This isn’t a pan article for the vegetarians and vegans among us because today we’re looking at pans with only one thing in mind – big, fat, juicy steak.
That’s right; we’re talking about pans for people who prefer the caveman diet to the type of diet ordinarily reserved for rabbits and farm animals.
Steak is a protein packed full of nutrients, and whether you like it well-done, medium, or rare, you’ll need the best pan for cooking steak if you want your meat to be perfect.
We’ll be looking at a number of pans, each with its own unique qualities, but all destined to be a great addition to our reader’s kitchens.
List Of Pan for Cooking Steak
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
- Ozeri Stone Earth Frying Pan
- MINERAL B Carbon Steel Fry Pan
- Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan
- T-fal E93808
- Victoria Cast Iron Skillet
- Tramontina Professional Fry Pan
- Lodge Cast Iron Griddle
- MICHELANGELO Copper Frying Pan
- Matfer Bourget Black Carbon Steel Fry Pan
Comparison Table Of Top Pan for Cooking Steak
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
  | ★ OUR #1 PICK! ★ Lodge Cast Iron Skillet |
| |
  | Ozeri Stone Earth Frying Pan |
| |
  | MINERAL B Carbon Steel Fry Pan |
| |
  | Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan |
| |
  | T-fal E93808 |
| |
  | Victoria Cast Iron Skillet |
| |
  | Tramontina Professional Fry Pan |
| |
  | Lodge Cast Iron Griddle |
| |
  | MICHELANGELO Copper Frying Pan |
| |
  | Matfer Bourget Black Carbon Steel Fry Pan |
|
Top 5 Best Pans for Cooking Steak Reviews
1. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet | best cast iron pan for cooking steak
What could be better than sourcing your beef from American farmers and then cooking it to perfection on a cast iron skillet forged in the USA.
Lodge is an American brand that has been around for over 120 years, creating cast iron cookware that can be used for decades.
Cast iron pans will take a little longer to heat up than other materials, but they are great for heat retention and even heat distribution. It has even heat distribution that is essential for steak cooking, especially if you want that consistent cooking and coloration throughout the steak when you slice it.
If you aren’t a fan of synthetics, then this pan is ideal. With no additional coatings, you are cooking only atop cast iron. Of course, this means that you will need to season the pan after use to ensure that the pan cooks to its best.
Don’t wash this pan in the dishwasher. Instead, handwash it with the gentlest of soap (if using any soap at all), and then season with a bit of oil.
Highlighted Features
- It comes with a removable red silicone handle cover to protect you from burns
- Pre-seasoned with vegetable oil for an immediate great cooking experience
- Easy to care for and season
2. Ozeri Stone Earth Frying Pan | best pan for cooking steak on stove
Sometimes people fear what they don’t know, so we wouldn’t blame you for seeing the words ‘Stone Earth’ and thinking it sounds a bit scary because you’ve never used stoneware for cooking before.
So what are the benefits of stoneware?
In terms of steak, you will find that the meat browns beautifully and helps to create a fantastic color on the meat. These pans also help to retain the moisture within the meat, which means your steak is not going to dry out and will be exceptionally juicy.
A benefit of this pan over a cast-iron option is that after the first few cooks, the seasoning required to ensure the pan has non-stick properties is less time-consuming.
In fact, after approximately ten cooks, the pan should be seasoned enough that you won’t have to spend time adding natural cooking oils to the pan after it has been washed.
Highlighted Features
- A healthy alternative to cheap synthetic non-stick pans
- Scratch resistant surface allows for easier cleaning
- Magnetized base allows for cooking on induction cooktops
3. MINERAL B Carbon Steel Fry Pan
This carbon steel pan is larger than the other pans we have looked at thus far, at 14-inches in diameter. That extra space is extremely helpful if you like to cook your steak with a tonne of butter that routinely spoons over the steak during the cooking time.
If you love all natural products, then this is another pan that suits your desire as there are no synthetics used to make it non-stick. This means the pan is PTFE free, PFOA free, and free of all those other scary-sounding letter combinations that can potentially do you harm.
The handle design is known as a ‘Fresh Curve’, making it ideal for sauteing and flipping foods just like you see professional chefs doing when they want to look cool on TV.
Each pan is made between 2.5 to 3mm thick, which gives the pan both strength and the ability to heat quickly while providing an even distribution of the heat.
You’ll be able to put the pan in the oven for up to 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or use the pan atop an induction cooktop. Essentially, you’ve got multiple options available to you.
Highlighted Features
- Durable carbon steel built to withstand decades of cooking
- No unnatural, synthetic non-stick elements
- Rivets connect pan and handle are built to remain strong for a lifetime
4. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Grill Pan
Everyone has their own personal preference, but when we have our steak, we love the visual of meat seared on a grill pan. The lines of extra caramelization on the meat just add to the mouth-watering appeal of the meal we are about to gorge upon.
