Meet the Maker: Smithey Ironware
Our trip to Charleston, South Carolina in early 2020 (right when COVID hit and everything was beginning to shut down!) introduced me to a new love…Smithey Ironware.
Beyond the beautiful aesthetic lies a heavy-duty, made-to-last (as in, last forever!) piece of cookware that will perform every cooking task imaginable.
According to House Beautiful magazine, Smithey Ironware has been bringing ‘the sleekest cast-iron cookware you’ve ever seen’ to life. Founder Isaac Morton started the brand when a gift from his sister-in-law piqued his interest in cast iron and thus a full-blown hobby (and brand) was born.
Via House Beautiful magazine:
“At the Smithey Ironware workshop in Charleston, South Carolina these vintage-inspired skillets start out as raw castings with a sandpaper-like surface. These castings (essentially, pieces of metal that have been poured into a mold) come from one of several foundries the company works with. From there, Smithey takes over by grinding each piece down, deburring it (removing raised edges and bumps in the metal), polishing it, smoothing the surface, and, of course, seasoning it with vegetable oil and allowing it to cure, before shipping it out to customers.
Unsurprisingly, the journey from hot, molten iron to beautifully-seasoned cookware requires several hours of handiwork for every individual piece.
“I would say that each skillet easily has more than two to three hours of hand work before it gets into your door, probably more,” Morton explains. “It’s coming from a foundry where people are working on it and it’s being ground there, it’s being ground down here, it’s being machined here, it’s being polished here—there are a lot of hands that touch it along the way before it reaches your kitchen.”
From the Shop
Please note: This item is available for in-store pickup only. Please select the pickup option at payment.
This 12" skillet is destined to be a family heirloom. A bit deeper than the No. 10 with a slightly more open wall angle, the No. 12 is perfect for pan-frying chicken, searing steaks on the range, roasting game and vegetables in the oven, even baking biscuits. A daily companion in the kitchen, the No. 12 is also at home outdoors on the grill or over an open campfire. With Smithey Ironware’s signature polished interior finish, the No. 12 when seasoned is naturally non-stick and free of chemical coatings. Inspired by vintage cast iron and crafted by hand and machine, we believe it’s the best cast-iron skillet on the market. Use it well.
Features:
Satin-smooth, polished finish
Ergonomic handle
Pour spouts
Holes on both sides for hanging
Made in the USA
Dimensions:
Handle to Handle: 18”
Width: 12”
Depth: 2.25”
Weight: 8 lbs
Please note: This item is available for in-store pickup only. Please select the pickup option at payment.
The round roaster is a stunning and versatile kitchen companion designed to move seamlessly from stovetop to oven to table. With a large cooking surface and optimum depth, the round roaster is at home searing pork chops, roasting vegetables, sautéing shrimp, braising short ribs, and even baking a casserole. Hand-forged and limited in quantity, each round roaster is visually unique while sharing fundamental design elements including hand hammered handles with a texture designed for easy gripping and a beautiful pre-seasoned interior finish. With performance that rivals cast iron at a lighter weight, this roaster is a perfect gift for the cook who has everything.
Features:
Hand-forged
Lightweight
Similar care as cast iron
Pre-seasoned
Made in the USA
Dimensions:
Handle to Handle: 15”
Diameter: 12”
Depth: 2”
Weight: 5 lbs.
Please note: This item is available for in-store pickup only. Please select the pickup option at payment.
Inspired by American blacksmith design of the 18th and 19th century, the carbon steel farmhouse oval roaster is designed in collaboration with renowned Charleston artisan and blacksmith Robert Thomas. Hand-forged and limited in quantity, each oval roaster is visually unique while sharing fundamental design elements including hand hammered handles with a texture designed for easy gripping and a beautiful pre-seasoned interior finish. With performance that rivals cast iron at a lighter weight these roasters are both functional and beautiful workhorses for your kitchen. Perfect for roast chicken and vegetables, grilled fish, baked gratins and much more.
Features:
Dimensions:
Handle to Handle: 16.5”
Length: 13.5”
Width: 9.5”
Depth: 1.75”
Weight: 4.5 lbs.
We are smitten with Smithey, no doubt about it. In addition to being the perfect naturally nonstick option for your kitchen, Outside magazine says “You could hang the Smithey Carbon Steel Farmhouse skillet on the wall and never cook a thing…it it weren’t so capable of delivering the perfect sear.”
Come check them out in store or browse our collection online!