Smithey cast iron skillet
what i want to point out with the smithy is that the lid actually doubles as a skillet or a griddle and that i think is really really cool so it not only is this a lid so if you're baking bread or any other recipe that you're making that actually needs a lid you've got one but if you want to make smash burgers which…
Cites versatility
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
In the end, it was one of these pans from a smaller producer that took the top spot. This is the Smithey Ironware number 12.
I recently tested six of the highest-rated cast iron skillets on the market, and according to my tests, Smithey is the best overall. It had the best heat retention, the smoothest non-stick surface, the widest pour spouts, and one of the better-designed handles.
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
If price is not a factor, Smithey is the best overall skillet.
At 105°F, Smithey had the best heat retention, followed by Lodge Classic, Stargazer, a tie between Lodge Chef Collection and Calphalon, and finally, Field, which had the lowest temperature.
after having my 12 and my farmhouse skillet for a year i absolutely love them they're used on a daily basis in my house
Owned 12 months
it's an extremely heavy skillet that retains a lot of heat i typically preheat this for you know 10 sometimes even 15 minutes get it really good and hot and it absorbs so much energy that for searing meat it's fantastic
Two judgements rest on this sentence:
- use-case fit Owns it
- performance Owns it cites heat retention
this is an awesome skillet for roasting in i do casseroles in it i've even done some mild uh frying in it which i bought something new that i'm gonna probably be doing more frying in uh if frying is what i choose to do but like i said it's been it's been outstanding
i've never used the cast iron dutch oven so looking forward to it and like i mentioned about frying this will definitely be like my go-to for future frying over uh the number 12.
Fast math, Hannah, but you get what you pay for. It's a beautiful, highly functional pan.
Cites appearance, versatility
but for us i actually really like the smithy and the reason for that not just the fact that it's really smooth but i love the extra weight to me it's not a big deal and that's the whole reason that we're cooking with cast iron is to get that thermal capacity and i also love the fact that the lid doubles as a griddle…
Cites surface finish, versatility, weight
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
If you want a really nice cast iron skillet, check out the Smithey Ironware number 12 for $200, or for the best buy, check out the Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet for just $43.
Cites price (against)
It was super stick resistant, easy to season, easy to clean, testers loved this pan.
Cites ease of cleaning, non-stick surface, seasoning durability
I've used Smithey for over 2 years, and it's still one of the pans I reach for the most.
Cites durability
Owned 2 years
If you want a skillet with a smoother surface and a more high-end design, and you don't mind spending more to get it, Smithey and Made In are my two favorite premium options.
Cites appearance, non-stick surface
In my tests, it heated slower than some of the thinner skillets, but it retained heat really well.
Two judgements rest on this sentence:
- supports performance Tested it cites heat retention, non-stick surface
- objects performance Tested it cites heating speed (against)
The smooth surface also performed perfect in the egg test. The egg released immediately and slid around the pan without sticking.
Because of that, it's the best overall handle.
Cites handle
I personally prefer the Smithey and think it’s worth investing in a cast iron skillet since it can last a lifetime.
Lodge Classic and Smithey performed similarly in every induction test. Both heated slowly, as expected for cast iron, but neither warped.
Two judgements rest on this sentence:
- supports durability Tested it cites warp resistance
- notes performance Tested it cites base and rim, heating speed (against)
It's not a coincidence that the thicker, heavier pans I tested like Demeyere Atlantis, Fissler and Smithey, performed the best in my warping tests.
Smithey has a raised heat ring on the bottom, which I thought might hurt performance since only part of the pan touches the cooktop, but it didn’t make a difference.
In the cast iron category, I tested three skillets that performed the best in my previous testing: Field Company, Lodge Classic, and Smithey.
Cites noise, non-stick surface, surface finish
Their bottoms stayed completely flat before and after heating, and neither pan made any buzzing or clicking sounds.
