Finex Cast Iron Review

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Cast iron cookware is unlike nonstick pieces. The latter will last you a few years at best and then, they will need to be replaced. But the former can last you decades. So, if you don’t like throwing away pans every now and then, you should make a switch to cooking with cast iron. This type of cookware is generally very affordable but in recent years, things have started to change a little with more options available to consumers. There are now high-end cast iron cookware on the market with manufacturers giving it a lot more thought into their design and construction. The Finex cast iron review below will explore one of these high-end cast iron pans to see if it is worth a buy.

Finex Cast Iron Review – What Is Unique?

Being a cast iron pan, it is naturally free of chemical coatings. It is simply cast iron which is seasoned with organic flaxseed oil to give a near nonstick cooking surface. So, you can use it right out of the box without the need to season the pan yourself. It also has a machine-smoothed surface that is polished for easy release during cooking.

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The whole body has a thick construction to give you constant and even heating. It is also great for heat retention and you can use the pan to sear, bake, simmer, braise, and steam. The other good thing is it works on all cooktops including induction.

What makes the Finex cast iron pan unique is its octagon shape and speed cool handle. The octagonal design is to ease pouring and flipping. There are 8 sides for you to fit in a bigger spatula to turn your food and 6 spouts to pour out liquid when you are done. The speed cool handle is to temper heat so that you can do away with the mitten for quick tasks like frying eggs. The handle is stainless steel coiled spring that is designed to be ergonomic and comfortable to hold.

Pros And Cons Of The Finex Cast Iron Pan

Pros

Near nonstick – It comes pre-seasoned and the cooking surface is slick enough for you to fry eggs without it sticking too much to the pan. It doesn’t slide off like those nonstick pans commercial but the sticking is minimal.
Thick – The construction of the Finex pan is thick which makes it retain heat very well.
Smooth cooking surface – Most cast iron cookware have a rough and pebbly surface. But the Finex has improved on this to give you a much smoother cooking surface that helps with the nonstick aspect.
Octagonal – With more spouts available around the pan, pouring becomes easier. You are not forced to use only 1 spout but you can find the most comfortable position with 6 spouts available. This is simply practical for a heavy cast iron pan.

Cons

Expensive – The Finex cast iron pan is expensive. It is more expensive than a stainless steel tri-ply cookware such as the Calphalon Tri-Ply. In fact, it is closer in price to a 5-ply piece like the All Clad Copper Core.
Difficult to grip handle – Some people like the stainless steel spring coiled handle. Others don’t. Those who don’t find it difficult to grip because it is larger and smoother. So, you need to be careful of slipping if you use a towel to wrap around it during pouring. It also doesn’t stay cool, especially if you are using high heat on a gas cooktop. The flame will heat up the handle, especially on the underside.
Small helper handle – You will need the helper handle because the pan is heavy. But the size of the helper handle is a little too small for a comfortable grip.

Should You Buy A Cast Iron Skillet

Before you splurge your money after reading any Finex cast iron review, do take note of a few common issues with cast iron skillets. Firstly, they are heavy. For those who prefer lightweight cookware, this type of skillets is not for you. A nonstick pan will typically weigh less than 2 lbs. A cast iron skillet will weight at least 7 lbs.

Secondly, you can’t put a cast iron piece into the dishwasher. You can do so with some nonstick and stainless steel pans but not with a cast iron. Not only that, but you will also have to wipe it dry after handwashing. Leaving it wet will cause it to develop rust. That is why you also can’t leave it soaking overnight like you might do with other types of pots and pans when you are too lazy to give them a scrub after cooking.

Thirdly, after washing, it is also a good practice to warm up the pan and then apply a film of oil on it to maintain its seasoned surface before storing. That is part of the work required to maintain the pan in tip-top condition.

Fourthly, you might need to season the pan before use and re-season them occasionally. There are some cast iron skillets like the Finex which don’t require any seasoning out of the box but there are also many others which require you to season them first before use to get a better nonstick surface. Over time, as your cast iron skillet gets scorched, rusted or scratched with use, re-seasoning them will be necessary. Hence, there is maintenance work involved in owning a cast iron cookware.

Lastly, cast iron is not as good a heat conductor as aluminum. Copper cookware is the best if you want more precise temperature control in your cooking. What this means is there will be more unevenness in heat distribution in a cast iron than an aluminum or copper pan. It also takes longer to heat up and cool down.

However, all these should not stop you from buying one. Its durability is one great motivator, especially if you want to go green and contribute fewer nonstick pans to the landfill. You will also get better results for searing meat with a cast iron pan. Neither will it warp or get damaged on high heat, even if you have accidentally heated an empty pan on the cooktop.

Is The Finex Cast Iron Worth It?

Finex is an American brand. Their pans are made in the USA and crafted by hand. So, if you believe in the American quality and safety standards, you might feel that the price is worth paying.

But if you are evaluating its performance against cheaper alternatives like Lodge (which is also an American brand and made in the USA), that is where you might think twice. When we were writing up this Finex cast iron review, the cost of their 12-inch pan is almost 10 times more than the Lodge pan of similar size.

The Lodge skillet may not have a smooth cooking surface and a fancy design but once seasoned, it works as well as the Finex. Thousands of reviews can be found for the Lodge skillet online and the majority are happy with its performance.

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In conclusion to this Finex cast iron review, we will say that the price is a big turn-off. While we understand the pains Finex has taken to make a cast iron pan better, the huge price differential does not justify the little improvement in terms of cooking performance compared to much cheaper alternatives. So, if you are just trying out a cast iron skillet, the Lodge is a good start. It is also a good choice for a simple no-frills cast iron skillet.