Hearth Skillet 8 in

The Hearth Skillet 8 in is the smallest pan in the range: 21 cm across the rim (8.3 in), 16.5 cm of flat cooking surface, 4.5 cm deep, 1.9 kg (4.2 lb). It is the pan for one or two eggs, a single steak, or a pancake at a time, and it is light enough to bring to the table. The cooking surface is cast iron machined flat and smooth, the way a whitesmith finished a rough casting; it ships bare and builds a seasoning as any bare iron does. The exterior is vitreous enamel in Flint, Clay or Sage.

The walls are 4 mm cast iron. The 15 cm handle is cast in one piece with the body, with a helper tab opposite it and a pour spout on each side. Oven-safe to 260 °C (500 °F), and it works on induction. No lid is included, and no Bench lid is made in this size. Hand wash, dry it on a warm burner, and wipe the iron with a little oil before it goes back on the shelf.

Questions

Is the 8 in big enough for two people? For eggs, yes: the 16.5 cm cooking surface takes two eggs or one steak at a time. For two portions of anything larger, the Hearth Skillet 10 in has a 21 cm surface.

Does the cooking surface need seasoning? Yes. It is bare machined iron, and it seasons the same way as any bare cast iron: cook with fat, dry it on the burner, wipe on a thin coat of oil. The Bench Seasoning Wax is measured for exactly that job.

Does the Bench Handle Sleeve fit the 8 in? Yes. The sleeve slides over the 15 cm handle and stays on in the oven to 230 °C. The Bench lids start at 10 in, so this pan is used uncovered.

Whitesmith: finished by hand, guaranteed for life.