Working as a horse farrier for over a decade, IndependentIronware founder Paul Angiolillo had long dreamed of opening up his own blacksmith shop. “But I wanted to create something more accessible than ornamental gates and handrails, which is the more common way to be a blacksmith these days,” he says. With Italian roots and a passion for food, Angiolillo started crafting carbon steel pans, putting his own unique touch on what had been a kitchen staple of his for years. Two years after fine-tuning his design process, he officially launched IndependentIronware in February of 2022, with four different-size skillets, three large roaster pans and a campfire wok.
“I really prioritize buying intentional products. Something you buy once and take care of, and it will last you a lifetime. That’s a big part of these pans,” he says. “I cook absolutely everything in them, and the cool thing is that the more seasoned they get, the more beautiful they become.” Pans are seasoned with organic coconut oil for a natural nonstick surface and develop their own unique bronze patina that ages as you use them.
While similar to cast-iron pans in function,Independent Ironware’s carbon steel pans are made by shaping steel in its original state without melting it down. Traditional cast iron is melted down and poured into a sand mold, while Angiolillo’s method allows him to craft the shape of each piece using traditional blacksmithing techniques.
Unlike a traditional cast-iron pan, the carbon steel method allowsIndependent Ironware skillets to be thinner and lighter. With a deeper, more gradual curve, the 9- and 10-inch French skillets are designed with high volume in mind, so you can cook for a crowd in one pan. “I eat for two,” laughs Angiolillo. “So having enough volume is always important.”The long, tall handles create a unique aesthetic, but they also keep from over heating, so you’re less likely to burn your hand when you reach for them.
At least six hours of labor go into each pan, all hand-forged in batches.Angiolillo starts by cutting out the raw materials into the shape she wants; then everything goes into the forge, where it’s heated to 1,800 degrees. Once it’s glowing red and orange, the pan is ready to be manipulated, and Angiolillo uses a hammer to shape it by hand and create the textured look that’s unique to Independent Ironware products.
“Of course, I’m biased, but I think there’s something unique about cooking with a pan that’s been made by hand. It adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the meal and makes it more meaningful,” Angiolillo says.
Independent Ironware pans are available for order online, and at the People’s Market during the summer.
