Cast Iron & Stainless Steel Cookware for BBQ, Camping & Outdoor Cooking
Great outdoor cooking doesn't have to stop at the grill grate. Cast iron and stainless steel cookware let you sear, fry, sauté, roast, simmer, and prepare complete meals on compatible grills, outdoor cooking systems, camp stoves, and other suitable heat sources.
Explore skillets, pans, griddles, Dutch ovens, and specialty cookware for backyard BBQ, camping, cabins, RV trips, hunting camp, and everyday cooking. Whether you prefer the heat retention of traditional cast iron or the versatility of stainless steel, quality cookware can dramatically expand what you're able to prepare outdoors.
Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron has been trusted by outdoor cooks for generations. Its excellent heat retention makes it especially useful for searing steaks, frying, roasting, baking, and recipes that benefit from a consistently hot cooking surface.
Cast iron is a natural fit for BBQ enthusiasts, campers, hunters, and anyone who appreciates rugged cookware. Depending on the individual product, cast iron cookware may be suitable for grills, ovens, stovetops, camp cooking systems, and other heat sources.
Stainless Steel Cookware
Stainless steel cookware is another excellent choice for outdoor and everyday cooking. Durable, versatile, and well suited to a wide range of recipes, stainless cookware can be used for everything from sautéing vegetables and preparing sauces to cooking meat, seafood, pasta, and complete meals.
Stainless steel is particularly useful for cooks who want versatile cookware that can transition between different recipes and cooking styles. Always confirm compatibility with your specific grill, stove, burner, or outdoor cooking system.
Cast Iron vs. Stainless Steel Cookware
Cast iron and stainless steel each bring different advantages to your cooking setup. Cast iron is particularly well known for retaining heat and creating an excellent sear, making it a favourite for steaks, burgers, wild game, and other high-heat cooking.
Stainless steel provides excellent versatility and is a practical choice for sautéing, simmering, frying, sauces, vegetables, seafood, and everyday meal preparation. Rather than choosing only one material, many outdoor cooks keep both available and select the cookware that best suits each recipe.
Cast Iron Skillets & Pans
A cast iron skillet is one of the most versatile pieces of cookware for outdoor cooking. Use one to sear steaks, fry bacon and eggs, brown meat, cook potatoes, sauté vegetables, prepare wild game, or bake your favourite skillet recipes.
Once properly heated, cast iron retains substantial heat, making it particularly effective when you want a hot cooking surface for developing a flavourful crust on meat.
Stainless Steel Pans & Outdoor Cookware
Stainless steel pans can handle an enormous variety of meals. Use them for meat, fish, vegetables, sauces, side dishes, breakfast, and other recipes at home or outdoors when the cookware is compatible with your cooking equipment.
For campers and outdoor cooks, stainless cookware can also provide a durable alternative for meal preparation without limiting your setup to traditional cast iron.
Griddles for Breakfast, Burgers & More
Griddles provide a broad cooking surface that's ideal for bacon, eggs, pancakes, burgers, sandwiches, vegetables, steaks, and other outdoor favourites.
A griddle can dramatically expand the versatility of a grill or outdoor cooking station by providing a solid cooking surface for foods that aren't well suited to conventional grill grates.
Dutch Ovens & One-Pot Outdoor Meals
Dutch ovens are outdoor cooking classics. Their deep design makes them excellent for chili, stews, soups, roasts, braised meats, casseroles, bread, cobblers, and hearty one-pot meals.
They're particularly useful at camp or the cabin where preparing an entire meal in a single piece of cookware can simplify both cooking and cleanup.
Cookware for BBQ Grills & Smokers
Compatible cookware can transform a barbecue into a much more versatile outdoor kitchen. Instead of cooking everything directly on the grate, pans and skillets allow you to prepare vegetables, sauces, side dishes, breakfast, seafood, desserts, and complete skillet meals alongside your grilled or smoked meat.
Always check the cookware manufacturer's instructions before using a pan, skillet, griddle, or Dutch oven on a grill, smoker, open flame, or other high-temperature heat source.
