iron Grill Pan

When you want to cook food in a special, original and healthy way, the question arises of how to choose a grill pan. Before buying it, you should understand the specifics of the products offered on the market by different manufacturers. If you make the right choice, the cookware will serve you for a long time and reliably.

What is the difference between a grill pan and a regular pan?

Externally, both options have much in common, but a regular frying pan is made with a flat bottom, without any unevenness. But a grill is made with a ribbed inner surface. This idea was introduced so that the juice formed when heating food does not flow and is absorbed into the food, but evaporates, without forming harmful carcinogens.

This method allows you to reduce the calorie content by at least half, which will appeal to people on a diet, watching the amount of fat in the body. For such dishes, you do not need a lot of oil, you can spread it a little for insurance, it will not affect the physical form.

Features of cast iron grill pans

The cast iron product differs from the aluminum version, as the material has different qualities:

• heat capacity – it retains temperature for a long time;
• resistance to high heat, which allows you to cook a dish faster and keep it on the stove for less time;
• makes beautiful stripes on meat and vegetables, making them look appetizing.

However, the heaviness of such pans is always noted, so if you choose them, then with the awareness of this feature. Sometimes it is correct and reasonable for fragile housewives to buy a smaller diameter or another grill material.

Which grill pan is better depending on the material

When buying, there is often a dilemma of what to choose: cast iron or aluminum. This is a standard question, but the answer depends on the intentions of the hostess. If you need to buy a product for cooking professional-grade steaks or chicken breast, then you should take a closer look at cast iron. But aluminum is usually needed to reduce the overall calorie content, and it is not much inferior in the quality of frying.

Cast iron

If a grill pan is made of this material, which will fry better and bring to readiness faster, then it is worth remembering the time required to calcine the surface. In total, the frying time will then increase, but the result is different from what is obtained on aluminum.

Aluminum

If the company has a conscientious attitude towards the production of products, then it will take care of the strength and reliability of aluminum products. Sometimes it is necessary to use alloys or several layers for strength, and think over an additional non-stick coating. It is a little more difficult to choose a good frying pan made of this material than from cast iron, but the range also offers high-quality samples.

With non-stick coating

This option should be chosen carefully, since the relief surface requires a special coating composition so that it does not crumble or crack in the near future. You should also focus on the manufacturer, it is better if it is not China, although some examples have proven themselves in practice.

Therefore, which grill pan is better: cast iron or aluminum - only the consumer can choose, based on his needs and features of use. Much depends on the products, the method of their processing and the personal preferences of the owner.

Which grill pan is better in shape?

When a customer comes to a supermarket or looks at an online catalog, he sees that the assortment includes the opportunity to purchase both round and square grill dishes. At first glance, it is not entirely clear what to base on in order to choose exactly what is needed. In this case, a small reminder will help.

Square

It is usually used to accommodate four or six portions on one surface. Pieces of meat or sausages are then easily and evenly fried, they can be cooked on gas, a hob or in the oven. But they are often larger in size, meaning more weight.

Round

This form is designed for an electric stove, and the size is the diameter of the burner. This option is less capacious, and for a company of more than three people, you usually have to fry the meat in two or more approaches.

How to choose a good grill pan for a specific type of stove

Each house has its own type of stove, and this must be taken into account when choosing a grill pan. After all, the heating area and shape matter, this directly affects the quality of frying of products in the cookware.

Gas stove

Since a gas burner is a directional fire, you need to figure out what diameter of pan to use. But you don't have to worry about the shape - just about access to the heat source in all corners. Although a round version is usually purchased for it, sometimes a five-burner stove can accommodate rectangular cookware.

Glass ceramic hob

Glass ceramic tile is essentially similar to an electric stove, as there is a round heating area. You need to select a frying pan by shape and diameter according to the parameters of the stove. But usually cast iron is avoided so as not to scratch the glass surface, because the processing is sometimes not entirely smooth, plus you need close contact for better heating.

Induction cooker

The peculiarity of the induction type is the need for specialized cookware; you need to make sure that the frying pan has a thick bottom and a special symbol for such a hob.

Rating of the best manufacturers of cast iron grill pans

Having a rating always simplifies the search task, it is useful to know what choices other buyers make. If you understand what people buy, it is usually easier to decide what is really needed in a particular case.

KitchenAid

An American company that produces a variety of kitchen appliances, equipment, including cooking appliances. The organization focuses on functionality and style, because they need to maintain their image in front of the buyer.

One of the popular offerings is the grill pan and panini press (KCI) in black, white and red. These are products that fall into the above-average price category.

Swiss Diamond

A well-known Swiss company that has won many international awards. Its principles are based on the refined technology of creating cookware and other products. The manufacturer strives to make grill pans reliable, has developed a non-stick coating with diamond particles in the composition. This provides long-term durability, and the multilayer aluminum body - lightness of the cookware and heat conductivity.

Biol

Ukrainian organization that produces many varieties of dishes and kitchen utensils. This manufacturer focuses on the consumer who needs a high-quality and relatively inexpensive product. Grill pans and other purposes have long been popular among the population, because it is affordable, and the purchase serves for a long time. One of the company's favorite lines is called Titanal, you can buy a set to complement the kitchen interior.

Horwood

A British company that has been supplying kitchenware and utensils for decades. Its history goes back to past centuries, so the organization has a lot of experience and analysis of market changes. They provide customers with the opportunity to use products from well-known and reliable brands.

Mayer&Boch

This is an official online store, created relatively recently, but has managed to win the trust of many customers. It also offers products from other brands: Loraine (everything for an ideal meal), Zimber (small household appliances). The consumer is attracted by the reasonable price, wide range and convenient delivery.

Seaton

This is a scientific and production enterprise in Dnepr, engaged in the development and creation of cast iron cookware, a long list of more than 150 positions, including a grill pan. The organization's task is to produce a product that has a matte black color, does not lose its appearance and smoothness after exposure to acids released from heated food.

Lodge

An American company that dates back to the 19th century still makes cast iron products. Their secret technology allows them to create pans that retain heat for a long time due to their porous structure. This allows food to simmer longer and gain aroma and flavor.

Gipfel

Official online store selling cookware made of various multilayer alloys. Cast iron grill pans sell quickly, as the products are distinguished by their unique design, reliability and functionality. The manufacturer is confident that good cookware directly affects the taste of the dishes cooked in it, so it sells only high-quality goods.

So, a quality grill pan in the kitchen cannot be replaced, because with the right choice, the cooking process will become a pleasure, and the food will become an indescribable pleasure. But for this, you need to choose the right cookware, do not forget about the material, shape and height of the stripes on the bottom. To do this, you only need to try once, then forget about buying a grill pan for a few more years.

VIDEO: How to cook properly on a grill pan.