12 Types of Cast-Iron Cookware You Should Know About
Updated: Feb. 12, 2024
You can find all the things we love about cast iron—its durability, naturally nonstick coating and easy cleanup, just to name a few—in lots of handy styles. Here are our gotta-have items.
Wedge Pan
This pan with triangular cutouts is perfect for crispy cornbread (these are our favorites!), quick breads, biscuits, scones and even little frittatas. For best results, fill each wedge no more than three-quarters of the way.
Grill/Griddle
Use the griddle side to whip up pancakes, the grill side for burgers and more. Bonus: The long shape makes this ideal for those oblong items that won’t fit in round cookware. Try out these tasty pancake recipes first!
Skillet
Ah, yes, the trusty cast-iron skillet. It’s one of the most common and versatile cast-iron items. From breads to cakes to southern fried chicken, this pan has you covered. Get skillet-recipe inspiration.
Grill Pan
Intended to imitate your outdoor barbecue, a cast-iron grill pan is complete with grill ribs that leave those unmistakable sear marks and collect drippings. Prep anything you’d typically make outside with this bad boy—like one of our top 10 burgers.
Fluted Cake Pan
This bakeware is a classic kitchen piece meant for classic desserts. Serve beautifully molded sweets, such as monkey breads, coffee cakes and Bundts, from breakfast till night. Find our best-ever Bundt pan recipes here.
Dutch Oven
Almost all Dutch ovens, heavy cooking pots with tight domed lids, are cast iron. Put your pot to work braising meats, simmering stews and deep-frying treats. It’s safe in the oven or on the stovetop. Dinner’s ready with any of these Dutch-oven wonders.
Wok
Traditionally used for Chinese cooking, this bowl-shaped frying pan is actually multipurpose. Make stir-fry, sure, but also saute veggies, cook paella, steam fish and scramble eggs. Stick to tradition with one of these top-notch stir-fry recipes.
Loaf Pan
A cast-iron loaf pan is prime for quick breads, yeast breads and meat loaves. And don’t stop there! You can make desserts such as cakes, cookies and even ice cream in this nifty pan. Look here for creative loaf pan ideas.
Muffin Pan
The name says it all. This tool is best used for muffins (like these crumble-topped treats) and cornbread. But much like its non-cast-iron counterparts, it’s also great for baking mini lasagnas, quiches, meat loaves, sliders and more.
Pizza-Baking Pan
Despite being called a baking pan, this 14-in. round is especially perfect for homemade pizzas. So start with this pizza crust and pile it high with pepperoni and cheese. Or, if you’d prefer, pop it on the grill or stovetop for grilled meat or fried eggs.
Pot
Cast-iron pots are a rarer product, usually sold in smaller sizes, from 1 to 2-1/2 quarts. Boil eggs, simmer soups (like our highest-rated recipe of all time!) and reduce sauces to your heart’s desire.
Cornstick Pan
This is not your grandma’s cornstick pan. The updated take on the classic has a preseasoned surface so each “ear” of cornbread will pop effortlessly out of the pan. Discover our freshest corn dishes here.
Buy a cast-iron cornstick pan here.
Note: Every product is independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Originally Published: February 13, 2019
