Top 5 Best Spatulas for Cast Iron

If you’re cooking on cast iron, you need to have the best spatulas for cast iron to help cook and serve your food. Spatulas may not be the most fashionable kitchen utensil, but like a Dutch oven lid lifter or a cast iron ladle, they’re an essential addition to any ast iron cooking setup. Check out our spatula for cast iron reviews and ratings below.

Top 5 Spatulas for Cast Iron Reviews

* Ratings are determined using our specialized rating system.

When you’re looking for camping cooking utensils, there are a lot of options. To take some of the burden of finding the best spatula for cast iron from you, we did some research of our own to highlight the pros and cons of each one. Keep reading for more information about the top five best spatulas for cast iron we found.

HIC Harold Import Co. Dexter-Russel Stainless Steel Spatula

The HIC Harold Import Co. Dexter-Russel Stainless Steel Spatula is a classic stainless steel spatula with a beautiful dark walnut handle. While “spatula” can refer to any number of shapes and materials, turners are designed more specifically for foods that need to be flipped (or turned) such as pancakes and fish fillets. The broad, flat shape facilitates turning the food easily, and in the context of cast iron, makes a simple task of scraping off food debris before seasoning.

Stainless steel is an excellent material for kitchen use as it is both durable and resistant to corrosion. While you should probably avoid leaving it in the kitchen sink for extended periods, it won’t turn into a rust magnet. Walnut is a hardwood like beech, hickory, and oak, meaning it is more resistant to wet or humid conditions—ideal for the kitchen.

Anmarko Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Metal Spatula Set

The Anmarko Commercial Grade Stainless Steel Metal Spatula Set comes with three spatulas and a scraper made from stainless steel. It includes a cooking turner, a grill spatula, a hamburger turner, and a bench scraper. The stainless steel is 1/25in thick, making it a durable option for your kitchen. The beveled edges of the spatulas mean that despite the thickness of the metal, you should have no problem sliding it under whatever you need to flip in your cast iron baking pan.

These spatulas are finished off with an ergonomic, food-safe handle with a convenient hole for hanging on the wall or storage hooks. These spatulas are appropriate for cast iron, barbecuing, camping, and flat top griddles. The inclusion of the scraper also means easy cleanup for the latter cooking options. The various sizes and versatility make these a great investment for adventurous chefs interested in multiple cooking styles.

Sabatier Triple-Rivet Wide Turner Stainless Steel Spatula

The Sabatier Triple-Rivet Wide Turner Stainless Steel Spatula in Black is great for price-conscious cooks who still want to take good care of their pans with the best spatula for cast iron. The wide head is perfect for cast iron griddles especially, and this would make a great lightweight addition to any camping trip. The handle is made of a heat-resistant plastic called polyoxymethylene (POM), so there’s no need to worry about it being close to your burners or campfire (though you should avoid leaning the plastic directly on a hot pan).

Though this list is about spatulas for cast iron, you should avoid using this spatula on any nonstick pans that you have because the sharper edges may damage the nonstick coating. For cast iron, it’s perfect for scraping any stubborn stuck-on food before you season it after each use.

OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Spatula & Turner

The OXO Good Grips Brushed Stainless Steel Spatula & Turner is a sleek, modern stainless steel spatula. This is a heftier turner designed simply and elegantly, with no visual disruption from the tip of the turner to the handle. The handle features a subtle non-slip grip that doesn’t alter its appearance from above.

This spatula also has a long handle that makes it easier to use with cookware that has higher sides, such as a cast iron pot. As a slotted stainless steel spatula, it works for both scraping cast iron clean and more delicate tasks, thanks to its beveled edges.

Anmarko Stainless Steel Teppanyaki Spatula Set

If you liked the looks of the other Anmarko spatula set but aren’t sure that you need a four-piece set, this Anmarko Stainless Steel Teppanyaki Spatula Set is a great alternative. This two-piece set features one spatula turner and one griddle spatula, both in stainless steel. The ergonomic wooden handles already have holes for easy hanging, making storage simple and easy.

The smaller spatula can be used both as a scraper and to easily chop foods while on the grill with its sharp edges, while the larger option is perfect for omelettes, burgers, and other larger flipping endeavors. Each is a great spatula for cast iron, as the sharp edges will make quick work of any stuck-on food, and this stainless steel is made to last years.

Features to Consider in the Best Spatula for Cast Iron

As you can likely see from our spatula for cast iron reviews, there are a lot of different types of spatulas on the market. If you’re still feeling confused about which one you should get, here are some of the different features to consider for narrowing down the selection.

Handle Material

Like knives, spatula handles can come in a variety of different materials, but unlike knives, spatulas spend a lot more time closer to the heat source and leaning on hot cookware. This is important to keep in mind when researching the type of spatula handle you’d like to get. The main options are plastic, metal, and wood, and those break down into further subsections with distinct advantages and disadvantages.

