How to Use Cast Iron Over Any Heat Source – Lodge Kitchenware

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Cast iron is one of the few pieces of cookware you can easily take from kitchen to campfire. It can withstand high temperatures up to 650°F, making it a great option for almost any heat source. No matter where you like to cook, we’ve got tips and tricks for using cast iron on electric, induction, and gas cooktops, as well as gas grills, charcoal grills, and campfires.

Gas Cooktops

Gas cooktops heat up quickly and are very responsive to adjustments in heat. Plus, the flame provides visual cues to help you dial in the temperature.

Tips for gas:

  • Choose the right burner — Compared to electric and induction cooktops, gas ranges tend to heat cookware a little more unevenly. Select a burner closest to the size of your cookware to help the cooking surface heat evenly.

  • Watch the flame — The flame should never extend up the sides of the pan. Adjust the heat so the flame stays under the bottom of the cookware.

  • Preheat slowly — Even on gas, cast iron performs best when heated gradually.

Electric Cooktops

Electric cooktops provide a nice, even heat to your cookware, which prevents hot spots that cause food to cook unevenly and stick. However, electric burners can be less responsive to temperature adjustments, meaning it might take your skillet longer to heat up and cool down.

Tips for electric:

  • Be patient — Always preheat your cookware and make gradual adjustments in temperature. With a little patience and experimentation, you’ll be able to find just the right heat.

  • Avoid sliding — We recommend gently picking up and setting down your cookware, rather than sliding it from one burner to another.

  • Start with a clean pan — Oil and residues can carbonize on the bottom of your cast iron, leaving black marks on a glass stovetop.

  • Lift, don’t drag — This is the golden rule. Cast iron is heavy, and sliding it can scratch the glass surface.

Induction Cooktops

Induction cooktops use an electromagnetic field to transfer heat to cookware containing ferrous metal. Iron is a ferrous metal, which makes cast iron perfect for induction.

Induction cooktops don’t have an exposed flame and only conduct heat when you have a piece of cookware placed over the burner. This makes them a safer alternative, especially when you have young chefs helping in the kitchen.

Tips for induction:

  • Lower the heat — Induction cooktops are incredibly efficient at heating cookware. That’s why we recommend using a lower temperature than you would on other types of cooktops.

  • Preheat slowly with oil — If you heat your skillet too quickly, the temperature of the iron can become imbalanced, causing thermal shock. In severe cases, this can cause cookware to break on the stovetop. Preheat your cookware slowly with oil. When the oil shimmers and ripples, your skillet is ready to go. If the oil begins to smoke, your cookware is too hot.

  • Choose the right size — Choose a piece of cookware closest to the size of the burner you’re using to ensure even heating. Many induction cooktops have a safety feature that detects the size of your cookware — if your skillet is too small, the cooktop might not heat up at all.

  • Don’t worry about full contact — Contrary to popular belief, your cookware doesn’t need to come into full contact with the induction burner in order to heat. A few millimeters of distance between the cookware and the burner won’t affect overall performance.

  • Lift, don’t slide — Just like with electric glass tops, always lift your cast iron rather than sliding it across the surface.

Gas Grills

Cast iron will transform your gas grill and really help you step up your grilling game! Pop a cast iron skillet or griddle on the grill to prepare small or delicate foods that are difficult to cook directly on the grill grate — think fish, veggies, pizza, and smash burgers. Or use a Dutch oven to simmer baked beans while you cook the brats directly on the grill.

Tips for gas grills:

  • Preheat 5-10 minutes — Just like on your stove, you’ll want to preheat your cast iron to medium-high. This can take 5-10 minutes, depending on your grill.

  • Use the lid — If your grill has a lid, closing it can help your cookware preheat more quickly.

  • Adjust as you go — Cast iron has great heat retention, so after you preheat, you may need to turn down your heat.

  • Control heat by position — You can control the heat by adjusting the temperature of your grill and moving your cookware closer or further from the heat source. Generally, the middle and back of the grill will be the hottest, while the heat on the edges will be weaker.

Charcoal Grills & Campfires

Cast iron is right at home over a campfire or on a charcoal grill. In fact, it’s one of the few cookware materials that can handle the intense, uneven heat of an open flame.

Tips for charcoal and campfires:

  • Build a bed of coals — For even heating, spread the coals evenly beneath your cast iron

  • Preheat over medium coals — Wait until the coals are glowing red with a layer of white ash before cooking

  • Use a grill grate — Place your cast iron on a sturdy grill grate over the fire, never directly in the flames

  • Watch for hot spots — Open fires heat unevenly, so rotate your pan occasionally

  • Keep the handle cool — The handle gets extremely hot — always use an oven mitt or heat-resistant glove

Oven Use

Lodge cast iron is oven-safe up to 500°F. This makes it incredibly versatile for recipes that start on the stovetop and finish in the oven — from seared steaks to baked cornbread.

Tips for oven use:

  • Preheat the pan — For breads and cornbread, preheat the empty pan in the oven before adding batter for a crispy crust

  • Use mitts — The handle will be just as hot as the pan — always use oven mitts

  • Glass lids are oven safe up to 400°F — If your pan has a glass lid, check the maximum temperature rating

  • Avoid thermal shock — Never move a hot cast iron pan directly from the oven to a cold surface or cold water, as this can cause cracking

What About Enameled Cast Iron?

We recommend using enameled cast iron on any stovetop (gas, electric, or induction) and in the oven. However, we do not recommend enameled pieces for outdoor use because gas grills, smokers, and campfires can affect the finish of enameled cookware.

Universal Tips for Every Heat Source

Regardless of where you’re cooking, these rules apply:

  • Preheat gradually — Cast iron performs best when heated and cooled gradually

  • Rarely use high heat — Cast iron rarely needs to go above a medium heat setting when properly preheated

  • Match pan size to burner — Always match the pan’s base size to the stovetop heat zone to maximize efficiency and prevent overheating of the pan sides or damage to the handles

  • Lift, don’t slide — This protects both your cookware and your cooktop

  • Never use in the microwave — Cast iron should never go in the microwave

  • Handle with care — Cast iron handles get extremely hot on every heat source. Always use a dry thick cloth or oven mitt when lifting

Still Have Questions?

We’re here to help you get the most out of your cast iron on any heat source.

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Lodge Kitchenware is an independent online retailer of genuine Lodge® products and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or sponsored by Lodge Manufacturing Company. Lodge® is a registered trademark. All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners.