The elevated carbon content is what gives Cast Iron its signature bumpy textured surface. Cast Iron also contains more carbon than Carbon Steel, usually 2–3.5%. Because the pores are shallower than Cast Iron, the seasoning is much less dense and acidic foods can strip this more easily.Ĭontrary to its name, Cast Iron is not pure iron but is another alloy of iron and carbon. Because of its surface, it is not recommended that you use Carbon Steel to cook large quantities of acidic ingredients.This won't ruin your Pan, but will require re-seasoning. Carbon Steel is susceptible to corrosion and rust, especially if exposed to water or kept in a humid environment.There are a few things to consider when it comes to cooking with Carbon Steel, especially if you're using this cookware material for the first time. The long, stainless steel handles of our Carbon Steel Frying Pans stay cool for a longer period of time.Due to its composition, Carbon Steel is very durable and will last for years with proper care.A Lodge Cast Iron Skillet of the same size weighs almost 8 pounds. Carbon Steel is more lightweight than Cast Iron, with the 12-inch Frying Pan weighing in at 4.5 pounds.Once seasoned, a smooth, non stick surface makes Carbon Steel easy to cook with.Carbon Steel heats up significantly faster than Cast Iron.Here are a few reasons why Carbon Steel may be a better choice for you than Cast Iron: The lightness and durability of Carbon Steel means that it’s perfect to cook with both in and outside of the kitchen.Ĭarbon Steel has been used in French kitchens for generations, and is just beginning to catch on elsewhere. Our Blue Carbon Steel earns its name from the annealing process that protects the pans from corrosion in transit, which both darkens the metal and lends it a blue tint. Most Carbon Steel Cookware, including ours, is composed of 99% iron and 1% carbon.Ĭarbon Steel has a matte, dark finish. Since stainless steel does not absorb anything, including odors, stains or bacteria, it’s an excellent choice for medical equipment and is a requirement for commercial food handling operations.įederal Steel Supply is your number one choice for carbon steel pipe.Carbon Steel is an alloy (meaning that it is composed of two or more metallic elements) of carbon and iron. Chromium, silicon, manganese, nickel, nitrogen and carbon are generally added in controlled amounts to develop the right strength, ductibility and hardness. Properties of each type is determined by the alloys used, with the base being iron. Like other steel types, stainless steel comes in several grades or types, from austenitic to ferritic to duplex, which is a combination of the former two. It’s made by adding more alloys, but the most important one is chromium. It is stainless steel and will not rust in itself. The third separate class of steel is very well known for many applications and has made its way into kitchen appliances as well as precision equipment. Because of its high carbon content up to 2.0%, ultrahigh carbon steels are extremely well suited for quality knife blades and other cutting tools. Special uses for this steel include cutting tools and blades. Ultrahigh-carbon steel is very brittle and cannot be worked without heat. This property makes it ideal for such various purposes as load bearing springs, cutting edges and wires that must be very strong. High carbon steel is more difficult to weld because of alloys which increase its strength also makes it harden quickly in a flame. Medium carbon steels are used to make rails, axles and pipelines, among other things. They’re still fairly inexpensive to produce and to buy.

A medium carbon product is easy to cut and form by machine. As the carbon content is increased, the product becomes stronger and harder, but more difficult to weld and manipulate with heat. Low carbon steel, which is created by mixing iron with carbon, makes iron stronger but more brittle. Galvanized steel is on the low end of pricing. Galvanized steel is often used in applications that require bending to form, such as buckets or tubs, but it’s difficult to weld or work with in other ways. Sheets of steel are galvanized by dipping them into a zinc bath to prevent rust as well as providing a harder surface. There are several types and grades of steel from soft to hard and each one has its purpose as well as its price.

Black steel vs carbon steel