Metal and wood are generally safer around hot cookware, but metal handles can become very hot to the touch and wood isn’t usually dishwasher safe. Plastic handles are more likely to melt if they come in close contact with the metal edges of your cast iron skillet, but are generally cooler to the touch and less expensive than either metal or wood. In the end, it’s all about balancing your priorities.

When Should I Use a Slotted Spatula for Cast Iron?

While most of the turners on our list are solid, there is certainly a place for a slotted spatula for cast iron. Slotted spatulas are great for any foods involving liquid, as it will drain easily through the spatula. They can also work in the process of flipping delicate foods since they tend to be more flexible. With a cast iron skillet, slotted spatulas are wonderful for making super fluffy eggs because you can let the liquid drain through with each flip on repeat until they’re cooked.

Sets or Singles?

While the number of spatulas you need may seem like a basic consideration, it’s an important one! It’s not just the number but the variety of sizes that come in a set that is appealing. If you want to have a dedicated spatula for camping and one for home cooking, a set can be extremely helpful. Sets also come with different sizes of spatulas, so you can choose the best one for a particular task.

Quality of Materials

Especially with the best spatula for cast iron—both stainless steel and plastics—all is not created equal. Low quality stainless steel may still have issues with corrosion despite being “stainless,” and some plastics are much more heat-resistant than others. If possible, it is a good idea to look into the grade of stainless steel and the type of plastic if those are concerns during your purchase. The quality will usually be reflected in the price, but it is possible to find good deals on the best spatulas for cast iron if you do your research!

What is Brushed Stainless Steel?

You may encounter the term “brushed stainless steel” while researching the best spatula for cast iron. Brushed metal simply means it has an intentional duller polish made by repetitive friction with a fine bristle brush. Brushed stainless steel is still rust-proof because of its high chromium content and is largely an aesthetic consideration.

Benefits of Using a Spatula for Cast Iron

Cast iron is a much more finicky cookware material than modern nonstick and Teflon pans. It corrodes easily, generally shouldn’t be washed with soap, and must be seasoned after each use. With such care, however, it will last a lifetime with a flavor that only improves with age.

While you can technically use a plastic spatula on cast iron, you have the choice not to. The best metal spatulas for cast iron are sturdier and can flip heavier foods, as well as being much better for scraping off food from the pan afterwards. Cast iron also heats to much higher temperatures than modern nonstick pans, which may not end well for your plastic spatulas. The best metal spatulas are way less likely to melt on you, unless you’re cooking food at over 2000 °F.

Since cast iron skillets often come very rough and bumpy when new, metal scraping over years also helps smooth the surface over the time. Enough sessions with your cast iron skillet, and you’ll have a nice, smooth surface!

Spatulas for cast iron can also be used on any type of cast iron cookware. Who manufactured it doesn’t matter either. Whether you bought your skillet from Lodge, Finex, or Tramontina, you don’t have to worry about matching up brands with your utensils.

Precautions of Using a Spatula for Cast Iron

While you may not think much of even the best metal spatula, there are actually some things to remember when using one in order to get the best experience. Here are some factors that go into choosing the best spatula for cast iron.

When to Not Use Them

The main concern with the best spatulas for cast iron is knowing when to not use them. You can’t use the best metal spatulas on nonstick or Teflon pans because it will quickly scrape away the nonstick coating. This leaves deep scrapes that are prone to rust and potentially cause you to eat the nonstick as it scrapes off in your food. Keep metal spatulas for use on cast iron and steel only!

Beveled Edges

Some of the best metal spatulas will have beveled edges, meaning that instead of a flat edge perpendicular to the spatula, the edges gently slope down the height of the spatula. With thicker spatulas, a beveled edge can make it much easier to lift and turn more delicate foods like eggs, crêpes, and fillets. Most likely, it won’t make as much of a difference for thicker, sturdier food like burgers. Sharp edges can also potentially scratch against the sides of a pan if they’re a unique shape, like the rounded sides of a cast iron wok or the ridges of a cast iron grill pan.

Don’t Forget to Scrape Your Cast Iron!

You’re probably already aware of the special care cast iron requires, but it never hurts to see a refresher. When washing cast iron, you want to avoid soap as much as possible because of how porous the metal is. You don’t want to use too much water, either, because of how easily cast iron corrodes. So how do you clean cast iron? Scrape it off with your metal spatula! Just remember not to use your spatulas on delicate materials like the interior ceramic of a cast iron teapot.

Conclusion

We got to look at a bunch of great products for these spatula for cast iron reviews, but one stood out above the rest—we think the HIC Harold Import Co. Dexter-Russel Stainless Steel Spatula is the best spatula for cast iron available. This is a beautiful, high-quality stainless steel and wood turner that is a perfect style for versatile cast iron use. While it doesn’t come in a set, this is a great general use metal spatula or cast iron spatulas specifically. I also recommend giving it as a gift with cast iron cookbook.

No matter which set you choose to go with, I wish you the best of luck with all your cast iron cooking endeavors!

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