Bake On The Grill With Your Cast Iron Skillet
Placing your baked goods on your cast iron pan and into the grill is a great way to bake biscuits, quick breads, and cinnamon rolls. An outdoor grill is an excellent heat source that can quickly adjust the temperature from high heat to medium heat, unlike convection ovens where the temperature can be inaccurate. This is especially helpful for baked goods so they can evenly cook throughout.
Here are some of our favorite cast iron skillet grill recipes to try for yourself.
A Treasured Special Occasion Meal Steak Dinner
One of my most favorite traditions that Chris & I have established for our life together is celebrating special occasions & significant moments with a special meal. The one special occasion meal we always come back to is steak dinner. Its probably in part due to nostalgia, as several of our first dates were at different steak houses throughout the Milwaukee area, but I also think theres something inherently special about a beautiful steak dinner.
Over the years Ive learned that its pretty darn easy to make a beautiful steak dinner at home. Thats exactly what were doing today. Now, Im the first to admit that cooking nice steaks at home can be kind of intimidating. But honestly? It couldnt be simpler once you get the hang of it. The secret? A trusty ol cast iron skillet!
This Herb Butter Basted Cast Iron Skillet Steak is a recipe Ive been tinkering with for years. It leans on a really straight-forward pan-sear to result in what I think is the perfect steak one that is juicy & melt-in-your-mouth tender with a gloriously crusty hard sear & has tremendous rich flavor thanks to an herb & garlic butter baste.
Absolutely perfect, every single time. Read on to learn more about this Cast Iron Skillet Steak, or jump straight to the recipe & get cookin!
How Much Should You Spend On A Cast Iron Pan
People often wonder about the quality of cast iron pans compared to the price. You can find cast iron pans online for anywhere from $20 to $300 or more.
The question is, is the more expensive pan worth it? Typically, expensive cast iron pans will be more durable. But it depends mainly on the brand you choose.
The video below looked at a $25 Lodge cast iron pan vs. a $240 cast iron pan from Finex. The cook found that the meats cooked quite similarly. The more expensive pan was quite a bit heavier than the Lodge pan but much easier to clean. He liked the presentation of the more expensive pan. You could serve your steak right from it and it looks quite appetizing.
Hopefully we answered your question Can you use a cast iron skillet on a grill? A cast iron skillet is a reliable pan and works great on indoor and outdoor grills.
For more info on cast iron and grilling, check out our articles below.
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Keep A Better Eye On Tiny Morsels
While grilling corn on the cob directly on the grill grates is relatively simple, tiny veggies like cherry tomatoes or small, chopped vegetables will slip and fall straight through the grates, and grill baskets can be messy and cause lots of flare-ups.
Grilling with cast-iron allows you to keep these tiny foods exactly where they should be while imparting them with smoky aromas and keeping them moist.
Griddles And Stovetop Grills
Lacking the space for a barbecue or not wanting to venture outside to cook? A Grill pan is a perfect substitute, allowing you to cook and get the same appetising char lines. Perfect for grilling steaks, sausages, searing fish or chicken, a grill pan also offers an element of healthy cooking where the ridged cooking surface allows for fats and oil to separate from the food while cooking. Shop our range of cast iron grill pans, nonstick grill pans and double-sided grills.
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Why Do You Need A Raw Cast Iron Grill Pan
Raw cast iron grills are back! Not that they ever really left, but a really good raw cast iron grill pan can make cold days a little less bitter and owners without a backyard get their grilling fix anytime they please.
So if youre bombarded with tempting barbecue recipes and juicy grilled burger dishes on your Facebook and Instagram feed, raw cast iron grills are your solution. So let’s get straight to why you should have this piece of cookware in your kitchen.
1. Healthier cooking for a nutritious meal
Our favourite pick is the Lodge Blacklock Cast Iron Square Grill Pan 12inch/30cm. As a raw cast iron cookware, it is amazing at releasing pure natural iron into your food. It serves as an affordable and convenient option to add iron minerals into your meals, perfect for those currently on iron supplements.
How well you absorb these natural irons that are produced in a raw cast iron pan depends on the food acidity as well as the cooking time. So if you have iron-deficiency you shouldn’t rely on these pans completely but rather, use it to boost iron in your diet in addition to consuming iron-rich foods.