but these are all heirloom pieces that will last for generations to come
Cites durability
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
similarly you can see on the back here they pay homage to that right with a stamp on the bottom of your skillet which is pretty cool i like that
Cites appearance
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
it's not to say that these other skillets don't look nice they absolutely do i love the smithy you got some nice touches here with this bird imprint their logo right on the handle you've got nice little touch finishing touches up here beautiful stamps on the back of these so it's not that these skillets don't look…
you're gonna go across the smithy here same you don't feel any bumps at all
Cites heat retention, surface finish
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
now what you'd also expect is that the heavier panes would retain their heat better and that's exactly what happened if we look at the field in the finance they both lost between 180 to 185 degrees fahrenheit over a 15 minute period while the lodge in the smithy only lost 80 to 75 degrees fahrenheit
overall totally satisfied with my purchases i love them they're gorgeous piece uh pieces they don't keep that original like almost like copper hue to it which that's not what i bought them for anyway i like the way they've kind of turned out as they've seasoned their to me still just as pretty as the day i bought them…
Cites appearance, seasoning durability
and then of course the lid so nice looking dutch oven
Smithey costs more but has a polished interior, which is great for eggs, larger pour spouts, and a slimmer, more comfortable handle.
Two judgements rest on this sentence:
- supports handling Tested it cites handle, shape and form
- objects value Tested it cites price (against)
This pan by Smithey is around $200 compared to the Lodge's, $44 a quarter of the price.
Cites price (against)
You can see right here this pan is really smooth to the touch, whereas this one is a little rougher.
Cites surface finish
But if you're looking for a classic cast iron skillet with thick walls that retains heat incredibly well and gives you that perfect sear on meat, you're better off with a brand like Smithy or Lodge.
Cites heat retention, searing and crust
And both of these winners are made in the U.S.
Cites country of manufacture
It was not, however, inexpensive. It was $200.
Cites price (against)
Look at that surface, it's beautiful.
Cites appearance
The cooking surface is nearly as thick as the Lodge Classic, but the sidewalls are much thinner, so you still get a substantial base without the unnecessary weight in the walls.
Cites build quality, handle, weight
The handle is shorter than Made In and Stargazer, but the wide flat shape is comfortable and it gives you control when tilting.
It's heavy and expensive, but it will last a lifetime, so it's worth the investment.
Cites durability, price (against), weight (against)
frying like things like chicken it gets a little sketchy depending on how much oil you put in there um it gets pretty close to bubbling over so anyway this is going to be the way to go in the future
Cites shape and form (against)
A smiddy. Uh, very smooth on that Smitty.
Cites surface finish
not surprisingly because the field and the finex were actually the lightest pans they heated up the fastest and in that initial three or so minutes on the burner we actually got both of those up to around 320 to 325 degrees while the smithy and the lodge only heated up to 200 in the case of the smithy and 225 in the…
Cites heating speed (against)
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
i don't notice a ton of difference between these three all of them have nice rounded edges so that when you're holding the pan your handle isn't actually digging into your hand that much so i don't notice much of a difference across these skillets but the finex is really a standout in this category
Cites handle, lid, shape and form
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
you'll see both the smithy and the lodge have pour spouts built right into the sides so you can pour anything out either side whether that's something that you're cooking in the pan that you need to pour out or whether that's the residual grease from a cook so that's really handy
same with smithy comes with a designated lid
One thing to know about Smithey Made In and some of these other skillets with smooth cooking surfaces is that the seasoning can be harder to build evenly at first. It can look blotchy or fade in spots, but over months of cooking, it gradually darkens and evens out.
Cites rust resistance (against), seasoning durability (against)
In the warp test, the center bowed outwards slightly after heating, but the heat ring kept it from extending far enough to make the skillet wobble. so it stayed stable on the cook top.
Cites base and rim, warp resistance
The three with the smoother surfaces, especially Smithey and Stargazer, tend to get blotchy, and their seasoning fades, especially when cooking on high heat.
Cites seasoning durability (against)
one other thing i just want to mention regarding the smithy 12 i weighed this and i weighed my lodge which is equivalent in size there is 18 ounce difference between the two pieces that's pretty significant i'm sure that plays a huge role in the heat retention of that pan
Cites weight
the weight of the finax was 7.7 pounds the smithy came in heaviest at 8.6 the field and company was the lightest at 5.6 pounds and the lodge was the second heaviest at 8.1 pounds
Cites weight
BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
you compare it to the finex you compare it to the smithy you really notice that you're holding a heavy cast iron pan
That was among the heaviest of the pans from smaller manufacturers.
Cites weight (against)
Both are made in the USA, but Lodge is significantly cheaper and has a rougher surface that holds onto seasoning well.
Cites country of manufacture
The three holes in the helper handle give it a unique look.
Cites appearance
I’ve been using Lodge, Calphalon, and Stargazer for years, and Field and Smithey for several months, and all 6 skillets perform really well.