So glad you dropped by to Flawed yet Functional today! If you’re new here check out some AIP and Paleo recipes here, get the low-down on my health and how I manage it here, and fun DIY projects here. For today, I have a problem that needs solving so I thought I’d run it by you all: how to store cast iron pans. I’ve learned so much over the years of the benefits of using cast iron (and I love how food turns out on them!), but when it comes to the practical aspect of where to put them in my kitchen, I’m lost!
Why Use Cast Iron
Why in the world do I bother cooking on cast iron? It’s heavy, it requires a different type of cleaning than most pans (no soap!), and it’s not ideal for all types of food (like very acidic dishes, i.e. tomatoes).
While, there are many benefits to using cast iron pans, the two most important to me are (1) it puts iron into my food so I never struggle with low iron and (2) it heats up very hot allowing for better crisp and flavor in my cooking. There are so many other good reasons! Check out these lists for more information (1, 2, 3).
Recent Acquisitions
On to the issue at hand! I recently received some new cast iron pans from my grandma’s estate, and I couldn’t have been more happy! I got a #9 skillet, a #8 flat pan (tortilla pan?), a grill press, and an enameled dutch oven. Score of the century, right?
The only problem is now my cast iron collection looks like this…ruh-row.
Now, I have a storage problem. (Perhaps, I should also mention that I have an entire set of Calphalon non-stick pans plus one more dutch oven.) I used to keep the 3 cast iron skillets that I use daily in the oven and the large dutch oven in the buffet in the dining room. Now there are far too many to put in the oven.
The most logical place would be these two deep drawers where I keep my nonstick pans. I don’t use all of these pans anymore (because of copious amounts of cast iron :)), so I definitely need to purge some of those. But then the issue of nesting them, the weight on the drawer, and just plain fitting them in the drawer comes up.
Inspiration for Cast Iron Storage
I took to the good ole internet to see if I could find any creative storage solutions. I love this first rack, but it’s far too large for my drawers. Although, ideally, I would fit them into the large drawers. The drawers are 15″ x 20″ by 10″ deep.
Hanging them on the wall is an idea, but I’m not sure I want them out in the open. I like simplicity and less clutter in my kitchen, so not completely loving this idea.
This is my favorite idea, but I don’t have a cabinet big enough or a vertical rack short enough. Rats!
So there are my thoughts and ramblings on how to store cast iron pans. Lots of questions, not a lot of answers. I’d love your thoughts if you’d like to take a minute or two and comment. What is the best way to store pans??
What do you think? How do you store your pans (cast iron or not)? Do you have a great solution that keeps them accessible? How do you keep your pans from scratching each other?
Hi Emily,
Perhaps by now you have found a storage solution. I have a very small kitchen with limited storage space. I have to stack my skillets in a cupboard or in the oven for storage. I find that a plain inexpensive white paper plate slipped in between pans protects them from scratching one another. Eventually, the paper plate wears out and will need replacing, but it’s better than having the pans out in plain sight.
Thanks for the tip, Mary!
I always worry about the two surfaces nested inside one another. The paper plate is a great idea. I recently had to do a lot of reorganizing for this same reason and opted for the skillet rack that you stand your skillets in. I just purged some things and made room for it and absolutely love it. It’s on the bottom shelf in a lower cabinet but with the handle sticking up I don’t have to bend far to get it and I definitely don’t have to squat down and dig throw several heavy nesting skillets to get the one I want.
That standing storage rack also lays down to store pans.
We are thinking the 6′ hallway wall leading to the laundry room. Pantry shelves are on the opposite side and it’s only a couple steps away from the kitchen. Out of site yet displayed for us to see which pan we’ll choose. We too have our own plus a few hand-me-downs, for which we’re grateful. We are considering a long rough-cut style perhaps (?) board(s) with hand-forged hooks (made by local Mennonite community).