Cast iron cookware is a favorite for many. But once you start using different spatulas to cook on it, you come across multiple problems, from melting to not being sturdy enough to make a smashed burger.
Have you been looking for the best spatula for your cast iron pan? We have collected 5 of the top utensils that meet the standards: Mannkitchen, Anmarko, HIC Harold Import Co., Sabatier, and Earlywood. Whether you want a metal spatula set or a wooden utensil to work for your cast iron, there is an option for you.
Read on to get acquainted with the top 5 spatulas that work well with cast iron cookware.
Why Is It Important to Use the Right Spatula for Cast Iron?
Once you buy a cast-iron skillet, it will not take you long to understand that it needs special attention.
Cast iron is an exceptionally durable material. It holds heat for a longer time than regular pan materials do and can be used to cook at very high temperatures.
Additionally, cast iron is also non-stick if you take your time to season it properly.
As cast iron has a porous surface, it needs to be leveled to become non-stick. The cast-iron seasoning process implies applying oil to the surface of the cast iron cookware and heating it to get a nice coating over the uneven surface of the pan.
Seasoning also helps prevent cast iron from rusting as the latter is easily affected by water or other liquids that have the slightest amount of acids.
But seasoning is not enough. To get better results and achieve an even cast-iron pan over time it is key to use the right spatula for your daily use.
If you use a well-shaped and sturdy spatula for your cast iron pan, you will level the high spots and get a non-stick pan by improving the cooking area.
If you want less time seasoning your cast iron cookware and more time cooking in it, use a square-shaped spatula with sharpened edges for the best results. You will notice how the surface of your pan smooths out overtime and irregularities of the surface improved.
How to Choose the Best Spatula for Cast Iron
If you are looking for the best spatula for your cast iron cookware, there are certain aspects of every utensil you should take into consideration.
Material
The material of the spatula is key if you want to level out the surface of your cast iron with every use. Hardened stainless steel is your best bet if you are looking for a sturdy spatula to use for scraping.
Unhardened steel is softer than cast iron, which means that the surface of your pan will not benefit from it. Instead, the edges of an unhardened steel spatula will get damaged with every use.
Plastic spatulas are a no-no for your cast iron skillet. The latter gets too hot when cooking. So, plastic utensils are highly likely to melt and are not suitable for cooking on cast iron utensils.
As for the wooden spatulas, the sturdy ones are quite good for cast iron pans as long as you are not expecting to level out the surface of the pan. Wooden spatulas are generally intended for cooking delicate food.
Shape
The shape of the spatula is of high importance if you want to improve the cooking surface. The square-shaped spatula with sharp angles is the best choice.
When you are cooking with a spatula that has a rounded edge, the touching point of the utensil and pan is minimal. Hence, this shape is not suitable for leveling out the surface.
Edges
Beveled edges on spatulas are the best as they not only allow you to scrape off all the goodness left on the pan but also are easier to slide under food.
Also, beveled and slightly sharp edges can be used to chop food.
If you are not concerned about doing a very precise job with scraping and flipping, you can opt for spatulas with non-beveled edges.
Flexibility
When it comes to flexibility, it all depends on what you are going to use the spatula for. More flexible ones are suitable for delicate foods such as eggs, fish or pancakes.
They are also easier to maneuver under food than sturdy ones. If you are going to make smashed burgers or stake, go with inflexible spatulas.
Debunking the Myth about Cast Iron and Metal Spatulas
Some people think that using metal utensils on cast iron cookware may damage the seasoned surface of the pan. They believe that the seasoning is too delicate and can be easily removed and ‘flake off’ if pressure is put on the surface of the pan using a metal utensil.
The truth is that the seasoning of the pan is not just a layer of hardened oil sitting on top of the cast iron material. When the oil is applied to the uneven surface of a cast iron and then heated to dry it out, it ‘becomes one’ with the cast iron, by filling in the pores of the surface and smoothing it out.
Unless you are not intentionally scraping your cast iron pan with a sharp metal spatula, you should experience no problems in using metal utensils.
However, bear in mind that to keep your cast iron cookware in a good shape you should wash, dry and oil it properly after every use.
Top 5 Best Spatulas for Cast Iron
Do you have a well-seasoned cast-iron pan and are looking forward to putting it to use? If so, you definitely need a good spatula to go with.
Here are the top 5 best spatulas for your cast iron skillet:
| Rank | Product | Material |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Homi Styles Metal Spatula | Wood Handle, Stainless Steel Spatula |
| 2 | Anmarko Metal Spatula Set | Wood Handle, Stainless Steel Spatula |
| 3 | HIC Harold Import Co. Stainless Steel Pancake Turner | Wood Handle, Stainless Steel Spatula |
| 4 | Sabatier Triple Rivet Wide Turner | Plastic Handle, Stainless Steel Spatula |
| 5 | Earlywood Hard Wood Scraper | Wood Handle & Spatula |
1. Homi Styles Metal Spatula
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The Homi Styles professional spatula is perfect for cast iron skillets.
It is a heavy-duty tool that will be of perfect use for inexperienced home cooks.
The dimensions are 11x3x1.5 inches, which makes this spatula perfect for large cast-iron cookware.
