What is a Comal Pan?
A comal is a sort of pan that is used in different types of cooking for different types of food. This kitchen tool is made from iron and is usually heavy. Unlike other pans, this pan is not moved around when cooking due to its heavy nature. Its main use is cooking or heating tortillas. It is originally from Mexican culture.
It is important to be extremely careful with comals. When you use it, its material gets extremely hot and does not cool down as fast as other types of pans. Therefore, it is important to use a rag when getting it off a grill or stove.
Remember, when you purchase a new comal, you have to season it before use. This means cleaning it with warm water and soap, after which you apply a layer of oil on the pan. After applying the oil, place it in an oven, heating it for an hour, at 350 F. Remove the comal after heating and cool it overnight. After you get rid of the residue, it will be ready for use.
Best Tortilla Griddles Comparison Table
| Model | Size(in) | Weight(lbs) | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lodge P14P3 | 14 | 9.55 | USA |
| Victoria GDL-186 | 10.5 | 4.5 | Colombia |
| Mexican Origins | 9.5 | 3.9 | China |
| IMUSA IMU-186W | 9.5 | 4.1 | China |
| Lodge L9OG3ASHH41B | 10.5 | 4.3 | USA |
What To Look For in a Comal Pan
Before purchasing any type of kitchenware, you have to make sure that it can serve you in the right manner. It has to meet all your needs. Therefore, you have to consider several factors before you purchase a comal pan, as noted below.
Size
Comal pans are available in different sizes and shapes. The different sizes allow people to cook or heat food with more than one stove. Therefore, you have to decide what you intend to use the comal pan for and the amount of food you intend to cook or heat. A small one will fit one stove and others might be larger for use on more than one stove.
Material
A cast iron tortilla pan is good for the preparation of certain foods, that the aluminum comal pan might be unable to cook properly. For instance, the cast iron is perfect for the preparation of fajitas.
Shapes
The comal pans are designed differently, for different purposes. Some are concave for the purposes of the food they are used to prepare. You need to identify the food you wish to prepare and the type of comal pan that would work best in the preparation of that type of food. Some pans also have wooden handles to make it easier to handle the pan while cooking.
Also Read: How To Freeze And Thaw Tortillas
Top Five Cast Iron Comal Reviews
Since you know what to look for when choosing a tortilla griddle, you can choose from the list we have prepared. These are the top-rated comal pans in different markets. They have the best customer reviews.
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Best Overall: Lodge P14P3 Large Cast Iron Comal
This cast iron tortilla cooking pan is made by a company known as Lodge based in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. The company has been available for a long time, since the late 80s. Due to this experience, the company has gained great recognition for creating durable, high-quality, and appealing cast iron.
This comal for tortillas is perfect for cooking on campfires, ovens, as well as a stovetop. It has a very wide surface area, surrounded by a relatively thinner wall.
Once you purchase this griddle, you do not have to season it yourself. Lodge does the seasoning for you. The company only uses vegetable oil to season your griddle. No chemicals or other alternatives are used in this process, making sure that you and your family are safe when you eat anything you prepare using this pan.
The 14″ cast iron skillet is easy to care for and maintain. Make sure you clean your pan using warm water by hand. You can choose to use some soap or avoid it altogether. After cleaning it, dry the pan with a paper towel. After you dry it, make sure to apply a layer of cooking oil, especially when it is still warm or hot, then hang it in a dry place.
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Best Multi-Purpose Cast Iron Comal: Victoria GDL-186
Victoria cookware is a company founded in the early 30s. The company boasts extensive experience in the creation of perfect cookware of all kinds and they have one of the best comal pans in the market.
The pan has 10.5 inches of cast iron, which is the feature that supports great distribution and retention of heat, which allows you to prepare evenly cooked food. Thanks to the heat retention, the pan can keep food warm for more than 15 minutes.
To make sure that you can use it immediately you purchase it, the company seasons the comal for you.
The comal is seasoned with natural vegetable oil. The coating does not have any PTFE or PFOA, which might be harmful to you and your family. The oil used, flaxseed, is a vegetable oil that only gets better as you continue to use the comal for your food.
