There was a frying pan that I had always seen in my parents' house. I remember that we used it often but I never asked where it had come from. I would see it among other frying pans and think that it was one of those eccentricities of my mother's, another "gadget" that who knows where it had come from.
In any case, it was an iron pan that attracted me because of its rustic, country-like look. Also, those of you who have been following me for a while already know how much I like iron utensils for cooking! In fact, Claudia&Julia was born mainly to try to recover this type of utensils, since we firmly believe in their advantages when it comes to preparing food.
So, as the project took shape, I also learned the name and history of that iron pan that was in my mother's house. It is a Skeppshult pan , made in one of the last iron foundries that still makes pans in Sweden. If I already loved cooking in it and the way it looked, learning more about the company that makes them left me smitten, and convinced that a manufacturer like Skeppshult cannot be missing from our catalogue.
So we have incorporated frying pans , grills , cocottes and some other accessories that I hope you will love as much as I do... especially after knowing everything that goes into these products.
What is Skeppshult?
We have been talking to them for some time now, as we really like their product and philosophy. Skeppshult is a small foundry named after the town where it is located in southern Sweden. It has been operating since 1906 and has maintained its artisanal way of working to this day.
Skeppshult uses only renewable energy (water and wind) in their manufacturing process. They melt the iron and pour it by hand into sand moulds to shape the utensils. Once the iron has cooled, they work each one by hand, always maintaining an incredible level of quality. Each piece comes out of a unique mould that is destroyed during the process, so each piece is in some way unique too.
Features of Skeppshult products
Skeppshult guarantees that all materials used to manufacture its cookware are natural and organic , free of any harmful products for health or the environment. In addition, they work on all types of cookers , including induction, always with excellent cooking results.
Because they are made of cast iron, Skeppshult cookware is much heavier than aluminium cookware and even De Buyer Mineral pans. The advantage of cast iron is that it retains and distributes heat more evenly, and it can withstand high temperatures without deforming.
Swing Skeppshult grill pan , wok and pepper shaker and Skeppshult frying pan
Like De Buyer pans, Skeppshult cookware does not have any enamel or vitrification, we cook directly on the iron, so a good seasoning is important. In this case, Skeppshult first cures all products with vegetable oil in its own factory, so they are delivered ready to use.
Since they are completely enamel-free and virtually unbreakable, Skeppshult offers a 25-year guarantee on all cast iron products. However, they are almost eternal products, and it is really difficult to damage cast iron during normal use.
Benefits of iron in the kitchen
For those of you who do not yet use iron cookware in the kitchen, I would like to briefly explain the advantages of this material. In Spain, it is not very common to use iron, but in other European countries such as Germany or the Nordic countries, iron is highly valued and small manufacturers such as Skeppshult enjoy a lot of prestige.
The main reason is that although non-stick pans and casseroles are very practical and easy to use, iron is unbeatable for heavy cooking such as frying, sautéing or grilling. The flavour and texture that we get with iron pans or cocottes more than compensates for the greater weight or maintenance of this type of utensil.
Skeppshult oven and cocotte tray
Apart from the fact that an iron utensil is for life, we have the peace of mind that we are not using products with non-stick coatings, so cooking is much healthier and more natural.
Maintenance of Skeppshult products
There is no need to season a Skeppshult cookware before first use. As it is factory-seasoned, all you need to do is run a little water over it to remove any dust, dry thoroughly and start cooking.
Once we have cooked, there is no need to clean it with soap, we just have to run warm water over it and remove any food residue with the help of a brush or soft sponge. It is very important to dry the utensil immediately to prevent rust from appearing, we can leave it on the fire to dry completely.
Why buy Skeppshult ironware?
If you haven't tried any cast iron cookware, I recommend trying a Skeppshult pan or grill pan. You can still cook delicate foods with your non-stick pan, but you'll find that high heat cooking, especially frying or grilling, is much better in a cast iron pan.
Both frying pans and casseroles are also ideal as gifts. They are a very special product, with a carefully crafted aesthetic, which conveys a love for cooking. They are also the perfect gift as they last a lifetime, and the materials used for their manufacture are natural and organic, free of any product harmful to health or the environment.
Discover the full range of Skeppshult products we have in store here .
