Nothing quite beats cooking on a cast iron pan over an open fire outdoors. This is pretty easy to do at home or when car camping, but two brothers set out on a quest to find a way to lighten up the classic cast iron skillet–perhaps in the process making it easier for you to up your cooking game deeper in the backcountry.
The Field Skillet is a smooth, lightweight cast iron pan reminiscent of the best vintage American skillets—but with a modern twist. This is your new everyday pan that will get continuously better the more you use it.
Cast iron is prized for its heat retention, which is proportional to its weight. Heft is a key feature of a great pan, but beyond 5 pounds makes it a chore to transport much further than your kitchen. The Field Skillet measures 2 inches deep with a 9-inch diameter cooking surface (10.5 inches diameter to the outer edge of the pan). All in, the skillet weighs 4.5 pounds–that’s about 1 pound lighter than an equivalent cast iron pan.
Like the best vintage pans (and unlike the rough, pebbled finish of most modern pans), Field Skillets are machined and polished. This reduces weight, increases the fineness of the form, and provides a smooth cooking surface. The pan arrives fully seasoned–the company uses three coats of organic canola oil (100% vegetable oil, no animal products) in the seasoning process.
The Field Skillet is a #8 size–a universal fit for most stove tops. Matching the size of the pan to the size of the burner or flame beneath means that you’ll have more even heat distribution—a key to reducing hot spots. The cast iron pan works with all heat sources: gas range, induction, glass top stove, or campfire.
As pour spouts add manufacturing cost and weight to the pan, the Field Skillet ditches it altogether. A modern, ergonomic handle feels good in your hand whether you’re cooking on the stovetop, over a fire, carrying it to the table, or cleaning and storing.
The Field Skillet is made in the U.S. from 75-90% recycled iron. All scrap iron is remelted for future pours and all sand from the castings is continuously cycled back into production with zero waste.
The team at Field Skillet is currently taking pre-orders via a fully-funded Kickstarter campaign. Right now you can get a hold of your own lightweight cast iron pan for a $90 pledge. Delivery is expected in July.