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Question: Baking Steel or Lodge Cast Iron pizza pan or griddle

Handcyclist
Handcyclist Posts: 77
in EggHead Forum
What is the difference between a baking steel and a Lodge cast iron pizza pan or flat griddle?  Both tolerate high heat, do they function in different ways or do they bake/brown/create a crust in the same way?  
Knox, PA, Medium, Mini Max, Mini, Large KJ, grandma, handcyclist, eagle watcher, always in search of good chocolate.  
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    Cast iron and carbon steel do behave differently.

    Steel transfers heat much more effectively, hotter and faster.

    Steel makes baking in the egg more difficult for the NY style pies favored on the egg.  Thin topped cracker crusts work well here.  

    CI is less efficient, takes longer to preheat, cool, gives you more time for the NYer style pizza bakes on the egg.

    Kenji from Serious Eats rated the Lodge CI pan highly, over stone even.  I respect his opinion when it comes to pizza.  

    CI would be my recommendation.  Then later on, if you want to explore, pick up a baking steel.

    The baking steel makes for a better griddle on the grill.  
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • Handcyclist
    Handcyclist Posts: 77
    Thanks--new to all this cooking science and equipment but loving the eggs!!

    Knox, PA, Medium, Mini Max, Mini, Large KJ, grandma, handcyclist, eagle watcher, always in search of good chocolate.  
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  • Focker
    Focker Posts: 8,364
    edited March 2016
    No problem.  Have pushed steel probably harder than anyone with pizza on a grill.  Have gotten it to work with a wide open egg and Neapolitan dough.  Not for the faint hearted, and not a true NP(3 minutes), but edible.  Much better, and easier on the Blackstone Pizza Oven.  Would be hard pressed to tell the difference between that, and the egg's lump fired flavor, and even a true WFO for all that matters. 


    I believe both CI and CS have their place in the kitchen on the cooktop, and on the grill.  Nice to have options...the right tool for the right job.  
    Brandon
    Quad Cities
    "If yer gonna denigrate, familiarity with the subject is helpful."

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  • Handcyclist
    Handcyclist Posts: 77
    Again, thanks.  The right tool for the right job is exactly what I am trying to discern.  With limited space and funds, anything that can do double duty is helpful.  Your wisdom has been helpful!!
    Knox, PA, Medium, Mini Max, Mini, Large KJ, grandma, handcyclist, eagle watcher, always in search of good chocolate.  
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