Source: Columbia University in the city of New York , livestrong.com
2. Durable and lasts a lifetime
3. Supreme heat retention
Two baked desserts that are great to serve out of your raw cast iron pans are the Molten Skillet Brownie and the classic All American Apple Pie
4. Tough and versatile
What’s the difference between Raw cast iron and Enamelled cast iron grill pan?
How To Cook Steak In A Cast Iron Skillet
Cooking steak in a cast iron skillet is a much simpler process than many would imagine. Simply follow our step by step tips below and youll be enjoying perfectly seared steak in no time.
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Preheat The Cast Iron Skillet
The Spruce / Leah Maroney
To make this whole process work, you need a smoking hot cast iron skillet. And smoking hot means just thathot until it is smoking. The pan also needs to be clean and without any oil or cooking spray. All the oil you need is already on the surface of the steak.
Place the cast iron skillet on the burner set to high heat and allow to heat up. To test if the pan is hot enough, place a single drop of water on the pan. If it dances for a second before disappearing, the pan is hot enough.
Make sure to have the steak, a clean plate, a heavy-duty grill mitt, a pat of butter, and a pair of tongs ready. You won’t have a chance to step away once you start the cooking process.
Benefits Of Cast Iron
If youve received your Grandmas old cast iron skillet, or bought a set from an estate sale, you already know benefit #1:
- Cast iron lasts forever. Unless you drop it on concrete or take a hammer to it, cast iron is not going to melt, chip or break.
- Once the pan is hot, it stays hot. If you want to geek out with us, cast iron has a whopping .64 emissivity rating, which means that when youre cooking in it, youre not just cooking the surface in contact with the metal, but youre cooking a good deal of food above it as well. This is great for searing steak, or keeping soups warm at a potluck. The best way to make sure your skillet or dutch oven is heated evenly is to preheat it in the oven, or over an even fire or grill.
- The more you use it, the better it becomes. What is this mysterious seasoning you always here about in relation to cast iron? Seasoning is when the skillet is rubbed with oil and heated repeatedly, causing the oil to polymerize. Thats right, its not just residual oil, its chemically altered and bonded to the metal. This is what makes cast iron non-stick. So go ahead and scrub with soap, its not going to come off. You can read this Serious Eats article for more details.
Cornbread cooked in a cast iron skillet
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Final Notes: Maintenance And Cleaning After Grilling With A Cast
One essential piece of maintenance to remember when using a cast-iron skillet on grill grates regularly is to watch for signs of wear from prolonged high-temperature cooking.
While your cast-iron can withstand those high temperatures, you’ll want to oil and season your cast-iron pan more often than the pieces that are most used in the oven and on the stovetop.
Done well, your skillet will last you a whole lifetime and your kid’s lifetime too!
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You Can Bake On The Grill In Cast Iron Too
Cooking with a cast-iron skillet on the grill doesn’t stop at just searing and roasting.
Though it’s a tad unconventional these days, you can use your grill for baking bread, pizza, and cakes with the help of a cast-iron skillet on BBQ. Have you truly lived until you’ve tried a smoky skillet pizza?
Because the cast-iron skillet grills are so hot, the baking time for these items is much shorter than using a conventional oven. Be sure to preheat your cast-iron first!
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Are Nonstick Grill Pans A Good Option To Cook With
Nonstick cookware provides the benefit of easy-release of foods, minimal cleaning and reduced dependence on oil which makes for healthier cooking. A nonstick grill pan adds convenience, lighter weight in comparison to cast iron pans and is a great option, especially for those who are unfamiliar with cast iron pans. When it comes to choosing the best nonstick options, we’d recommend a Scanpan grill pan that is made in Denmark or a Woll grill pan from Germany as these two brands produce the hardest wearing nonstick cookware in the market. They also have nonstick coatings that have a higher heat threshold than standard nonstick pans allowing you to be able to sear and grill with better results.
- Cooktop Type
Keep Cooked Foods Warm
Setting a piece of cast iron cookware on the edge of the grill, as far from the heat as possible provides for the perfect space to keep foods warm. The pan will remain hot, but so hot that it will burn foods. When cooking a wide range of items, or doing a large amount of any one thing, this space is perfect safe space for holding foods at temperature while the rest of the meal comes together. To prevent these items from drying out, keep a carton of broth handy and pour in small amounts to keep foods moist.
