Cast iron vs carbon steel
Choose cast iron for heat that holds, such as searing steak, cornbread and oven work, if the weight does not bother you. Choose carbon steel for a lighter pan that heats faster and tosses easily, with the same seasoning care.
| Difference | Cast iron | Carbon steel |
|---|---|---|
| Walls | Thick and heavy | Thinner and lighter for the same size |
| Heat | Slow to heat, holds it for a long time | Heats and cools faster |
| Surface | Pre-seasoned, slightly textured | Smoother; gets slicker with use |
| Care | Season, dry straight away, no soaking or dishwasher | Season, dry straight away, no soaking or dishwasher |
| Best for | Steak, cornbread, deep frying, oven dishes | Eggs once seasoned, stir-fries, quick searing |
| Empty weight, single skillets | 1.86–12.3 lb (15 pans) | 2–7.8 lb (21 pans) |
| Works on induction (maker says) | 31 of 31 | 26 of 26 |
On this page
Two exact examples
| Difference | Lodge 8-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet | Made In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, wok only |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Cast iron | Carbon steel |
| Cooking surface | seasoned cast iron | Seasoned carbon steel |
| Included shapes | Skillet | Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, wok only |
| Size as sold | Skillet: 8 in | Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, wok only: 13 in |
| Supplied lids | 0 | 0 |
| Lid oven limit | No lid in the box | No lid in the box |
| Empty total weight | 3.44 lb | 3.5 lb |
| Dishwasher | Hand wash only | Hand wash only |
| Induction | Works on induction | Works on induction |
About the two pans listed
The carbon steel pan here is a wok, not a skillet of the same size, so its weight and base aren't a like-for-like match. Being lighter doesn't make carbon steel better; compare the care each one needs and the shape you'll cook in.
What’s in each, measured
Scroll sideways for every column; tap a heading to sort. “Not stated” means the maker doesn’t publish it.
| Lodge 8-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet | 8 in | Not stated | Not stated | 1.87 in | 12.75 in | 3.44 lb | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, wok only | 13 in | 13.5 in | 5.5 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not included |