Using this tool for your food is healthy for you and your family. When you use this pan, there are traces of iron that get in your food, which helps in boosting the minerals in your body.
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Best High-End: Mexican Tortilla Griddle
This Mexican cookware is made using 9.5 inches of cast iron, making it heavy and suitable for several purposes. The comal helps you increase the flavor in soft tortillas. The heavy cast iron helps you to maintain an even distribution of heat on the food that sits on the comal. In addition, the heat is retained for a long period, which allows you to cook or heat tortillas, place them on the table for serving, and still have them hot after you finish your meal.
The cooking surface is 9.5 will fit any size of tortilla, which allows you to prepare any size you prefer. In addition, it has a long handle, that will help you balance the comal when cooking and will allow you to move the contents from the stove to the table for serving without burning your fingers.
The cast iron tortilla warmer will withstand up to 500 F in an oven without suffering any damages. Make sure that you maintain the griddle by cleaning it using hot water after using it. Use a brush to get rid of any particles of burnt food. To avoid removing the seasoning, avoid any detergents that might be harsh.
For best performance, make sure that you re-season the comal on a regular basis using a vegetable oil of your choice. Make sure to apply it on the inside and outside layers.
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Best Design: IMUSA USA IMU-186W
This is one of the best comal designs in the market right now. The comal is designed to withstand extreme heat, which allows for the preparation of food that requires any level of heat. The IMUSA USA IMU-186W is capable of withstanding extreme heat, up to 500F, thanks to the 9.5 inches of cast iron used in the creation of this comal.
It has a very appealing design that will help to make the cookware easy to use. For instance, the tools you use while cooking will not be able to scratch the hard surface. Additionally, it has a long handle that will help you turn the comal around when cooking. After you are done cooking, you can easily use the handle to move the comal to the dinner table.
You can use the tool for the preparation of beef, vegetables, tortillas, pizza, chicken, and many more. Do not use it in a microwave. However, you can use it on campfires, stoves, or even in an oven. Make sure to be cautious because the heat is usually extreme.
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Best Affordable Comal Pan: Lodge L90G3ASHH41B
Since 1896, the Lodge Company has been perfecting their cookware, one of which is this incredible must-have griddle. The griddle has a heavy-duty material. The sidewalls are relatively lower and the surface quite wide to accommodate any size of a tortilla.
This large comal has 10.5 inches diameter and 0.5 inches thickness, which allows it to retain heat for longer times. It also distributes heat evenly, which allows you to cook food without burning it. The cookware is meant to last for generations due to its indestructible nature. Use the griddle for cooking or heating food on a campfire, a stove, or even in the oven. However, do not use it in a microwave.
It is one of the top-ranking cookware made in the history of man, mainly because it cooks anything, lasts a very long time, and adds iron minerals to your diet when used to cook or heat anything.
This tool is pre-seasoned by the company, which means that you do not have to do it yourself before using it. The company uses 100% vegetable oil for seasoning. Therefore, you do not have to worry about poisoning when you use it. It also has a silicone handler to help you handle the tool without burning.
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Best Carbon Steel Comal Pan: Mineral B Element 12”
It does not matter if you are making some dessert, snack, or simply breakfast. This pan has a construction that makes cooking easier for everyone. There are several reasons why you should consider getting this pan for your kitchen.
First, it can heat up very quickly and it also distributes that heat evenly to all parts of the pan. The reason for this conductivity is the thickness of the pan and the fact that it is made using aluminum, which will heat up fairly quickly and retain that heat for longer. With that type of heat management, you will be able to cook very fast and your food will cook properly. You will surely have more fun cooking with this comal pan.
It features a nonstick coating. A 3-layer nonstick coating that is free of Cadmium, Lead, PFOA, and PTFE. Safety is very important. This wok will help you to fry and cook your meals without using much fat or oil.
At the same time, the food will not stick to the surface due to the reduced oil. That means that you will have healthy meals prepared using traditional methods.
You might notice that the pan has a handle. This handle is sturdy and firm so that you can move the pan around easily. It also remains cool so you do not need to worry about burning yourself.
Unlike most comal pans in the market, this one goes great with different types of cooktops, including induction. Therefore, you can use it on coal, wildfire, electric hobs, glass hobs, halogen, gas, whatever you have. It features a very unique base that has a stronger ability to collect heat so that the conduction of heat is faster and more even.
