Should a cast iron skillet be smooth or rough?

Fans of modern-day cast iron know that the rougher, pebbly surface is easier to season. Although smooth cast iron cookware may take a little more work to season, both types of pans can be well seasoned. There is no consensus on this debate. It all seems to comes down to personal preference.

What should my cast iron look like?

A well-seasoned cast iron pan should be dark black, shiny, and smooth to the touch. Unseasoned cast iron has a rough look and feel until it is properly seasoned. Here are some sure signs of damage and misuse: It’s covered in rust.

What is the most valuable cast iron skillet?

With antique cast iron, there are certain numbers that are very common and some that are very rare.

• Numbers #3, 6, and 8 are not considered collectible.
• The most desirable pan is #1 – they’re super rare and worth $1,000 each, despite their small size.

Is iron smooth or rough?

Modern cast iron retains that bumpy, pebbly surface. The difference is more minor than you may think. So long as you’ve seasoned your pan properly, both vintage and modern cast iron should take on a nice non-stick surface, but your modern cast iron will never be quite as non-stick as the vintage stuff.

Why is the bottom of my cast iron skillet rough?

The entire concept of seasoning cast iron, which acts as a leveling agent so the proteins won’t adhere to the pan, was a result of home cooks trying to fill in this new, rougher surface. The roughness that you feel on much modern cast iron is sand, which used to be removed during the cast iron production process.

Why does my cast iron look blotchy?

If you use too much oil, you will end up with uneven seasoning on cast iron. Essentially, what happens is too much oil prevents the polymerization process from working as intended, leaving an uneven coating of seasoning.

Should cast iron be matte or shiny?

A well-seasoned cast iron pan should be dark black, shiny, and smooth to the touch. Unseasoned cast iron has a rough look and feel until it is properly seasoned.