To prepare the perfect steak at home, one needs to use the right seasoning and spices, a good cut of steak and the best frying pan for steak. Whether you want that grill mark or not, it is high time you get a good pan that can handle high heat for that perfect sear on your steak.
In this guide, we’ve listed some of the best frying pans for steak available in the market today and also some factors you should consider when choosing the right pan for you. At the end of this guide, you should be able to find the right pan for your needs.
What is a Steak Frying Pan?
A steak frying pan is a very good pan that is capable of taking a lot of heat and hold the heat for a while. This pan could be a simple carbon steel fry pan, a cast iron skillet or a tri-ply or even a five-ply stainless steel pan.
While nonstick pans are a common choice when it comes to steak, not all nonstick pans can be able to withstand the heat required for a grilled steak. Therefore, if you are planning to be very cautious, the type of pan that is useful for searing steak will be the one that you should use. It is especially the case when you are more eager on marinating your steak, since some pans are not compatible with spices.
Some of the pans may need to be seasoned, others are sold pre-seasoned while some do not need to be seasoned at all.
Which is the best frying pan for steak?
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So, here are some top-rated pans that provide outstanding performance when it comes to searing that perfect steak.
1. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet with Assist Silicone Handle Holder
- One Lodge Pre-Seasoned 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet with Handle...
- Assist handle for better control
- Unparalleled heat retention and even heating
- Pre-seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil
- Use to sear, sauté, bake, broil, braise, fry, or grill
If you’re searching for a cast iron skillet that doesn’t need to be seasoned prior to use, then the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet is the best frying pan for steak. This cast iron skillet is originally pre-seasoned by the manufacturer through the use of an electrostatic spray thus making it a very low maintenance pan.
It also has a 10 inch cooking surface, a round shape with a handle that is easy to grasp, and a handle which is an extension of the body. Furthermore, its upper round rim has two pouring outlets which are located at opposite ends. It also comes with a red silicone handle cover to enhance usability.
The pan is constructed from cast iron and both handles are integral to the body of the pan so there is no requirement for rivets and the handles can be secured tightly for extra strength. This Lodge cast iron skillet is versatile and can be used on gas and electric stoves and a grill as well as coal flames.
In addition, this cast iron frying pan heat retention is amazing, ideal for searing steaks. The surface of the cooking area is such that it does not stick and gets better with use. This makes this cast iron cookware easy to clean and care for as well as making it less likely to rust. For maintenance, you only need to wash it with warm water, then dry it and apply a layer if oil to avoid rust.
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2. Utopia Kitchen Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
- PRESEASONED CAST IRON SKILLET – The 12.5 inch Cast Iron Skillet...
- EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION – This cast iron pan is ideal for both...
- SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS – Always season the skillet with any...
- VERSATILE USE – The Cast Iron Skillet is highly compatible,...
- HEALTH BENEFIT – Enjoy a healthy lifestyle with our cast iron...
As one of the best pans for delicious steak, the Utopia Kitchen Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet comes with great heat retention capabilities to ensure even distribution of heat, allowing to cook steak perfectly. Utopia Kitchen is a well-known brand that manufacturers superior kitchen cookware, and this cast iron frying pan are a great option for first-time cast iron users.
The cooking surface measures 12 inches in diameter and has a heavy-duty base as well as a reliable cooking surface for perfect steak in all cooking styles. It also comes with two handles, one helper handle and one long handle that makes lifting and carrying the cast iron skillet much easier.
Additionally, it comes with two spouts that make pouring excess oil relatively easy. The cooking surface is made of high-quality fine grain to ensure a non-stick surface in the long run. It also includes a keyhole on the long handle that is easy to hang for storage and display. It can also be used on all cooking tops, making it highly versatile.
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3. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Frying Pan Reversible Grill/Griddle
- 20 x 10.5 cooking area
- Use on all cooking surfaces, grills and campfires
- Oven safe. Cooktop Compatibility: Electric Coil, Electric Smooth...
- Sauté, sear, fry, bake and stir fry to heart's content
- Note : Item is sold as one tray and image shown on website is...
The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle includes two rectangular black plates, each having a cooking surface that measures 20 by 10.5 inches. One plate is meant to be a griddle with a flat surface, and the other plate is a grill pan with horizontal grill lines on the cooking surface.
Each of the plates comes with two handles on every end as well as a raised surrounding edge. Both the griddle and grill pan is made from cast iron that is pre-seasoned before they are shipped to you. The plates have a reversible nature which allows them to be used either individually or together in the oven or any cooking stove.
