Comparison between cast iron and forged pans I am on the search for a good general purpose frying pan.
However, I can't seem to find a comparison between cast iron and forged pans. I know that cast iron pans perhaps have longer life span but need seasoning while forged pans are lighter with less maintenance needs.
Is there a more thorough comparison between these two types or any advice why a person should go for the one vs the other?
Cast iron and carbon steel (aka “forged iron”) are fairly similar. Both require seasoning for best results, and can produce a decent non-stick effect when properly seasoned; both have high heat capacity but mediocre heat conduction; both are quite durable. Carbon steel is somewhat more lightweight than cast iron, making it more versatile (you wouldn’t want to flip the contents of a large cast iron skillet one-handed). Additionally, modern cast iron pans are rough-textured, which can make them  more difficult to effectively scrape with a spatula.
I own and use both. These days I use carbon steel much more than cast iron.