You may be thinking, "Well, one is seasoned and one isn't!" And you're right — that is the key difference between our two different AUS-ION finishes.
However, there is also another important difference: their surface texture.
Quenched
To achieve our seasoned Quenched finish, our raw AUS-ION pans are shotblasted to create a slightly textured surface. This provides something for the oil to bond to during the seasoning process, to ensure a strong seasoning foundation. The result is our dark seasoned AUS-ION Quenched finish that's slightly textured and ready to start cooking straight out of the bag.
Best for: Anyone who wants to start cooking immediately without any initial seasoning steps. Great for beginners to iron cookware.
AUS-ION RAW
Our AUS-ION RAW pans don't go through the shotblasting and seasoning process, so their raw iron surface remains completely smooth and bare. While it does require some keying to rough up the surface slightly for a strong initial oven season, it typically still results in a smoother texture — even once seasoned. This smoothness is why some iron cookware enthusiasts prefer RAW pans over Quenched.
Best for: Experienced iron cookware users who want to season from scratch, or those who prefer the smoother texture that comes from starting with bare iron.
Which Should You Choose?
It all comes down to personal preference. If you're new to iron cookware, you may not even notice the difference. They are essentially the same AUS-ION pan after all — just with different finishes! Whether you choose RAW or Quenched, you'll still be able to achieve restaurant-quality cooking in your very own kitchen. Both will develop and improve the more you cook with them.
