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How do I start using my Copper State Forge skillet?

Your Copper State Forge skillet comes preseason and ready for cooking. Start with a simple hand-washing with hot water and a non-metallic scrubber. Use oil or fat when cooking in your new skillet to prevent sticking and continue the seasoning process.

How often do I have to re-season my skillet?

Re Seasoning is not something you have to do on any sort of regular basis. By simply cooking in the skillet and following the simple cleaning and maintenance steps, you are keeping the skillet seasoned and building up additional seasoning.

The color of my skillet has developed light and dark spots, does that mean it isn't non-stick?

Don't worry, your skillet is still non-stick, even as it goes through it's slow metamorphosis to that slick jet-black pinnacle of pandom that we are all striving for.

What if something sticks to my skillet? What is the best way to clean it off?

Even though carbon steel is the best all-natural non-stick alternative, we will be the first to acknowledge that occasionally stick happens.  The main thing is to start light and only get as aggressive as necessary to get the sticky part off.  A great place to start is by putting water in the bottom of your skillet, heat it up and gently scrape the stick with a wood or plastic spatula.  We also find that the ScrubDaddy type scrubber sponges work well.  If that doesn't get the job done you can try putting a little oil and kosher salt in the skillet to scrub the offending spot smooth.  When you are finished removing the stuck-on food, don't forget to rinse out the skillet, warm it up to dry it and re-oil it.

How long will my skillet last?

Your skillet was designed and hand crafted to last more than a lifetime. Just follow    our simple care instructions to enjoy decades of daily use. 

What is the “seasoning” made of?

         We use 100% grape seed oil to season our skillets and cookware. When heated above it’s smoking point, the grape seed oil polymerizes into your skillet, making a non-toxic and natural cooking surface with non-stick capabilities.

Can I use my skillet for outdoor cooking?

         Yes. Your skillet is designed to take the heat! Feel free to use your skillet on the grill, in the smoker, over open flame, or in the pizza oven. 

Can I use my skillet on an electric glass stove top and/or induction?

         Yes! You can use your skillet on electric, induction, or gas stove tops. When utilizing an electric or induction cook surface, we suggest you use a skillet that is sized appropriately to your burner to prevent warping. 

Can my skillet go into the oven?

         Yes. Your carbon steel skillet is designed to be used for baking, roasting, and taking the high heat of your kitchen oven or pizza oven. 

What kind of oil should I use to season my skillet?

         We use 100% grape seed oil to pre-season our skillets. Any vegetable oil with a high smoking point will work just fine (i.e., grape seed, avocado oil, flaxseed oil). While cooking you can use any type of oil, butter, or fat you desire. 

Someone put my skillet in the dishwasher/ was left with water in it. Is it ruined?

         No, it is not ruined. Your seasoning may be gone or damaged, but your skillet will recover. Wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water and follow our seasoning instructions to make your skillet non-stick again. 

 It looks like my new skillet arrived scratched or has small imperfections in it. What do I do?

         Due to the nature of hand forging, your skillet may have scratches, small dimples and dents on the cooking surface and sides; we refer to these as birthmarks, and they are what makes your skillet one-of-a-kind. We perform a thorough quality inspection during the seasoning process and prior to shipping to make sure that your skillet does not have any blemishes that would affect the cooking performance of your skillet. 

 Can carbon steel warp?

         Yes, it is possible. If you use an electric ceramic or electric induction stove top it is important to match the size of your skillet to your burner. If you superheat only a small portion of your skillet by using an undersized burner, it can warp. There are remedies if this happens to you. 

 Can I cook tomato sauce in my carbon steel skillet?

         We advise against cooking tomato sauces and other acidic foods in your carbon steel skillet for prolonged periods. Although not harmful to you or your food, the acidity may remove the seasoning from your skillet, and it will need to be reasoned. 

 My skillet rocks a little, and when I add oil it goes to the edges, is this normal?

 Yes. As your skillet heats the metal expands the most directly at the heat source. We anticipate this expansion by adding a slight convex to our skillets (slightly higher in the center). When cooking on low heat, this will cause oil to run to the edges, but when cooking on high heat the skillet will mostly flatten out and stay firmly in place. If there is no convex, your skillet will begin to form a bowl shape on bottom when heated, which can cause the skillet to easily spin on flat cooking surfaces. Some skillets have a more concentric convex (only in the center) and others, especially larger skillets, will sometimes also have a longitudinal convex (through the middle from one side to the other). In either case, some wobble may be present when used on a completely flat cooking surface, but will reduce as heat is added.