Stargazer Cast Iron 10.5-inch skillet. Dustin White photo

Dustin White
Editor

Cast iron cookware has become exceptionally recommended and touted as essential for any kitchen. In the last decade and a half, cast iron sales have increased by more than 225%. Yet, in the United States, after decades of having fallen out of favor, only one major producer of the cast iron cookware had survived. That trend has now changed, and one of the new kids on the block is Stargazer Cast Iron.

Founded in 2015, by three friends, the goal was to create “the best cast iron cookware around.”

At first, it began as an obsession. Peter Huntley, a professional designer and hobby cook, had been searching for what he deemed was the perfect skillet. Yet, nothing quite filled his need. So instead, he decided to create his own unique cast iron skillet, starting from the ground up.

Enlisting the help of two friends, they brought to life their vision, and Stargazer Cast Iron was born. Working with a sturdy foundation, they took the materials and manufacturing processes that had been used for over a century, and worked to revitalize the design.

Their belief is that they “have created the finest cast iron skillet available today, or anytime for that matter.” A lofty claim for sure, but one to which they rise to.



First Appearance and History
The Stargazer cast iron skillet is clearly different right out of the box. Two big things stick out. The first is the handle, which is a thinner, forked piece of iron with a nice curve to it. According to Stargazer, the purpose of the handle design is to allow air circulation, allowing it to keep cooler longer.

The second thing that sticks out is that the interior of the skillet has been machined to a smooth finish. The purpose of this smooth finish is to make it more non-stick, as well as to make cleaning easier.

A bit of history. Many early cast iron cookware also featured a smooth finish. However, as the United States entered into World War II, a change began to occur in the cast iron industry. With the U.S. increasing production of material for the war, the highest quality iron began to be diverted away from cookware.

The diversion would cause a strain on various producers of cast iron cookware, and coupled with the introduction of teflon coated cookware, the industry saw nearly all of the major producers collapse, or sold off, only later to meet the same fate.

In order to survive, those producers that were able to continue needed to adapt. Part of that evolution was changing the manner in which the cast iron cookware was produced. A major change was that the interior was no longer ground to a smooth finish, as it reduced a step in the process, making it cheaper to produce.

The seasoning also would be applied in a different manner, specifically through a mechanical process. Doing such allowed for the seasoning to be applied more quickly, but it was soon discovered that when applied to a smooth finish, the seasoning would often wear away quickly, thus the courser finish had a second purpose.

Today, the market has once again changed, and there is a desire for the more vintage product, which Stargazer has achieved.

Getting ready for the initial test of the Stargazer skillet. The maiden voyage with chicken breast. Dustin White photo.

Initial Review
Currently, Stargazer Cast Iron has one initial product, which is a 10.5-inch skillet. It is shipped either bare, or seasoned, as was the one I received.

Generally, when I use a new piece of cast iron, whether it is seasoned or not, I like to add a bit of extra seasoning to it before I really start to cook with it. While the seasoning applied in the factory is often good enough, it usually isn’t enough for the vessel to be truly non-stick.

This is something that Stargazer realizes. While the skillet I received had been hand seasoned, the instructions that came along with it in the box suggested using a little bit of extra oil during the first uses. Wanting to test the skillet as it was intended, I decided to follow those instructions and move forward.

To put the skillet through its paces, I decided to first start off by cooking chicken breasts. I wanted to make sure that the pan could nicely brown the chicken, while also not overly cooking it; a task that was accomplished quite nicely.



Cooking with the Stargazer skillet was pleasant; however, during the initial run, it wasn’t as non-stick as I would have desired. After using the skillet throughout the week though, that was no longer an issue, as the seasoning had built up enough. Even after just the second time of cooking with it, I could see a remarkable improvement, to the point that it has become my go to skillet.

However, one of the claims I really wanted to test out was whether or not the handle did remain cooler. It was the one claim that I had my doubts about. While I could see it making a slight difference, for at least a little while, I couldn’t see it having a long term effect. To put it simply, I was wrong.

Cooking with the skillet for over an hour, I was amazed that I could still grab the handle and maneuver the skillet. I could even pick the skillet up by the handle, and while it was getting quite hot, I could move it off the burner. Removing the skillet completely from the stove, I did have to use a pot holder, but the effectiveness of the simple design is astonishing.

The other claim I wanted to test was whether or not a smooth finish would make cleaning easier. While cast iron cookware isn’t known to be all that hard to clean, at least for the most part, making it easier at all would be helpful nonetheless.

To push this a bit, I decided to allow a mixture of onions and vegetables to over caramelize, and burn. The result was a mess that was firmly stuck to the bottom of the skillet. After letting the skillet to cool off, a little bit of soap, water, and some elbow grease quickly cleaned it off. It was one of the easiest cast iron skillets I’ve cleaned yet.

Overall
Stargazer stated they have the belief that their cast iron skillet is the finest available. It is a lofty claim, but one they certainly rise to achieve. They took a vintage approach to cast iron cookware, and truly elevated it.

The design has some great advantages, which allows it to be a bit more versatile, and simply easier to use. Its a sturdy piece of cookware, and even with a bit of abuse from time to time, it should easily last decades.

In the kitchen, it is a great addition, and for me, it is becoming my go to skillet. It’s large enough for my family of four, and is a quick and easy clean for those times I’m in a rush. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a quality skillet.

For more information, or to order a skillet, go to www.StargazerCastIron.com.

For those interested in cast iron cooking outdoors, we will have a full review later this summer, where we put the Stargazer skillet to a field test.