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Grill Delicate Fish Without Sticking
Meat and fish sticking on the outdoor grill grates happens often, but that shouldn’t stop you from grilling them! It’s especially frustrating to purchase a pricy piece of fish and have it stick to the grill grates. Well, with your favorite cast iron pan, you can place that delicate piece of fish on top of the pan and then straight into the outdoor grill, making sure to close the grill lid.
The fish won’t stick and you’ll be left with a juicy, smoky piece of fish. This is especially helpful with grilled scallops, grilled salmon or any other type of delicate fish.
Yes, you read that right! Placing your baked goods on your cast iron pan and into the grill is a great way to bake skillet cornbread, biscuits, quick breads, cinnamon rolls, and more. An outdoor grill is an excellent heat source that can quickly adjust the temperature from high heat to medium heat, unlike convection ovens where the temperature can be inaccurate. This is especially helpful for baked goods so they can evenly cook throughout.
Try making your favorite cast iron skillet cornbread recipe in the grill next time. You can also use your Dutch oven for bigger loaves of bread. Here are some of our favorite cast iron skillet grill recipes.
How To Adapt Recipes For The Grill
As for adapting your favorite skillet or oven recipes to the grill, don’t overthink it. Just follow these guidelines: If a recipe tells you to heat your skillet over medium-high heat, as is the case when making this Corn-and-Zucchini Sauté, then turn your grill to medium-high and monitor the built-in thermometer that comes standard in most grills . Put your skillet on the grill, add the oil, and wait for it to become thin and look as if it is “shimmering” in the pan that’s the visual cue that will tell you it’s ready to go. For recipes that call for medium-low and medium, go with 300°F and 350°F, respectively. And once your grill reaches 425°F and beyond, that will be hot enough to char vegetables for a stir-fry or get a nice sear on a pork chop. To convert an oven recipe to the grill, it’s even simpler: just close the lid!
As you begin to ride this albeit shallow learning curve of this technique, be vigilant about checking the temperature gauge for fluctuations and adjusting the heat as needed, and rely on visual cues when necessary. But most of all, enjoy the newfound freedom in grilling whatever you please!
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Roast Vegetables To Perfection
In my opinion, one of the greatest side dishes to go with a gorgeous grilled steak are roasted or grilled vegetables. Cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, asparagus, red peppers you name it – they’re all delicious! You’ll get perfectly charred and tender veggies without even turning on the oven.
This is especially helpful with small and skinny veggies like cherry tomatoes and asparagus. There’s no need to worry about losing them between the grates.
Cast Iron Skillet On Grill: 11 Great Reasons Why + Best Tips For Skillet Grilling
Cast-iron cookware has helped us to create perfectly-seared meals for a few thousand years, but is the Iron Age finally over? Absolutely not! This cookware’s adaptability is undeniably timeless – read below to learn why and how you can transfer your cast-iron skillet from the stovetop and over to an outdoor grill with some deliciously smoky results!
The modern gadgetry of outdoor grilling is pretty advanced these days – did you know that Bluetooth-enabled pellet cookers exist? And while we’re not here to knock the advancing tech, we don’t think it’s at all necessary to BBQ success.
Cast-iron cookware is some of the best stuff on the market. Even after hundreds of years, cast-iron durability stands the test of time. It’s one of the most versatile cooking tools you can use on the stovetop, in the oven, and even on a BBQ or grill in the open flame.
Better yet, you don’t need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to invest in some pieces. For example this cast iron skillet can easily last over 100 years with proper care.
Read more below about why you should try out cast-iron for grill cooking and how to use a cast-iron skillet on the grill for the best burgers, steaks, and smoky veggies.
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How To Clean Cast Iron With Salt
If youre a firm believer in keeping your cast iron far away from water, this method may be perfect for you. It offers the same abrasive scrubbing as the method above, which makes it effective for combating stuck-on food.
Adapting Stovetop Cast Iron Recipes For The Grill
All it takes is some time to preheat the grill and the pan and then you can get cooking. Its also a good idea to invest in a simple surface thermometer so you know just how hot your pan is. Otherwise, follow the instructions for heating oil just like you would on the stove and have the grill lid handy its essential for recipes that are traditionally baked.
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