Many users found it the best pan when it comes to grilling steak as it provides impressive heat retention and can be used both indoors and outdoors. It needs to be covered by a light oil layer before storing to prevent rusting. Cleaning this cast iron grill pan and griddle is quite easy as you only need warm water. Avoid using detergents and soap as they may damage the seasoning coat.
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4. de Buyer - Mineral B Frying Pan - Nonstick Pan - Carbon and Stainless Steel
- Carbon Steel Pan: 99% iron and 1% carbon, slippery with better...
- The Darker The Better: Signature beeswax finish protects against...
- Nonstick Kitchen Essentials: Has natural nonstick once seasoned;...
- Made in France: Engineered and manufactured following the most...
- About de Buyer: French maker of premium kitchen accessories,...
The De Buyer Mineral B Carbon Steel Fry Pan has a cooking surface that measures 12.5 inches and measures 6.3 pounds. It comes with a long, slightly bent handle attached to the body using three rivets and arranged in an inverted triangular pattern. On the opposite side, there is a spacious and ergonomic helper handle attached to the main body using two rivets.
This pan is made from a natural carbon steel material and a beeswax finish to allow the cooking surface to develop a naturally nonstick surface with every steak cooking. It is lightweight and thin, which ensures that the pan heats up quickly. This pan can be used on all cooking tops, including induction stoves.
Since the beeswax finish is natural, it ensures the pan is safe for searing meat even at extremely high temperatures. This finish also helps it to become a non-stick the more it is used. It doesn't release toxic emissions that may be harmful to your health.
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5. All-Clad D3 Stainless Cookware, 12-Inch Fry Pan with Lid
- A kitchen staple featuring a flat base and flared, mid-sized...
- Classic tri-ply construction, made with a responsive aluminum...
- Secured with riveted stainless-steel handles to ensure a safe...
- Compatible with all cooktops including induction, and oven and...
- 12-inch covered fry pan with wide flat base and versatile...
In search of a stainless steel pan with large flat and wide area for cooking? The All-Clad D3 Stainless Fry Pan is a sleek pan which has a 12-inch diameter cooking surface and polished mirror exterior. This pan has a somewhat steep side walls and the handle is long enough to allow safe stake grilling.
The body of the stainless steel pan is constructed from three layers of material. The bottom layer which forms the cooking surface is made from 18/10 stainless thus guaranteeing healthy and safe food. Its middle layer is made from aluminum so that it will heat up quickly and distributes heat equally. Lastly, the outer layer is constructed of induction-ready steel for the pan to suit any cooktop for the preparation of meals.
It also has handles with which one can hold it comfortably and the handles are cool to hold. All of the pan and the lid that comes with it can be placed in the dishwasher and cleaned without any effort. Nevertheless, you should never use this stainless steel pan when it is dry and it is recommended that you should always include some oil on the flat surface to be heated.
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Types of Materials Used For Steak Pans
The material of a steak pan determines the performance and weight of the pan. Different materials may also require different cooking, cleaning and care methods. So, here are the three main materials used in pans for cooking steak.
1. Cast Iron
Cast iron is a robust material that won't get damaged easily and is quite durable. It is a perfect metal for searing steak because of its ability to retain heat. Although it takes a bit of time to heat up, it will stay hot for a long period of time. A cast-iron frying pan at high temperatures with no warping or releasing harmful fumes on the cooking surface.
While many cast iron frying pans come pre-seasoned to provide a solid foundation, it is advisable to have two to three more seasoning cycles to ensure you achieve the best non-stick coating. Unlike most materials that tend to wear out over time, cast iron tends to improve as the days go by and can be passed from one generation to the next.
Cleaning a cast iron pan is very easy as you only need to use warm. However, these pans are not safe for use with soap or detergents or use in the dishwasher.
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2. Carbon Steel
Another good material that is used in the best frying pan for steak is carbon steel since it heats up quickly but loses heat quickly than cast iron. This is because they are lighter and have thin walls as compared to cast iron pans which have thick walls. This makes a carbon steel pan more manageable and if you have hands that are not extremely strong you should have no problem handling it.
Like cast iron frying pan, a carbon steel frying pan must also be seasoned because it is easily rusty. Many producers apply special waxing on carbon steel pan in order to protect it from rusting. The wax coating has to be first scraped off before you season it.
Carbon steel pans should be cleaned with water and a bar of mild soap only. The seasoning might require constant application because it might wear out after some time depending with the usage.
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3. Stainless Steel
It is more durable as compared to carbon steel and cast iron pan while being lighter in weight as well. Furthermore, it takes less time to heat up as well as does not react with the food which makes people use it to prepare steaks with other flavors and spices.
