For any home cook — even if, for you, that just means making scrambled eggs and pasta — there are a few essential tools that are a must. A knife and cutting board are chief among them, but equally as important is a stovetop vessel. While big box stores are full of flimsy pots and pans hawking “miracle” nonstick surfaces, we prefer to go old school. Cast iron pans, unequivocally, are the queen of the kitchen.
With formidable heft, even cooking surfaces and natural non-stick that comes from oil absorption in the pan — not creepy chemical coatings, thankyouverymuch — cast iron pans are our favorites to cook with. That said, not all cast iron pans share the same level of quality and craftsmanship. There’s a lot of sub-par cast iron out there, some of which still come with high price tags.
But a few companies get cast iron pans just right: ingenious design features, a beautiful shape, and amazing construction all in one beautiful, functional package. One of these is Stargazer Cast Iron, from right here in Pennsylvania, and they make some of the best cast iron pans in the game!
Headquartered in Allentown, PA, Stargazer was founded by Peter Huntley in 2015. Almost immediately, the company’s products resonated with people, ranging from casual cooks to cast iron aficionados, and the growth of the brands has been formidable. Just check out Stargazer’s Instagram page to see how their nearly 30,000 followers are constantly tagging them in their food photos! We love that a cookware brand so focused on quality and craftsmanship calls Pennsylvania its home.
We were excited to get the chance to speak with Huntley to learn more about Stargazer’s beginnings, and to dig into some of the technical and design features of the pans that make them so special.
PA Eats: Can you tell us a bit more about your background? Did you grow up in Pennsylvania?
Stargazer Cast Iron | Kickstarter Video
Where are Stargazer skillets made?
Each Stargazer skillet is cast at the foundry in Wisconsin, precision-machined in Ohio, and hand-finished and seasoned with a special blend of canola, grapeseed, and sunflower oils in Pennsylvania. They are durable and versatile enough to be used on multiple cooking surfaces, including the stovetop, oven, grill, or campfire.
What is a Stargazer Cast iron skillet?
Each Stargazer Cast Iron skillet is hand-seasoned with two coats of a blend of canola, grapeseed, and sunflower oil. This results in the unique signature bronze color (most pre-seasoned cast iron skillets are black). The bottom of the skillet is slightly concave, but it’s so subtle that you won’t notice it.
Where are cast iron skillets made?
CAST IRON COOKWARE MADE in the USA. American made cast iron skillets, dutch ovens, lids, and more. Seasoned, polished, enameled.
What size is a stargazer Skillet?
This is our large-size skillet, perfect for family dinners, comparable to a vintage size #10. Introducing our 13.5-inch braiser. It features a wide base, shallow sloped sides and two short handles. Cast iron skillets made in the USA: Stargazer is based in Allentown, PA.