Cookware for Camping & the Cabin
Reliable cookware is an important part of any serious camp kitchen. Cast iron and stainless steel options can cover everything from morning bacon and eggs to steaks, potatoes, chili, pasta, vegetables, and complete evening meals.
The best choice depends on how you're travelling, the heat source you're using, and what you plan to cook. Cast iron provides excellent heat retention, while stainless steel can provide versatility for a broad range of outdoor recipes.
Cookware for Hunters & Wild Game
Cast iron and stainless steel cookware are both useful for preparing wild game. Cast iron is particularly well suited to high-heat searing of venison, elk, moose, and other red meats, while stainless cookware provides versatility for sauces, vegetables, braised dishes, and complete field-to-table meals.
Use the appropriate cookware for venison backstrap, elk steaks, moose, wild boar, duck, goose, sausages, burgers, and other game harvested throughout the season.
Choosing the Right Outdoor Cookware
Consider what you cook most often and where you'll be using your cookware. Cast iron is an excellent option when heat retention and searing performance are priorities. Stainless steel is a versatile choice for a wide range of cooking techniques and recipes.
For the most versatile outdoor kitchen, combining cast iron and stainless steel gives you options for everything from high-temperature steak searing to sauces, vegetables, breakfast, seafood, and slow-cooked meals.
Complete Your Outdoor Cooking Setup
Pair your cookware with grill tools & utensils, grill baskets, trays & racks, BBQ rubs & seasonings, sauces, thermometers, smoking woods, and other outdoor cooking essentials.
Explore the complete Outdoor Cooking department for cookware, BBQ equipment, grilling accessories, seasonings, sauces, smoking supplies, and more for the backyard, campground, cabin, and hunting camp.
Cast Iron & Stainless Steel Cookware FAQs
Which is better, cast iron or stainless steel cookware?
Neither material is best for every cooking situation. Cast iron offers excellent heat retention and is particularly useful for high-heat searing. Stainless steel is highly versatile and works well for many everyday cooking techniques. Having both gives you more options.
Is cast iron good for cooking steak?
Yes. Cast iron's excellent heat retention makes it particularly well suited to creating a strong sear on steaks, burgers, venison, elk, and other meats.
What is stainless steel cookware good for?
Stainless steel cookware can be used for a wide variety of recipes, including meat, vegetables, seafood, sauces, pasta, breakfast, and side dishes. Its versatility makes it useful both at home and in compatible outdoor cooking setups.
Can cast iron and stainless steel cookware be used on a BBQ?
Many cast iron and stainless steel cookware products can be used with compatible grills and outdoor cooking systems. Always follow the cookware and grill manufacturers' instructions because construction, handles, coatings, and temperature limitations can vary.
Can you use cast iron over a campfire?
Cast iron cookware specifically designed for direct-fire cooking can be an excellent choice for camping. Check the manufacturer's instructions before placing any cookware directly over an open fire.
Is stainless steel cookware good for camping?
Yes. Suitable stainless steel cookware can be a durable and versatile option for camp kitchens, RVs, cabins, and other outdoor cooking setups.
Is cast iron or stainless steel better for wild game?
Both can be useful. Cast iron is excellent for high-heat searing of venison, elk, moose, and other meats, while stainless steel provides versatility for sauces, vegetables, braising, and complete meals.
How do I care for cast iron cookware?
Traditional cast iron should be cleaned according to the manufacturer's directions, dried thoroughly, and seasoned as recommended to protect the cooking surface and help prevent rust.
How do I care for stainless steel cookware?
Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions for your specific cookware. Cleaning recommendations can vary depending on construction, finish, handles, and other components.
Where can I buy cast iron and stainless steel cookware in Canada?
Leapfrog Outdoor carries cast iron and stainless steel cookware along with BBQ tools, outdoor cooking accessories, seasonings, sauces, smoking supplies, and other cooking essentials with shipping available across Canada.