Stainless steel cookware is made of different layers of material such as copper or aluminum base that conducts heat better. Also, the stainless steel pans can be cleaned using detergents and soap or in the dishwasher and they do not need to be seasoned.
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What Should You Consider When Purchasing The Best Frying Pan For Steak?
1. Types of Pans
Apart from the different types of materials, including cast iron, carbon steel, and stainless, pans come in different designs. They include the grill pans, fry pans or skillets, cast iron skillets, woks, crepe pans, and saute pans. As for steak, the first three styles are used almost always. Select a pan style which suits you the most and which is ideal for the type of steak that you wish to cook. For instance, if you want that perfect grill marks on your food, you should think about getting a grill pan.
2. Size
The size of a steak frying pan will limit the amount of food you can cook in it. Ideally, steak pans need to be a bit spacious because of the frequent turning to ensure all the sides cook evenly. Depending on the number of people you will be cooking for, you need to pick a size that can hold enough steaks.
Preparing food for a large family using a small sized pan will mean that you have to cook for each person separately in the kitchen. If you are going to cook for many people, you should probably look for a pan in which you can put the majority of steaks and still have the space to turn them around.
Additionally, when choosing the pan size, it is also crucial to consider the size of your cooker. If you use a frying pan that is larger than the cooker, it will take long time to heat and there is high chances of cooking the food unevenly. Just one note here: the larger the pan in question, the steeper the price will be.
3. Heat Distribution
The best frying pan for steak should have great heat distribution to help eliminate some hot spots, making some parts overcook while others are barely getting enough heat. The pan you use for cooking steak should be made of a material that heats up evenly to avoid some uncooked parts.
4. Construction
The structure of the pan will determine how well it is able to cook the meat. For example, pans that have a multi-clad construction will provide the pan with more abilities as it takes up the benefits of all materials.
An all-clad pan will combine stainless steel with an aluminum layer to ensure it heats up faster and evenly because aluminum ensures a good heat transfer. This means that the pan enables you to cook more healthy meals as the heat is evenly distributed.
Some pans will also have grill lines on the cooking surface to ensure you get crispy steaks that are free from grease and fat. You can also choose a covered pan that helps trap the flavor and moisture of the steak.
5. Maintenance and Use
It is almost mandatory that steak pans will be dirty and will have food scraps and grease that will be somewhat stubborn to clean. It will be helpful if you get a steak pan that is easy to clean and all the dirt can be wiped off easily.
Steak pans should also include a handle used to hold the pan and carry the pan from one area to another. Also, pans with a top edge are convenient for a precise pouring without spilling it over the table.
6. Durability
Certainly, nobody wants to be purchasing a new cast iron or carbon steel pan every month because it got in a bad shape and has to be disposed. That is why the pan you are going to purchase must be of great quality and capable of serving you for quite some time. Consider the material used in the pan and the way it has been made in order to ascertain its longevity.
Tips For Cooking Steak
Here are some of the tips you should consider to achieve that tasty steak;
1. Always flip the steak after every 30 seconds to achieve a more even cooking and browning of the steak. Flipping the steak consistently will ensure the band around the steak becomes more gradual instead of uneven cooking where one side is pink.
2. If you're hoping to achieve a nice crust, but for some reason you are not able to do that, a great way is to achieve it is to move the steak around the best frying pan for steak. As you move the steak around the pan, you will be making use of the unused heat in the pan, which makes the stake crust out or browns a lot faster.
3. Ensure the steaks are evenly cut. Oftentimes, a cause of uneven cooking meat is a steak that is uneven. Cutting it evenly ensures that every part of the steak is in contact with the pan for even cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Steak Frying Pans
1. Is cast iron or stainless steel better for searing?
Stainless steel and cast iron are the most recommended pans for searing steak. However, a stainless steel pan with an aluminum core will sear a steak so much better than a cast iron pan. This is because the stainless steel pan will heat up faster and has a low tendency of having the hotspots.
2. How do you cook steak in a steel pan?
It is quite simple to cook steak in a steel pan. First, put the pan and the oil to heat for some minutes then put the steak on the pan. You should be sure the steak is being cooked under moderate heat and flip it on the other side at every one minute interval to ensure that the two sides are well cooked.
3. Is pan searing the same as frying?
No. Pan searing is the preparation process of getting the meat ready for the next cooking process, which is either braising or roasting. On the other hand, frying is a complete cooking process whose result is food that is ready to consume.
4. Can I cook steak in a regular frying pan?
Although, you can cook the steak on a normal pan, it is not advised to do so. This is so because some pans are not normally constructed to handle the temperature that is required to cook a steak. Also, some pans do not offer the necessary even heating required in preparing a good steak.
