Once I heard Yeti launched a forged iron skillet, I knew I needed to check it. In any case, Yeti is a significant participant within the gear world, with coolers that’ll hold your meals chilled for days and sturdy and colourful tumblers and mugs that a lot of our editors use and love. Might Yeti’s new forged iron skillet match (and doubtlessly surpass) forged iron heavyweights like Lodge? I acquired my palms on its newly launched 12-inch skillet and put it via a battery of assessments to seek out out. 

The Checks

• Warmth Map Check: I set the skillet over medium warmth on my electrical vary and used an infrared thermometer to take the temperature of the left facet, heart, and proper facet of the skillet’s floor. I did this each 30 seconds for 4 minutes to see how rapidly and evenly the skillet heated. 
• Pancake Check: I made pancakes on the skillet noting in the event that they caught and if it was straightforward to maneuver an offset turner spatula beneath the pancakes to flip them. 
• Fried Egg Check: I revamped straightforward eggs within the skillet, flipping them with a fish spatula and seeing in the event that they caught. 
• Seared Hen Thigh Check: I seared skin-on hen thighs, noting how rapidly and evenly the pores and skin crisped. 
• Seared Steak Check: I cooked two filet mignon steaks within the skillet to check the pan’s searing capacity. 
• Cornbread Check: I baked cornbread within the Yeti skillet, noting if the end result was evenly cooked and if it turned out readily onto a cooling rack. I additionally famous if the skillet was straightforward to maneuver out and in of the oven.

What We Realized

The Yeti Is a New-College Fashion Skillet

Longtime forged iron skillet makers like Lodge and Victoria make pans which might be tough across the edges—actually. Out of the field, these skillets have pebbled surfaces and are oily black from a number of rounds of seasoning. New-school skillets, like these from Lancaster, Discipline Co, and now Yeti, are markedly completely different: They’ve {smooth}, polished surfaces which might be coppery or ashy grey. Whereas they’re seasoned, it’s as much as the cook dinner to construct up that blackened patina. They’re additionally typically lighter than the beefy choices from Lodge. 

I like each kinds of skillets: The Lodge and Victoria carry strong efficiency at an inexpensive worth, whereas the brand new college of forged iron gives glossy, light-weight pans that’ll price you extra. The Yeti falls into the latter class, with a buttery-smooth floor, coppery patina, and comparatively light-weight type. 

Its Efficiency Was (Largely) Good 

As I wrote in my evaluation, forged iron is deceptively easy: “At their core, forged iron skillets are only a large honkin’ piece of steel. No cladding, no nonstick coating—only a strong pan that retains warmth very well.” And the Yeti was no exception. It was adept at getting a golden brown crust on steak and hen, and cornbread baked evenly and launched simply. That stated, I discovered the 5.25-inch deal with quick, particularly since I examined the bigger 12-inch skillet. This made flipping the skillet to take away the cornbread an acrobatic feat, although it did emerge cleanly. It additionally made swirling oil across the pan a two-handed job. 

The pan was principally good at releasing meals, although I did have some sticking with pancakes and eggs. Nevertheless, it’s possible the pan simply wasn’t sizzling sufficient. 

It Heated Up Rapidly and Retained Warmth Effectively 

Forged iron could not warmth evenly, but it surely positive does maintain onto warmth. The Yeti hit 430°F within the heart after 4 minutes, which was spectacular. To not point out it noticed a 97% warmth improve between 30 seconds and 60 seconds, leaping from a 70ºF common floor temperature to 139ºF. It additionally held onto warmth properly, showcased after I seared a number of pairs of hen thighs in a row and every emerged with crispy, golden pores and skin. 

The Verdict

Forged iron skillets are easy and as such, most “flaws” should do with form, weight, and ergonomics. With this in thoughts, the Yeti is a wonderfully acceptable forged iron skillet. It heated up rapidly and retained warmth properly, seared meats properly, and baked cornbread that launched simply. The 12-inch skillet I examined is seven kilos, which is heavy, however the 10-inch skillet is a bit of below 5 kilos, which is on par with the opposite 10-inch skillets I examined in my forged iron pan evaluation. It appears to be like good, with a coppery end and {smooth} floor. My greatest qualm with the Yeti is its worth: The ten-inch skillet is $200, whereas the 12-inch skillet is a whopping $250. You will get implausible efficiency from skillets which might be a lot inexpensive. That stated, if you wish to get your palms on this skillet, it does its job properly.

The Professionals

The Yeti skillet has a big floor space that heated up rapidly and seared steak and hen thighs golden brown. It additionally baked up excellent cornbread, and I had no points with sticking after I turned it out onto a cooling rack. When it got here to frying eggs, I did have some sticking, although the yolks didn’t break, so I’ll name {that a} win. General, the skillet did what it was presupposed to do. 

The Cons

It’s the costliest forged iron skillet I’ve examined. Whereas I did word in my unique evaluation {that a} pricier forged iron skillet isn’t a nasty factor, the 10-inch Yeti is dearer than the heritage skillets I preferred in that testing: The Yeti 10-inch skillet is $200, versus $165 for the Discipline Co 10-inch providing, and it’s not prefer it carried out exponentially higher. Past worth, I did have some sticking after I first used the skillet to cook dinner pancakes, although I feel the skillet simply wanted to be hotter. I additionally had some sticking after I fried eggs, although they did keep entire.  

Key Specs

• Sizes accessible: 8, 10, and 12 inch
• Weight: 7 kilos (12-inch mannequin)
• Deal with size: 5.25 inches
• Thickness: 4 millimeters
• Backside diameter: 10.5 inches
• High diameter: 13 inches
• Helper deal with: Sure
• Pre-seasoned: Sure
• Cleansing: Hand-wash, dry, and rub with excessive smoke level, impartial oil
• Induction-friendly: Sure

FAQs

Does Yeti make a forged iron skillet?

Sure, Yeti has launched a forged iron skillet that is available in eight, 10, and 12-inch sizes. 

What dimension forged iron skillet is greatest?

We predict a 10-inch skillet is an effective dimension for most individuals because it serves two to 4. A 12-inch skillet can turn out to be useful for cooking bigger dishes or teams. 

Why We’re the Specialists

• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Critical Eats 
• She examined forged iron skillets for the location and has been cooking with forged iron for years.
• To check the Yeti skillet, she used an infrared thermometer to take its temperature each 30 seconds for 4 minutes. She made pancakes, fried eggs, seared steak and hen, and baked cornbread. 

Editor’s word: We acquired a press pattern of the Yeti forged iron skillet, however all of our opinions are our personal.