Smithey Hand-Forged Carbon Steel Skillet, 12"

Did my research on carbon steel vs. cast iron vs. stainless steel. I knew what I was getting myself into: a diva pan that has rules I have to follow to the T so that it stay non-stick forever. I've already cooked fish, made a bean dip (with tomatoes *gasp* the acidity!), seared steak + scallops, etc. It has been a great pan to work with and it gets HOT, which is what you need to sear! I have an electric stove so I was hesitant to buy this but I contacted Smithey directly and they've been an awesome resource with all of my questions (from electric stove to cleaning). I definitely recommend this pan and don't hesitate to reach out to them with questions.

This skillet is easily the nicest piece of cookware I have ever owned. Right out of the box it was well seasoned and already nonstick. The smoothness of the cooking surface is amazing and it is heavy enough to retain heat (the handle though never gets more than warm even when I was cooking with high heat). It is also beautiful to look at!

I’m not sure what makes this pan non-stick, but it puts other frying pans to shame. It can get very hot, is surprisingly non-stick and is on the spectrum of cast-iron without being too heavy. The handle does not get too warm either. The one down mark is it’s just a bit too shallow. Other than that, it is superlative.