Comparison between cast iron and forged pans
I am on the search for a good general purpose frying pan.
However, I can't seem to find a comparison between cast iron and forged pans. I know that cast iron pans perhaps have longer life span but need seasoning while forged pans are lighter with less maintenance needs.
Is there a more thorough comparison between these two types or any advice why a person should go for the one vs the other?
Best Answer
Cast iron and carbon steel (aka “forged iron”) are fairly similar. Both require seasoning for best results, and can produce a decent non-stick effect when properly seasoned; both have high heat capacity but mediocre heat conduction; both are quite durable. Carbon steel is somewhat more lightweight than cast iron, making it more versatile (you wouldn’t want to flip the contents of a large cast iron skillet one-handed). Additionally, modern cast iron pans are rough-textured, which can make them more difficult to effectively scrape with a spatula.
I own and use both. These days I use carbon steel much more than cast iron.
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Quick Answer about "Comparison between cast iron and forged pans"
Cast iron is slightly easier to break, but that's quite rare in practice and the forged steel/iron pan would end up dented for most impacts that would break cast iron. Because it is normally thicker, cast iron heats more evenly (heat conduction is similar, but more thickness leads to more even temperature.)Which is better cast iron or forged steel?
Forging is stronger than casting. Forged parts had a 37% higher fatigue strength resulting in a much longer lifespan than cast parts. Cast iron only had 66% of the yield strength of forged steel, a measurement that indicates the load amount metal can hold before deforming.What is difference between cast iron and forged iron?
A forged golf iron is a club that is made out of one solid block of metal. The irons are carved and shaped, and they are one solid piece of material. A cast iron is an iron that is made from a mold. Hot metal is poured in the mold into the desired shape, and the result is a cast iron golf club.Is cast iron the same as forged steel?
Forging and casting are two very different manufacturing methods. When something is cast, the material is heated above its melting temperature and poured into a mold where it solidifies. When something is forged it is physically forced into shape while remaining in a solid state \u2013 although it is frequently heated.What pan is better than cast iron?
Carbon steel pans heat up and cool down faster. While cast iron is slow to heat up, carbon steel pans reach the ideal cooking temperature quickly. The slight bow in the carbon steel cookware allows the pan to cool down quickly. This feature is desirable when cooking delicate foods such as flash frying, saut\xe9ing, etc.Stainless Steel VS. Cast Iron: Which Should You Buy?
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Answer 2
Cast iron is hard to warp - forged iron/steel pans can easily become warped/humped/non-flat if they are overheated, while a cast iron pan can withstand being "deliberately overheated" in the standard method of preparing it for re-seasoning by burning off the old seasoning.
Cast iron is slightly easier to break, but that's quite rare in practice and the forged steel/iron pan would end up dented for most impacts that would break cast iron.
Because it is normally thicker, cast iron heats more evenly (heat conduction is similar, but more thickness leads to more even temperature.)
Either should work fine for induction, if that's a factor in your choice.
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Images: Milan, Erik Mclean, Erik Mclean, Engin Akyurt