The Best Accessories for Your Cast Iron Pans

A cast-iron skillet is a great addition to everyone’s kitchen arsenal. We’ve already checked out the best skillets and pans for the job, but how about the best accessories to go alongside your new purchase? Read on to find out more about the best tools for the task.

Cast-iron skillets are pretty straightforward to maintain but that chore becomes even simpler when you have the right equipment to streamline the process. Here, we have a bunch of great items for keeping the pan clean, as well as keeping your hands safe when handling it. Each will make cast-iron skillet ownership that little more satisfying.

Here are the best accessories for your cast-iron skillet.

Steel Spatula: MANNKITCHEN Professional Grade Stainless Steel Spatula ($25)

A spatula is an important tool for safely flipping over your pancakes, hash, or, well, whatever you happen to be cooking. The MANNKITCHEN Professional Grade Stainless Steel Spatula is the spatula for every job. Made of hardened stainless steel, it promises an even surface for lifting.

Its handle is made from a single piece of heat resistant hardwood so you don’t have to suffer, while the stainless steel component of the straight edge means it’s easy to lift, as well as chisel a little if anything happens to get stuck (unlikely as that may be). What more could you need?

Pan Scraper: Pampered Chef Nylon Pan Scrapers Set of 3 ($7)

It’s not a glamorous part of cast-iron skillet ownership but it’s important to scrape the pans clean in a way that doesn’t scratch or damage them. The Pampered Chef Nylon Pan Scrapers Set of 3 removes stubborn, baked on messes from stainless steel, non-stick cookware, and glass, as well as on your skillet.

Such versatility means it’ll fast become one of your favorite cleaning tools. It’s pretty durable and sharp, so you won’t have much trouble scraping off past meals.

Pan Scrubber: NYKKOLA Cast Iron Cleaner ($8)

A chainmail scrubber, the NYKKOLA Cast Iron Cleaner is made from the best kind of stainless steel so it offers superior corrosion resistance. Simply use it to scrub around the surface of your pans, and watch the stubborn dirt lift off. It’s big enough to cover a lot of the surface area, so you won’t have to go around the pan too many times.

Sure, it’s going to look a little disgusting after you’ve finished up, but its many holes mean it’s easy to wash up afterwards. There’s a loop at the top so you can easily hang it on a peg for later use. It also works well on stainless steel, copper, Pyrex, and other non-coated cookware.

Alternative Scrubbing Surface: FlavorMaster Chainmail Scrubber ($10)

The FlavorMaster Chainmail Scrubber works a lot like the NYKKOLA scrubber, but it’s a different shape that may suit your cleaning needs better. A square shape, it’s a little easier to squeeze into gaps and corners of your cast iron pans, and get to those stubborn areas where food has become baked on.

Like the other scrubber, there’s a loop to hook it onto a peg to store it, plus it’s easy to clean and wash afterwards.

Silicone Handles: Evoio 3 Pack Silicone Hot Handle Holder ($10)

Cast-iron pans get super hot. And that’s great for your food, but less so for your hands. Buy the Evoio 3 Pack Silicone Hot Handle Holder and you can wave goodbye to such issues. One of the silicone handles slips onto the pan handle easily enough, with the other two gripping to the sides. Each of the handles protects your hands from -104F to 464F so you should never have another issue.

The handles slide smoothly over the metal of the pan, so you don’t have to worry about skidding. Instead, you get a comfortable and stable grip no matter what you’re doing. The handles are dishwasher safe too or you can easily rinse them by hand.

Trivet Mat: Smithcraft Lucky Plus Silicone Rubber Trivet Mat 2-Pack ($14)

You like your kitchen surfaces looking clean and undamaged right? You need to buy a trivet mat. Buy the Smithcraft Lucky Plus Silicone Rubber Trivet Mat, and you can safely place your cast-iron pan on the kitchen side without worrying about it damaging anything.

The trivet mat is made from 100% BPA free food grade silicone so it’s non-slip, flexible, and won’t cause you or your family any issues. It’s a lightweight mat so you can easily put it aside when you don’t need it, but odds are you’ll always find a good purpose for it. For $14, you get a convenient two pack.

Pan Organizer: Cuisinel Heavy Duty Pan Organizer ($27)

Ok, so you can leave your skillets on top of the cooker all the time but that’s hardly neat looking, right? Buy the Cuisinel Heavy Duty Pan Organizer and you can put them away when not in use, immediately making your kitchen far tidier. This one is a 5 tier variety so you can easily pile up lots of pans and skillets safely.

It’s designed to hold even the heaviest of cast-iron pans thanks to the strong metal used within the design. The entire organizer is 12.5″ long with three 2.5″ slots and one 3.5″ slot.

Iron Conditioner: Camp Chef Cast Iron Conditioner ($12)

Cast-iron skillets and pans don’t need a huge amount of maintenance but one useful thing to do is to season it every once in a while. Camp Chef’s Cast Iron Conditioner is an effective method.

Simply apply a thin coat to your freshly clean and dry pots and pans, and it protects them from environmental wear and tear. It’s like a top up for the pan’s natural seasoning, extending the lifespan and quality of your pan.