No one tests cookware like we do. One of Our Favorite Cast Iron Brands Just Added A New Skillet to Its Lineup. However, at $160 it's just not a practical purchase when you can get a Lodge for about $20. Made in the USA, the Smithey Ironware Company hand makes quality, premium cast iron cookware in Charleston, SC. 4 Beautiful New-School Cast-Iron Skillets We’d Cook With Every Day. Each featuring our smooth polished interior finish, heritage-inspired … By Christina Chae y. April 5, 2018. First of all, the pan is a favorite of one of Southern Living’s own editors. Both products are the absolute top of the line in terms of classic American cast iron. Founder Isaac Morton got started in cast-iron cookware after he received a hand-me-down Griswold skillet and wanted to replicate the level of craftsmanship he observed in older pieces. The Smithey Ironware team spares no effort to design and craft premium cookware which makes you enjoy cooking. In the last 20 years or so, we’ve seen so many cast iron brands pop up to compete with Lodge (which is Kitchn’s favorite cast iron brand and has been around for more than 100 years). Well it's been about a little over 3 months since I received and began using my Stargazer skillet and I figured I'd share a quick update review. Seasoning: The layer of polymerized and carbonized fats between what you’re cooking and raw iron. Featuring Smithey’s signature polished interior surface that is naturally non-stick and easy-to-clean, this Dutch oven combines the best of enameled cast iron heat performance with a surface finish that will never crack or chip - in fact, the interior surface will only get better with use. They don't make cast iron like they used to. So I tried the when $160 Smithey cast iron skillet lent to me by a dear friend and things did not go well at all. The difference can only be felt. Field can still get an excellent sear, but is a little less heavy duty. These skillets are the lightest of the lot. When you hear the phrase “modern cast iron,” you probably think about the Lodge cast iron that’s sold at WalMart, Bass Pro, bigger grocery stores, and even some Texas gas stations in my neck o’ the woods. To test cast-iron skillets, we cooked fried chicken, baked cornbread, and fried eggs, looking for even cooking, and to see how easily the food slid out of the pan. A Farmhouse skillet from Smithey. Of the three new brands, the Field skillets are the ones most reminiscent of Wagner/Griswold/BSR. Pre-seasoned and Easy to Use, right out of the box. One way to categorize cast-iron cookware is by weight. These new makers are creating heirloom pans with clever, modern touches. The Butter Pat and Smithey skillets had some of the most severe sticking, and they also had appeared to the eye to be the least seasoned out of the box, but none of the other skillets performed well enough to declare an obvious winner. 1: Lightweight - Compared to my other pieces of equal size, it's a lightweight. Field. When I saw that old piece, I got it.” Pour Spouts: If present, small areas cast into both sides of the pan meant … Find the perfect ironware for your kitchen today! “I was just taken by the quality of it,” he said. Made in the US from 100% cast iron. But not all cast iron is created equal—you’ll want something that won’t only last, but improve with time. Same goes for the Field Skillet and Stargazer. 8 Chef, No. I would say the main differences are in regards to the weight, finishing, and sizing offerings. How we test gear. Cast iron has become trendy topic for amateur chefs recently. Demand proved so strong that the Farmhouse is now going into limited production as part of the Smithey line. Thankfully, Smithey Ironware has forged a stunning skillet, crafted in vintage style. Let's unbox and review the Smithey Ironware #8 Cast Iron Pan! 12 Traditional skillets. “Up until that point, I didn’t really understand cast iron. Find the perfect ironware for your kitchen today! Go straight to the best and have success right out of the box. Inspired by the beauty of old cookware, Smithey Ironware aims to create elegant and luxurious kitchen pieces with a glassy-smooth surface. We are proud to feature a range of cast iron cookware that includes cast iron pans and cast iron grill pans for searing meat and roasting vegetables, cast iron casseroles for preparing tender, flavorful dishes, cast iron wok pans for making exceptional stir fries, cast iron crepe pans for perfect thin and fluffy crepes, and many more – all are made in Russia and Ukraine. One word to sum it all up: Awesome! Don’t drive yourself crazy with a cheap one and end up thinking you don’t like cooking with cast iron. It comes in different variations, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. From brands like Lodge, Le Creuset, and Smithey, these skillets can last a lifetime. After living with these pieces for some time now, I’d like to give my impressions . It has lived up to everything the company said it would be. Cast-Iron: Iron made with around 1.7 percent carbon, giving it its classic heavy, brittle nature. photo: Kirk Chambers . Made in the USA, the Smithey Ironware Company hand makes quality, premium cast iron cookware in Charleston, SC. Lodge is the brand of cast iron that I first bought when I decided to buy a skillet for camping. Some of these newer brands, though — like Smithey , Finex , and Field — cost about eight times more than Lodge (think: $160 versus $20). Embrace the Smithey experience with our core cast iron skillets. Cast-iron cookware comes in two weight classes: standard and lightweight. Find the perfect ironware for your kitchen today! Released this morning, Smithey Ironware Company’s 8-inch cast-iron skillet is its easiest to handle and lowest priced.. Isaac Morton’s small business, Smithey Ironware, was inspired by a single, decrepit piece of metal: a vintage Griswold cast iron skillet. Looks great, and it's nice to see cast iron manufacturing coming back to the US. For this review, we tested 12-inch skillets. This set includes the first three skillets Smithey was founded with: our No. Smithey Ironware sells beautiful cast iron and carbon steel cookware, and it has put full sets on sale for a short time. A 10-inch cast iron skillet weighs around five pounds. Sure, the cooking surface is machined-smooth, but so are those pans from Field Company, Finex, Smithey Ironware and Stargazer. The Pennsylvannia company’s first skillet is significantly less heavy than competing pans in the craft cast iron market. 14 skillet is the perfect size for baking and grilling. Smithey Ironware. If they matter to you, weigh them out. Smithey pans are beautiful, but are not worth the extra jump in price for me. Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet 2-Piece Set (10-Inch and 12-Inch) Oven Safe Cookware - 2 Heat-Resistant Holders - Indoor and Outdoor Use - Grill, Stovetop, Induction Safe 4.7 … Treat any of these cast-iron pans right, and they’ll serve you for decades. Requires Hand-Washing: You can’t wash your cast iron skillet in the dishwasher; it must be cleaned by hand. Smithey Ironware’s no. 10 Traditional, and No. So he seemed like the perfect person to ask, what's the difference between cheap and expensive cast iron… And because of its weight, if you drop a cast iron skillet, it could damage a tile or wood floor or a countertop … or your foot. I had no idea what I was doing. Some cast iron skillets have a rough, pebbly surface, but if you prefer a smooth cooking surface, the Smithey No. Smithey cast Iron skillet review. I’ve purchased—and used—Field skillets (10”, 12”, 14”), Smithey (8”, 10”, 12”), and Finex (10” with lid, 12” with lid). See the deals and order before they’re gone. Every kitchen needs a cast iron skillet. Cast-iron cookware has been around for a long time, making it a very traditional type of cookware. The other two are similar price ranges, but have different features. Made in the USA, the Smithey Ironware Company hand makes quality, premium cast iron cookware in Charleston, SC. I also want to get some older iron eventually, but I get the draw to newly manufactured pans. At Smithey Ironware, you can discover a vintage line of cast iron skillets of high quality and excellent craftsmanship. There are so many reasons to call Lodge’s cast iron skillet one of the best. 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