How to Use a Cast-Iron Skillet on Your Grill—a Cooking Trick You'll Use All Summer Long

You already know that using your grill is one of the best ways to cook dinner during the summer. Not only are you guaranteed a delicious meal, but taking your kitchen outdoors keeps your house cool. What you might not have known is that your favorite cast-iron skillet can come outside with you. If you're limiting yourself to only cooking items that won't fall through the grates, you're missing out on a whole category of easy eats: think delicate seafood, saucy side dishes, and even baked goods like cornbread.

Why You Should Grill With a Cast-Iron Skillet

Anything an old-school cast-iron skillet can do on the stovetop or in the oven is fair game on the grill. After all, this tough-as-nails pan was invented back when cooking over a fire was the only option—so the fact it performs well over the comparatively tame flames of a gas or charcoal grill shouldn't be a surprise.

Never Use a Stainless-Steel Skillet on the Grill

If you're wondering if a stainless-steel skillet could play understudy for cast iron, the short answer is no. Stainless-steel pans can only withstand up to 500 or 600 degrees Fahrenheit before warping and discoloration occur. While most gas grills won't go beyond 550 degrees, a charcoal unit can get as hot as 700 degrees. Our best advice? Take your cast-iron skillet to the grill—but keep your stainless-steel pans in the kitchen.

What to Grill in a Cast-Iron Skillet

Not sure what to make when cooking with your cast-iron skillet on the grill? We have a few ideas.

Fish

Fish is a great place to start. Seafood can be tricky to cook directly on the grill: It's delicate and can stick to the grates—and if you're cooking smaller fish (like shrimp), they might even fall through. Using a skillet allows you to cook them safely and securely. Another bonus: Cooking fish outdoors brings the added bonus of avoiding a fishy odor inside your home.

Recipes like our Skillet-Fried Trout and this Mediterranean-inspired fish skillet were developed to go from grill-to-table, so you won't need to play any guessing games with temperature and timing.

Multi-Dish Meals

Using a skillet on the grill is also a great way to make a complete dinner happen fast. Grill steaks on one area of the grill while you cook a side of Cherry Tomato Crisp on another—or grill burgers at the same time you sautée mushrooms to top the burgers.

Easy Baked Goods

If you're craving cornbread to go with those grilled pork chops, or really want to make a baked fruit dessert (but don't want to turn on the oven), rely on your trusty cast-iron skillet and grill. An easy cornbread is well-suited to the skillet; the cast-iron gives it a delicious crust, and the grill provides all the heat it needs to bake. Looking for some last-course magic? There are plenty of fruit desserts to make on the grill, from a berry grunt to a peach crumble. You will need to go inside to fetch the ice cream, though.

How to Adapt Skillet Recipes for the Grill

When it comes to adapting your favorite skillet or oven recipes to the grill, don't overthink it. Just follow these guidelines:

• If a recipe tells you to heat your skillet over medium-high heat, as is the case when making this Corn-and-Zucchini Sauté, turn your grill to medium-high and monitor the built-in thermometer that is standard in most grills (you'll want it to be around 400 degrees Fahrenheit). Put your skillet on the grill, add the oil, and wait for it to become thin and "shimmering" in the pan; that's the visual cue you need to add the ingredients.
• For recipes that call for medium-low and medium, go with 300 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.
• Once your grill reaches 425 degrees Fahrenheit or above, it is hot enough to char vegetables for a stir-fry or get a nice sear on a pork chop.
• To convert an oven recipe to the grill, it's even simpler: Just close the lid.

As you can tell, it's easy to use your cast-iron skillet on the grill—and doing so opens up a whole world of dishes you can cook outside. As you begin using this new technique, be vigilant about checking the thermometer to see if the temperature fluctuates and adjust the heat as needed. Also, rely on visual cues when necessary. Most of all, enjoy the newfound freedom of grilling lots of different dishes you haven't made outdoors before.