If you enjoy cooking at home and enjoy a variety of cookware, you may be wondering about hard nitrided cast iron. This is a fairly new term in the cooking world that many people are very curious about.
When it comes to cookware, many people are very specific about what they like and don’t like. The majority of professional and home cooks prefer cast iron skillets because they are so versatile.
However, this is not always a good option for everyone as cast iron can be both time consuming and very heavy. Many people have to look for other alternatives that have the same properties as cast iron without the disadvantages.
Read on to find out what hard nitriding cast iron is and why you should try it if you enjoy cooking at home.
What are hard nitriding cast iron pans?
If you have enjoyed using cast iron pans in the past, you may have heard of hard nitrided pans. This is a process that frying pans go through to create hard nitrided cookware that is very durable yet lightweight.
This process is a heat treatment process used for various types of cookware. It diffuses nitrogen into the surface of the metal and creates a very hardened surface.
This process can be used to treat alloy steel, aluminum, molybdenum and titanium. Some people refer to this type of cookware as cast iron because they share many of the same characteristics.
These heat-treated pieces of cookware may not be real cast iron, but they share many of the same characteristics. As they retain a lot of heat, are durable and can take a lot of wear and tear, all without the downsides.
The cast iron frying pans are very popular, they can have many disadvantages. Mainly due to the fact that they require a lot of work since they cannot be washed like regular cooking pots.
Cast iron skillets need to be seasoned and carefully washed and dried in a specific way. They are also very heavy and can be difficult or even dangerous to move when hot.
Hard nitriding pans don’t have the same disadvantages, although they do have many of the same advantages as real cast iron.
Which hard nitriding brands are the best?
Now that you know what hard nitriding cast iron skillets are, you might be wondering which brand to buy them from. Currently, this type of pan is still considered fairly new and not very well known.
For this reason, most brands do not carry this type of pan yet. There are really only two well-known cookware brands that offer hard-nitriding skillet options for cooks to choose from.
So you will be pretty limited when it comes to the options to choose from. Although these two brands are very popular and well known for producing excellent hard nitrided cast iron skillets.
Brandani hard nitriding cast iron pans
Brandani makes hard nitrided cast iron frying pans that are both beautiful and functional. These are very popular options among those experimenting with this particular type of cast iron skillet.
They are easy to find as a variety of stores carry the products of this brand, making them accessible to the majority of people. They also have the look of regular but quality skillets, without the bulkiness of traditional cast iron skillets.
They’re lightweight and even dishwasher safe while having all the durability of a cast iron skillet. Many customers were very satisfied with their purchase from Brandani and recommend buying hard nitrided cast iron pans from this brand.
Lehman cast iron cookware
The Lehman’s brand is also a brand known for offering hard nitrided cast iron skillets. It’s another popular brand that you can most likely find in a variety of stores, so you can easily buy this cookware.
These frying pans are just as functional and beautiful as the Brandolini frying pans. This makes it difficult to decide between these two popular brands when it comes to buying these particular pans.
The design is very slim and light and offers a more modern option than a real cast iron skillet. They are very durable and come with a glass lid to keep the heat in while cooking different types of dishes.
Hard nitrided cast iron is better
When it comes to choosing the right pan for you, there are many different things to consider first. This is an essential cookware that you will most likely reach for on a daily basis if you enjoy cooking.
Because of this, you want to choose the absolute best pan option for you and what you love to cook. That’s why many are starting to try hard nitrided cast iron pans for themselves.
These frying pans offer durability, toughness, ease of use, easy maintenance and high heat for those who love to cook. You have all the benefits of a cast iron skillet but none of the downsides of caring for one.
They are also considered non-stick because they naturally prevent food from sticking like some pans do. This makes them easy to use when cooking with less oil or fat and when cooking at high heat.
Overall, there are many reasons why hard nitrided cast iron pans are the best type of pan for most cooks. Especially if you are looking for something functional but easy to care for in the long run.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t know what hard nitriding cast iron skillets are, this is a type of skillet that has been heat treated to create a very hard exterior. Create a skillet very similar to cast iron without all the downsides.
These pans are very durable and help generate a lot of heat and keep that heat in the pan itself. They’re also stylish and lightweight, perfect for the modern home cook who doesn’t want to carry heavy loads.
