Is Cast Iron or Carbon Steel Better for Searing After Smoking?
Picture this: you’ve spent hours nursing a Kurobuta pork chop on your smoker at a gentle 225°F (107°C). The meat is rosy, tender, and infused with a whisper of hickory. You pull it at an internal temperature of 110°F (43°C) — just shy of the final goal. Now comes the critical moment: the sear. A blazing hot pan, a knob of butter, and a sizzle that transforms that pale surface into a mahogany crust. But which pan should you be reaching for? The smoking community has strong opinions — and they’re overwhelmingly in favor of cast iron. Yet carbon steel has its own loyal fans. Let’s settle this once and for all.