With a hefty weight to it, the Homi Styles spatula is heavy enough to make smash burgers and strong enough to undertake heavy scraping. The flexibility of the spatula is also eliminated due to the heavy gauge steel.
One of the best things about this spatula is that it is made of hardened stainless steel, which makes it perfect for scraping. Additionally, it will take you quite a long time to wear it out.
The sharp non-flexible edge of the Homi Styles spatula ensures the evenly distributed force which makes it easy to flip food, especially such heavy ones as big pieces of meat.
The spatula has a single piece hardwood handle. Wooden handles, as opposed to plastic ones, do not melt. Aside from that, they stay cool while the cast iron pan heats up to very high temperatures.
The handle is tapered to provide a comfortable grip.
The Homi Styles spatula should only be washed by hand.
Overall, it checks all the boxes when it comes to a high-quality tool for cast iron cookware.
2. Anmarko Metal Spatula Set
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Anmarko stainless still spatula set is a steal, especially for the price. It includes one cooking spatula turner, one grill spatula, and a griddle scraper.
With such a variety of utensils coming in a single kit, the Anmarko set may become the only thing you will need to go hand in hand with your cast iron pan.
These spatulas are meant for the use of professional chefs in commercial kitchens. However, you can certainly use them at your home kitchen or backyard barbeque. But do not lower your expectations, as the set is claimed to have professional quality.
The Anmarko spatulas are made from stainless steel and are non-reactive. With a 1/25 thickness, the spatula easily slides under pancaked, fish or whatever you are cooking.
The griddle turner has beveled edges, which helps not only to easily flip but also quickly cut food while you are cooking. The larger pancake flipper, on the other hand, has rounded edges to make it easy to flip delicate food like eggs.
The wooden handles are ergonomically shaped and comfortable to hold. One detail that nitpicky buyers will appreciate is that the wooden handles come with a hole, making it easy to store them if you like your kitchen utensils hanging off the wall for easy access.
The wooden handles are sturdy and well-secured with stainless steel rivets.
One major advantage of the Anmarko kit is that this spatula set is safe to be put in the dishwasher.
3. HIC Harold Import Co. Stainless Steel Pancake Turner
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The Dexter-Russel pancake turner by HIC Harold Import Co. will pair well with your cast iron skillets. But do not be intimidated by the name. You can turn just about anything with this spatula.
Made of stainless steel this spatula is sturdy enough to be used for much heavier tasks than flipping pancakes.
The Dexter-Russel spatula stands out among others due to its exceptionally well-made handle. Being made of walnuts and attached to the tang with three rivets, this spatula will probably last you a lifetime.
While it comes in three sizes, we recommend you go with the largest one (5 inches). If your pans are smaller, you can opt for the mini turner or the pancake turner which is slightly smaller than the all-purpose one. However, the bigger the spatula the heavier tasks it can undertake.
The square shape of the spatula allows you to level your cast iron pan over time.
Perhaps the only downside of this spatula is that the edge is not beveled which would have made the turning process more precise. The rounded angles will prevent you from making any scratches in your pans when flipping pancakes.
4. Sabatier Triple Rivet Wide Turner
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The Sabatier spatula is Amazon’s choice and there are multiple reasons for that. Not only does this spatula come in a variety of styles but it also has a great price point.
Depending on what you are going to use it for, you can choose between the jumbo, narrow, wide or flex turner. They all differ in sizes and shapes and are suitable for flipping and turning different foods, from lightweight pancakes and delicate fish to heavier foods.
Sabatier spatulas have professional quality. The heads are made of stainless steel that is very sturdy. The edges are rounded and slightly beveled, which allows you to slide the spatula under the food you are cooking.
With slightly sharpened edges, you can easily scrape off all the good parts left from cooking meat or vegetables in your cast iron skillet.
The handle is made of durable plastic, attached to the head with three stainless steel rivets. While plastic handles can also be of high quality, you should be careful not to leave on the hot pan, as the temperature in cast iron skillets gets very high.
Your plastic-handled spatula may not suffer greatly but it may get distorted once it is left on the heated side of the pan.
This spatula is also dishwasher safe, which makes it hustle-free to clean.
Perhaps the best part about the Sabatier spatulas is that they come with a lifetime warranty, which tells a lot about the quality of the item.
5. Earlywood Hard Wood Scraper
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As the name implies, the Earlywood cooking utensil is a wooden spatula suitable for cast iron pans.
Wooden spatulas that have sharp ends and a square shape like the Earlywood one come in handy as a pancake flipper or cast iron skillet scraper if you want to get all the goodness that has stuck to the pan.
The Earlywood spatula is very durable and you can find alternative uses to it – from crashing garlic to chopping beef.
This spatula is surprisingly very sturdy. It is 0.5 inches thick and has a rounded tale to ensure you have a nice grip on it when cooking.
As far as the length goes, this spatula may seem short to some people. However, this is compensated by the fact that you can slide half of this wooden utensil under your pancake or omelet and flip it much easier.
The Earlywood spatula has a truly exceptional and well thought out design. It is simple yet unique and suitable for both left and right-handed people due to the symmetric design.
Earlywood is also a sustainable brand and offers a lifetime warranty which can be a major point for many amateur and professional cooks.
