Truly a superior product and worth every penny!!!
Why did you pick this product vs others?:I mean......WOW!!!! This pan is like no other pan I have ever cooked with! I have been reading about carbon steel pans for a while now but hadn't taken the plunge to buy one because they can be a bit pricey, so when this became available I felt like it was kind of 'meant to be' that I order it. When it arrived I was very impressed with how nicely and carefully it was packaged. It came with a couple of information cards, one of which gave a brief overview of the natural production process of the pan, and on the reverse side, gives instructions on how to care for the pan. Now, I will say that this pan does require a specific maintenance process that is different than almost all of your standard pots and pans, however, if you have ever owned a cast iron pan you will appreciate the reason why a pan like this requires the level of maintenance that it does. The process is not as difficult or time consuming as it might seem and I can promise that it is well worth the effort. It is really only a 3 step process; wash, dry, wipe...~Wash: wash with hot water with any washing brush, if it gets scratches it is still useable. Do not boil water the first time you use the pan~Dry: dry the pot with fire to avoid rust, if not with fire, make sure you dry it thoroughly and completely; because this pan does not have any toxic chemical painting and is produced naturally it will rust if it stays wet for a long time; however, if the pan does get rust, it is still perfectly fine to use, you will need to apply some cooking oil to the pan then use a metal brush or scouring pad to remove the rust, once rust is gone the pan is fine to continue using.~Wipe: after you have fully dried the pan, apply 1-2 drops of cooking oil and use a cloth or paper towel to wipe it all over the inside of the pan to create a natural protective coating and achieve a non-stick effect.So, it may seem like the above care instructions are a lot, but I will tell you that it is well worth it to go through the process because you will notice the difference in how your food cooks in this pan versus standard non-stick pans. If you have cooked with cast iron pans you will also appreciate how well this pan cooks your food, but you will notice a difference in how it cooks. Cast iron tends to be heavier, retains heat longer and is better for searing and baking, but this fabulous carbon steel pan is lighter, heats up faster, responds faster to temperature changes, is excellent for sauteing and stir frying, and cooks airy/fragile/delicate foods much better. Both types of pans are the same in the sense that they require hand-washing and drying and need to be "seasoned" by being wiped with oil after use to create a natural non-stick surface and prevent rust. This particular pan is very generous in size at 12.5 inches in diameter and even more generous in size with a depth of about 3.5 inches. With the wooden handle you have the ability to toss/pan-flip your food without having to use a pot holder or towel, or wear an oven mitt, and doing so is very easy because the pan is not heavy like a cast iron pan nor does the handle get so hot it will burn your skin. Depending on what you are cooking your cook times really don't change much from the time they would using a standard or cast iron pan, however, the flavor that your food has will be noticeably fresher. Additionally, with cast iron you should have one pan dedicated to cooking meat and the other to cooking fish, you don't need to do that with carbon steel pans, this pan allows you to cook either and not have the flavor of fish seep into your meat and vice versa. If you maintain this pan the way you are supposed to, especially making sure you are routinely "seasoning" it with oil after every use, you will be able to use it for decades and it will have a better non-stick surface than those made with chemicals. Investing in this pan will truly offer you decades of excellent food preparation if you care for it appropriately. I think Armarpot has created an exceptional product in this pan and I have truly enjoyed cooking with it. I feel very lucky to own this pan and look forward to many many many years of excellent meals cooked in this superior pan.