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Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining

IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan: why I changed my mind after low-oil pancakes

Reviewed: IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying PanRegional reference: IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan (US)

I liked my 28 cm IKEA VARDAGEN cast-iron pan at first. With little oil, though, the center stayed dry and my pancakes tasted less fragrant.

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Second update: I’m taking back my positive review. The raised center is quite obvious. It seems most flat-bottomed cast-iron pans may be like this, but when I use little oil, it always runs away from the middle, so pancakes cooked in the oil-free center do not taste as fragrant.

First update: I originally thought 28 cm would be very large, but it is actually just right to use.

From photo 10 of the original post onward, the pan is a 19 cm Nitori cast-iron pan, which I bought at first to try cast iron. It is easy to use and inexpensive.

I could use both pans every day.

Source: 上校的小金鱼 · Xiaohongshu · 2026-05-06 · 宜家铸铁锅（小踩雷）. Search this Chinese title in Xiaohongshu to find the original post.

Before You Buy

Models in your region

The owner’s 28 cm IKEA VARDAGEN is from the cast-iron frying-pan family sold in the US as an 11-inch pan. The Chinese and US versions share the same dimensions and all-metal, two-handle design; the exact article number of the owner’s pan is unshown.

Model in this review Related regional model What to know
IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan (US) The US 11-inch cast-iron VARDAGEN has a long handle, helper loop and pour spouts and works on gas, induction, ceramic and electric cooktops and in the oven. The author’s 28 cm pan matches this regional family; its exact article number is unshown.
Model in this review
IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan
Related regional model
IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan (US)
What to know
The US 11-inch cast-iron VARDAGEN has a long handle, helper loop and pour spouts and works on gas, induction, ceramic and electric cooktops and in the oven. The author’s 28 cm pan matches this regional family; its exact article number is unshown.

What the low-oil result means

The owner’s changed verdict concerns pancakes made with little oil: oil moved away from a perceived raised center, leaving the middle dry and the pancakes less fragrant. The post gives no flatness measurement, oil quantity or demonstrated remedy, so it does not establish the cause or a defect shared by every VARDAGEN.

For cooks who prefer very little oil, the useful question is whether fat remains beneath the food across the cooking surface. The owner’s concern was the dry middle during pancake cooking, even though the same pan also appeared in other everyday meals.

How much space does the 28 cm pan need?

The owner expected 28 cm to feel too large but found the size just right. IKEA lists a 28 cm diameter and 54 cm total length including the handles in China; the US dimensions are 11 inches and 21.25 inches. Allow space for the long handle as well as the cooking surface.

IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan · China

Choose the cast-iron VARDAGEN when using this account as a reference. IKEA also uses the VARDAGEN name for carbon-steel and enameled cookware, whose construction and care differ from the oiled cast-iron frying pan described here.

Care and handling

IKEA’s care manual says to wash and dry the pan before first use, coat all surfaces lightly with oil, heat it to no more than 150°C/300°F for at least one hour, and repeat the seasoning process three times when new. For regular cleaning, it specifies hot water and a brush, followed by prompt drying; re-seasoning is advised after abrasive removal of rust or burnt food.

IKEA VARDAGEN Cast Iron Frying Pan · US

The manual also says the handles become hot, recommends pot holders, and advises lifting the pan on glass or ceramic hobs rather than dragging it. It warns against sudden large temperature changes because the bottom might deform. These are preventive instructions, not evidence that thermal shock caused the owner’s oil pooling or that re-seasoning would correct the perceived raised center.

The smaller 19 cm Nitori pan

The owner bought the 19 cm Nitori pan as a first trial of cast iron and found it easy to use. It is the smaller pan shown from source photo 10 onward; the later low-oil complaint concerns the larger 28 cm IKEA VARDAGEN.

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