While carbon pans and skillets have been around for centuries, they have not been so popular recently as people moved to stainless and non-stick pans. But recently these age-old throwbacks have entered a renaissance period as home cooks move to more classic ways of preparing and cooking food.
While there is a bit of skill required to get these pans up to speed, once there they can beat pretty much any other material as far as toughness, ease of cleaning, and general versatility. Once seasoned you will be amazed at how non-stick these pans are. Eggs slide around as if on ice! The hardest crust can be wiped away with a kitchen paper towel!
The West Japan Tools Carbon Steel Skillet is a very lovely variety based on a classic French skillet. What makes it unusual is the fact that it is made in a press but is then machined on the inner sides to reduce weight while retaining a heavy bottom. The handle is a work of sculptural art, as is the whole design.
These are true artisan quality items made in very limited number by a leading Japanese blacksmith. We have never seen anything quite like them or remotely as beautiful. A true collector’s heirloom item.Brand: West Japan Tools
Designer: Takayuki Shibata
Location: Fukuyama City, Japan
Bottom Thickness: 3mm
Side Wall Thickness: 1.5mm
Top Diameter: 30cm
Bottom Diameter: 24cm
Weight: 1.7kg
While there is a bit of skill required to get these pans up to speed, once there they can beat pretty much any other material as far as toughness, ease of cleaning, and general versatility. Once seasoned you will be amazed at how non-stick these pans are. Eggs slide around as if on ice! The hardest crust can be wiped away with a kitchen paper towel!
The West Japan Tools Carbon Steel Skillet is a very lovely variety based on a classic French skillet. What makes it unusual is the fact that it is made in a press but is then machined on the inner sides to reduce weight while retaining a heavy bottom. The handle is a work of sculptural art, as is the whole design.
These are true artisan quality items made in very limited number by a leading Japanese blacksmith. We have never seen anything quite like them or remotely as beautiful. A true collector’s heirloom item.
Reviews
10 review(s) WRITE A REVIEW (Reviews are subject to approval)
Great pan but flexesPosted By: Gabriel
5 people found this review helpful
I have a lot of knives and pans, both cast iron and carbon steel. I'm familiar with how to clean/care for them. I've been using this one for awhile now. By far the slickest pan and the easiest to clean. Nothing sticks and extremely lightweight! The catch is it flexes like crazy on the stove. Will save it for when I cook in the backyard or on an outdoor family trip.
5 people found this review helpful
I have a lot of knives and pans, both cast iron and carbon steel. I'm familiar with how to clean/care for them. I've been using this one for awhile now. By far the slickest pan and the easiest to clean. Nothing sticks and extremely lightweight! The catch is it flexes like crazy on the stove. Will save it for when I cook in the backyard or on an outdoor family trip.
Best carbon steel pan I own My new daily driverPosted By: Alex M
3 people found this review helpful
This has displaced my Leyse and Lodge skillets from the cooktop, and it leaves stainless-clad in the dust. Expensive ... but elegant and very practical. I have had no problem with handle strength, and the handle stays cool longer than I had imagined. A simple pleasure to operate.
3 people found this review helpful
This has displaced my Leyse and Lodge skillets from the cooktop, and it leaves stainless-clad in the dust. Expensive ... but elegant and very practical. I have had no problem with handle strength, and the handle stays cool longer than I had imagined. A simple pleasure to operate.
West Japan Tools carbon steel skillet Weak handle, ruined masterpiecePosted By: Daniel Joseph Oconnor - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
I took 1 star off because of the thin weak handle. When the sides were shaved down to 1.5 mm the backside of handle was also shaved down. I must be carefull not to put too much pressure on it when cooking. This thinning negated the main advantage of the handle design: strength. Had I known I would have bought a mtfer bourgaet instead. Should have given it 3 stars but the people were nice.
3 people found this review helpful
I took 1 star off because of the thin weak handle. When the sides were shaved down to 1.5 mm the backside of handle was also shaved down. I must be carefull not to put too much pressure on it when cooking. This thinning negated the main advantage of the handle design: strength. Had I known I would have bought a mtfer bourgaet instead. Should have given it 3 stars but the people were nice.
Shibatasan Skillet A functional work of artPosted By: ErikS - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
I have used this pan a few times now, and it is proving to be great. I am used to cast iron and stainless-clad-aluminum pans, but this is my first carbon steel. It seems to have heat retention properties somewhere in between. The pan has taken to seasoning well and even with just a few uses is fairly nonstick (though I started off by just cooking a thin layer of oil on before using, to get the process started). But the best part is the quality and design, which are fantastic. Other carbon pans may cook things just as well, but none of them look or feel like this. Highly recommended!
3 people found this review helpful
I have used this pan a few times now, and it is proving to be great. I am used to cast iron and stainless-clad-aluminum pans, but this is my first carbon steel. It seems to have heat retention properties somewhere in between. The pan has taken to seasoning well and even with just a few uses is fairly nonstick (though I started off by just cooking a thin layer of oil on before using, to get the process started). But the best part is the quality and design, which are fantastic. Other carbon pans may cook things just as well, but none of them look or feel like this. Highly recommended!
Fantastic Pan Fantastic all around panPosted By: James Bradley - verified customer
3 people found this review helpful
This pan blew my mind. I've used All Clad pans for year, and while durable and overall a great product, the searing and light frying that this pan produces is second to none. I stopped making burgers on the grill and only use this pan. Ditto steak. Vegetable stir fry? No problem. I'm tempted to buy a second. I only wish they made a few different sizes and/or shapes. Only advice: make sure the pan is oiled for cooking. Highly recommended product.
3 people found this review helpful
This pan blew my mind. I've used All Clad pans for year, and while durable and overall a great product, the searing and light frying that this pan produces is second to none. I stopped making burgers on the grill and only use this pan. Ditto steak. Vegetable stir fry? No problem. I'm tempted to buy a second. I only wish they made a few different sizes and/or shapes. Only advice: make sure the pan is oiled for cooking. Highly recommended product.
The pan as art!Posted By: mauichef
4 people found this review helpful
I have recently become a lover of carbon steel pans. Don't ask me why it took so long! I have a few regular pans for the big manufacturers and they are great in most respects. At least until I got this beauty from CKTG. First off..it looks so cool. The design is pure art, from the handle to the profile, it is a looker like no other. The skillet took the seasoning in no time flat and was fully non stick faster than any other pan I own. The size to height ratio is perfect for most ingredients.The handle is very comfortable and much shorter than most other skillets so its great for in oven use. It is certainly not cheap, but the materials used and the design, fit and finish fully warrant the cost. My favorite skillet.
4 people found this review helpful
I have recently become a lover of carbon steel pans. Don't ask me why it took so long! I have a few regular pans for the big manufacturers and they are great in most respects. At least until I got this beauty from CKTG. First off..it looks so cool. The design is pure art, from the handle to the profile, it is a looker like no other. The skillet took the seasoning in no time flat and was fully non stick faster than any other pan I own. The size to height ratio is perfect for most ingredients.The handle is very comfortable and much shorter than most other skillets so its great for in oven use. It is certainly not cheap, but the materials used and the design, fit and finish fully warrant the cost. My favorite skillet.
