Padella in ghisa con manico 20-40 cm

Why a cast iron pan without a coating - and not the next "hybrid" generation?

Coated pans have an expiry date. Classic PTFE has rightly fallen into disrepute, so the market is responding with "PFOA-free", ceramic coatings, hybrid constructions made of stainless steel honeycomb and non-stick recesses. All solutions have one thing in common: It remains a coating, and every coating ages. A real cast iron pan does not have this problem because it has no coating that could age. Its non-stick property is created by patina - burnt-on vegetable oil that becomes stronger with every frying process. In the first few weeks, you need to pay a little more attention to this than with a coated pan. After ten years, you will have a much more relaxed pan. Replacing the pan is particularly worthwhile if you don't want to buy new cookware every few years but want to pass it on to your children.

From Sunday roasts to campfire evenings: one pan, many occasions

Most pans are optimized for one heat source and are a compromise for the others - a coated pan for a fried egg in the morning, a stainless steel pan for a steak in the evening, maybe a grill pan for the summer. The Petromax Fire Skillet with Handle does things differently: It is built for the toughest conceivable heat source - direct campfire and uneven embers - and has become so robust that it is clearly superior on gas, electric, ceramic and induction. The handle, opposite handle and hanging hole are forged from a single piece with the pan body, without screws or gluing - nothing can loosen or break. It is precisely this design that makes it possible to use a single pan for the Sunday roast in the kitchen, the fried egg for breakfast, the garden barbecue with friends and the occasional campfire evening. Not three pans, one. This saves cupboard space, is easy on the budget and reduces wear and tear to material that you won't need to replace anyway.

The right pan size: how to avoid the most common regret when buying a pan

The most common regret when buying a pan is not "too big", but "too small". A cast iron frying pan is typically used for ten years or more - and in these ten years, who is sitting at the table, how many guests are coming, whether more family is coming, whether steak is made for three or pancakes for six. Petromax offers the Fire Skillet with Handle in the Original Line in five sizes from 20 to 40 cm - the widest range in a direct market comparison. For those who prefer something more compact and lighter, the Essential Line offers two additional versions (25 and 30 cm) with a side spout, which are specially optimized for the kitchen and barbecue. Rule of thumb for selection: Count the number of people you will be cooking with on average and add one. An FP25-T is the honest all-rounder for couples and small families and is also our bestseller. An FP30-T is the undisputed roast potato standard for families of four.

What the PFAS discussion means for your choice of pan

In recent years, the discussion about PFAS, PFOA and "Forever Chemicals" has created an awareness that families are increasingly taking with them when buying cookware. Many manufacturers are responding with new generations of coatings - ceramic hybrid, diamond dust enrichment, "PFOA-free". All these solutions are technically more advanced than classic Teflon, but they have one thing in common: it remains a coating, and every coating ages. Petromax goes the other way: we leave out the coating. A cast iron pan does not need chemicals to prevent it from sticking - it needs a burnt-in patina, regular care and a little patience at the beginning. The trade-off is worth it: a little more attention in the first few weeks, but a pan that will stay with you and that you can pass on to your children.