For all of cast iron’s advantages—like even heat retention and nearly nonstick behavior over time—bigger cookware can pack too much heft. But Unilloy figured out how to use ductile iron, which has applications in machinery, to develop a revolutionary cast iron pan that’s 50% lighter than your typical cast iron cookware. Their Classic Lightweight Cast-Iron Skillet has a traditional round shape with a gently flared edge. It’s the most aesthetic cast iron we’ve worked with yet—even though the skillet’s walls and handle are remarkably thin, we found in testing that its sleek construction doesn’t significantly sacrifice strength or heat retention. Plus, the skillet is light enough to flip food in, a task we’d otherwise skip in a heavy iron pan.

The skillet comes pre-seasoned so you can use it immediately, but season it routinely to maintain performance. The handle comes with a hole so you can hang up and display your skillet when not in use. Due to the challenging nature of forming cookware from ductile iron, these types of pans are few and far between—and Unilloy’s line is particularly hard to find in the U.S.

Specifications:
Net Weight: 3.3 pounds
Materials: Ductile Cast Iron, Silicone Coating
Dimensions: Base Diameter: 7.9 inches; Inner Diameter: 11 inches; Bottom Thickness: 0.09 inch
Place of Origin: Japan

Care: Wash after use with warm water. Use a coarse salt or a chainmail scrubber if needed to remove stubborn food. Dry throughly then coat lightly with oil. Season routinely to maintain performance.

Award-Winning Cast Iron. Unilloy’s special cast iron has won several awards, including Germany’s 2012 Design Plus Award, Japan’s 2014 Good Design Award, a 2015 Red Dot Design Award (“Best of the Best”) and the 2017 Design Tokyo Product Award Grand Prize.