Just like cast iron, carbon steel can react with acidic foods which means it doesn’t really work for long cooking processes. This uneven surface grips food, maximizing the surface contact and making it the perfect cookware for searing meats. The most famous example is Le Creuset. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Oppositely, for regular meals, go for the carbon steel made cookwares. ADD: 1-4-11, Jianshe Road, Qianyang Town, Dandong [Photographs: Daniel Gritzer]. So, the question is: should you buy carbon steel or cast iron? Carbon makes up between 1 and 2% of the alloy. Pretty much. Because of the weight, cast iron pans need to be handled carefully. Some Ductile Iron and Carbon Steel Castings. This includes scrambled eggs, stir fry, and sauteed vegetables. Daniel cooked for years in some of New York's top American, Italian and French restaurants - starting at the age of 13, when he began staging at the legendary restaurant Chanterelle. There are some other more subtle differences that I could formulate into an argument about when to use one versus the other. Cast iron has more mass appeal, but carbon steel is gaining popularity. It is lighter than cast iron AND carbon steel. Both need to be hand-washed with water and a gentle sponge. Carbon steel pans are lighter than cast iron pans and they are just as durable as stainless as steel versions. With lower carbon content, carbon steel is more ductile than cast iron, meaning it can bend without breaking. Learn more on our Terms of Use page. As someone who owns multiple cast iron and carbon steel pans in multiple sizes, I can attest that in most cases, they're pretty interchangeable. Jan 12, 2019 | Cookware, Cookware Advice |. If you do decide to use soap, it’s not the end of the world, but you will need to season the pan again. The reliable and authentic blackish finish reflects the professional-grade. In this comparison of carbon steel vs. cast iron, you’ll learn how these popular cookware types measure up in terms of cooking performance, ease of use, maintenance, durability, and much more. On average, cast iron skillets weigh twice as much as carbon steel. Finally, Investing for the set will be a great decision as you are privileged here with every option that cost comparatively less than others in its standard. Price LB KG Cast Steel Price Per Carbon steel cookware is thinner and … Most cast iron skillet makers don’t even mention a maximum safe temperature because they can tolerate a much higher temperature than your oven is capable of reaching. It becomes hugely popular not only in America and but also all over the world sort after its journey commenced. Cast iron skillets weigh between 4 and 12 pounds, but the actual weight varies by size. We will compare cast iron and carbon steel from mechanical and physical properties. Like cast iron, with proper seasoning—the process of heating the pan up repeatedly with a thin layer of oil until it builds up into a layer of shiny black polymers—they acquire near non-stick qualities. Ductile iron has better shock absorption than carbon steel, but carbon steel has better welding property than ductile iron. There are multiple seasoning methods that you can use, but they are all based on the same principle – baking the oil into the surface of the pan. Carbon steel has been getting some buzz in recent years from people who are looking for a lightweight alternative to cast iron. Besides, post seasoning can confirm the nonstick treatment as well. They are both durable, heavy and suitable for cooking at high temperatures. For cast iron, I recommend Lodge, which you can find on Amazon. Let’s begin: Carbon steel is a alloy of steel and carbon (0.05%-2.1% max) along with other content such as manganese (1.56%max) , silicon (0.60%0max) , copper (0.06%max) .