We’ve talked about Lodge before on this list and on other lists as well because they are such a brilliant brand making cast iron pans right here in the USA.
Like all Lodge pans, this grill pan has been built to last forever. So thick is the cast iron, and so strong is the pan that you’re going to have to blow the thing up to damage it, and even then, we’re not exactly sure you’ll do that much damage.
As with other pans from Lodge, this is pre-seasoned and great with heat retention and heat distribution. The key selling feature in comparison to the other Lodge pan we looked at is the ribbing to give an authentic grill feel.
Highlighted Features
- Made with grill ribs for food elevation and dripping collection
- Pre-seasoned with immediate easy-release that improves the more you cook
- Perfect pan for cooktop, oven, or outdoors use with a campfire
5. T-fal E93808
If you’re a novice cook, it is better to play things safe at the beginning with a non-stick pan.
This type of pan will ensure you aren’t wasting expensive cuts of meat by having them unremovable from a cast iron or stoneware surface that you’ve failed to season sufficiently.
Additionally, this T-fal pan comes with a Thermo-Spot, which is another fantastic aid for the beginner. It will help you determine when the pan is preheated to the temperature required for perfect cooking.
Don’t discount this as an aid, as a pan not preheated as it should be will be a guarantee that your steak is not going to come out as wonderfully as you would hope.
With a silicone handle, there is little chance of burning yourself when grabbing the pan on the cooktop.
It is a smaller pan than all the others on the list, so it is best if you plan on cooking for yourself or cooking for two but with each steak cooked separately.
Highlighted Features
- Scratch resistant and dishwasher safe non-stick pan
- Suitable for all cooktops, including induction
- Oven safe silicone handles for a secure, safe grip on the pan
Pan for Cooking Steak Buying Guide
Cooking the perfect steak to ensure that it looks great and tastes great is not a simple matter. You want to make that journey to perfection as easy as possible, which is why you’re after the best pan for cooking steak.
A top-quality steak cooking pan has certain features required to help you as the chef. Here in this buying guide, we have a look at what those features are.
a) Material
Pans come made from all sorts of material. The material you choose really depends on your level of cooking experience and the amount of effort you want to make in caring for a pan.
Cast iron pans are amazing, but they require you to consistently season the pan after cleaning to ensure that they keep natural non-stick properties. However, if you are prepared to do this, you will have a long lasting pan that makes perfect steaks.
Should you be after a pan with no synthetic non-stick properties, but don’t want to season constantly, then a stoneware pan is right up your street. These pans will require seasoning for the first ten or so cook/wash cycles and then should be fine for cooking on without seasoning after that.
Steel pans are a great option if you don’t want to go with cast iron. These pans heat quicker than a cast iron pan and cool down faster. However, the effect of this is to have less good heat retention than the cast iron option.
Finally, aluminum pans usually come with a non-stick coating. These pans are often more lightweight than the other pans we’ve looked at and are better for beginner cooks.
b) Diameter
This is a fairly simple feature to explain.
The diameter will tell you how much space is in the pan for cooking. Smaller diameter pans are better if you are cooking for one. The more people you are likely to have eating steak with you, the larger the pan you require.
Also, consider what other dishes you may cook using the pan unless you are buying one exclusively for steak cooking.
c) Non-stick
If you don’t mind pans with a synthetic non-stick coating, then make sure that the pan meets the standards for food safety.
There are many harmful chemicals that can potentially have a negative impact on your health if buying a cheap non-stick pan. All of the pans we have looked at are, however, safe.
Additionally, take care to ensure that the non-stick is durable. It should be scratch resistant and be able to withstand being cleaned in a dishwasher.
d) Handle
Cast iron pans generally are forged as part of the pan and don’t have any additional material to stop you from burning yourself when the pan is hot. You just have to make sure you remember to use something to protect your hand when it comes time to hold the hot pan.
You can buy silicone covers to add to cast iron or carbon steel pans that don’t have protection.
Another thing to look out for with the handle is the rivets. This is the case where the handle has been joined to the pan rather than being forged as part of it.
Poorly designed pans will come with screws that loosen over time and leave the pan in a very flimsy state. It would be best if you made sure any connection between pan and handle is going to stand the test of time.
Bottom Line
You asked us to find the best pan for cooking steak, and we were able to do just that.
There are some fabulous options for you to choose from, and now it all comes down to your personal preference.
Do you want a large or small pan? Non-stick or a pan that has no synthetics? Are you a fan of a pan that has ribs giving that wonderful look to the steaks?
We’ll leave you now to decide which pan you want. Good luck, and we’re sure you’ll be enjoying perfectly cooked steak very soon.
