Yeti Solid Iron Skillet Evaluation

Once I heard Yeti launched a forged iron skillet, I knew I needed to take a look at 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. May Yeti’s new forged iron skillet match (and probably surpass) forged iron heavyweights like Lodge? I acquired my arms on its newly launched 12-inch skillet and put it by a battery of checks to search out out. 

The Checks

• Warmth Map Take a look at: 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 Take a look at: I made pancakes on the skillet noting in the event that they caught and if it was simple to maneuver an offset turner spatula beneath the pancakes to flip them. 
• Fried Egg Take a look at: I revamped simple eggs within the skillet, flipping them with a fish spatula and seeing in the event that they caught. 
• Seared Rooster Thigh Take a look at: I seared skin-on hen thighs, noting how rapidly and evenly the pores and skin crisped. 
• Seared Steak Take a look at: I cooked two filet mignon steaks within the skillet to check the pan’s searing skill. 
• Cornbread Take a look at: I baked cornbread within the Yeti skillet, noting if the outcome was evenly cooked and if it turned out readily onto a cooling rack. I additionally famous if the skillet was simple to maneuver out and in of the oven.

What We Discovered

The Yeti Is a New-College Fashion Skillet

Longtime forged iron skillet makers like Lodge and Victoria make pans which can 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, Area Co, and now Yeti, are markedly totally different: They’ve {smooth}, polished surfaces which can 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 usually lighter than the beefy choices from Lodge. 

I like each kinds of skillets: The Lodge and Victoria convey stable efficiency at an inexpensive value, 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 evaluate, forged iron is deceptively easy: “At their core, forged iron skillets are only a massive honkin’ piece of steel. No cladding, no nonstick coating—only a stable pan that retains warmth rather 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 brief, 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 process. 

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

It Heated Up Shortly and Retained Warmth Properly 

Forged iron might not warmth evenly, nevertheless it 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 enhance between 30 seconds and 60 seconds, leaping from a 70ºF common floor temperature to 139ºF. It additionally held onto warmth effectively, showcased once 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 effectively, 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 below 5 kilos, which is on par with the opposite 10-inch skillets I examined in my forged iron pan evaluate. It seems to be good, with a coppery end and {smooth} floor. My largest qualm with the Yeti is its value: The ten-inch skillet is $200, whereas the 12-inch skillet is a whopping $250. You may get improbable efficiency from skillets which can be a lot cheaper. That stated, if you wish to get your arms on this skillet, it does its job effectively.

The Execs

The Yeti skillet has a big floor space that heated up rapidly and seared steak and hen thighs golden brown. It additionally baked up good cornbread, and I had no points with sticking once 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 most costly forged iron skillet I’ve examined. Whereas I did observe in my authentic evaluate {that a} pricier forged iron skillet isn’t a foul factor, the 10-inch Yeti is dearer than the heritage skillets I appreciated in that testing: The Yeti 10-inch skillet is $200, versus $165 for the Area Co 10-inch providing, and it’s not prefer it carried out exponentially higher. Past value, I did have some sticking once I first used the skillet to cook dinner pancakes, although I feel the skillet simply wanted to be hotter. I additionally had some sticking once I fried eggs, although they did keep entire.  

Key Specs

• Sizes obtainable: 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 finest?

We predict a 10-inch skillet is an efficient 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 Consultants

• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Critical Eats 
• She examined forged iron skillets for the positioning 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 observe: We obtained a press pattern of the Yeti forged iron skillet, however all of our opinions are our personal.