The service you will get from Cainfy is great. The pans are tested so that they pass the quality tests before being availed in the market.
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Best Clay Comal Pan: Ancient Cookware
This pan is from Mexico and has been around for a very long time. It is an important tool used in the preparation of tortillas, roasting vegetables, as well as toasting spices. But the application does not end there. You will also be able to sear meat and work on more and more recipes.
These pans are made using authentic clay that is natural and untreated. They are greatly appreciated because of the way they distribute heat slowly so that you can control how your food cooks. As you continue to use this comal, its seasoning gets stronger and more effective. Since it is a clay comal pan, you can always expect the food to have a bit more flavor than your usual pans.
Proper care is important to ensure that you do not mess up the fragile pan. So, if you are using an electric range, use a diffuser.
You must avoid exposing the pan to drastic temperature change because it might crack and break. The best thing to do would be to allow a slow heat adjustment. If you have cooked and completed the cooking process, you should allow it to lose heat by itself instead of pouring cold water on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a Comal Pan?
A comal pan is a cookware that has been available for generations. Its origins are traced to Mexico, where it is still being used for the preparation of food. Comal pans are thick and can be made from a range of materials, which include steel, aluminum, as well as iron. The thickness of the tool makes it indestructible.
The tool is popular because it can heat food using a campfire, an oven, or a stove. You can also find different sizes and shapes of the comal pan. Some are smaller and round, for use on a single stove. However, some are larger and can serve food for a group of people.
2. What is a comal used for?
Mexican comal pan will help you in cooking red meat, vegetable, chicken, tortillas, pizza, and many more foods. Most people prefer it for various reasons, one of which is the addition of flavor to food. When seasoned, the pan will add a flavor to any type of food you cook.
A comal pan is very useful in heating cold tortillas. It provides an even distribution of heat, which will work perfectly in heating any type of food. Due to its thickness and the material used, it retains heat for a long time, which is ideal when serving food.
3. How to clean a comal?
When you finish cooking with a comal cookware, you can easily wipe the surface using a rag or a sponge. To remove any food remnants or burnt food particles, you can use a spatula.
You can clean the comal using warm, or hot water, with the addition of soap. Once you finish scrubbing it down, you should make sure to dry it completely because it can rust very easily.
Occasionally, make sure to add a layer of vegetable oil on the surface so that it remains seasoned properly. Avoid using cold water on the comal when it is hot. Let it cool down on its own before you clean it.
Related: Cast Iron Vs Stainless Steel Cookware
4. How to season a comal?
Before you use a comal, you must season it properly. The first step is to clean it thoroughly, making sure to scrub it well with hot water with soap. Make sure that it is free of rust, or food particles. Make sure that it is completely dry after you clean it.
Warm the pan for a short while and apply a layer of oil inside and outside. Some companies will provide recommendations.
Turn your oven up to 350 F and place the comal inside. Turn down the heat in case of any smoke. Bake it for at least 20 minutes, after which you should turn off the oven and let the comal cool before taking it out.
5. How to use a comal?
A comal is applicable in the preparation of a wide range of foods. The usage is simple.
First, you need to make sure that the comal is hot before you can place anything on it. Therefore, make sure that you heat it well first. If you are using cheese to prepare a dish or cooking oil, make sure that the cheese melts first. For the oil, wait until it is hot.
Once you are ready, you can place whatever you are cooking on top of the comal. However, you need to be cautious about the heat. Make sure that you regulate it. Once you are done, clean the comal.
Conclusion
A comal might be one of the most important pieces of cookware in the kitchen. It is important to make sure that you have one that serves you and your family properly. The durability of the tool is magnificent.
However, it is very important that you care for the comal and maintain it properly so that you can increase the durability. Seasoning it occasionally will also help make your food worth the wait. It is important to take precautions when using this utensil.
Where can I buy a cast-iron comal?
There are very many types of comals from different companies. Make sure to identify the features that would please you and choose accordingly. You can find the comals on several online markets, which include Amazon. Amazon has a wide variety. You can also find several reviews from customers who have used the tool.
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