Yeti Camp Skillet

They have been selling out as soon as they come into stock. Maybe someone could sell one for like a $1000 on Ebay.

or you could go with something like this:

www.amazon.com/Lodge-Skillet-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet-Silicone/dp/B00G2XGC88/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=lodge+skillet+12&qid=1687307711&sprefix=lodge+skillet%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-1

I paid considerably less than that for each of my 100+ year old Griswold cast iron pieces.

The "lighter weight" claim is interesting for cast iron.

I just heard/read about this recently and now it shows up as a thread. I doubted it before but no longer. I have better things to spend $400 on but different people have different priorities.

So, I have a thing for pots and pans, especially skillets as it's the pan I use the most.  This is serious business! 

These super-smooth cast iron pans became a thing a few years ago.  Mostly small craftsmen manufacturers -- the "cottage industry" of cookware.  Butter Pat, who makes the Yeti pan, is one of those and their pans are pretty darn sexy.  (I ended up with a Marquette Castings one, mostly because they're a Michigan company.)  And, yes, they're all in that $300-400 price range.

I don't know if the Yeti skillet is the same as the Butter Pat counterpart.  They look the same but Butter Pat's claim to fame is thinner sidewalls but thicker bottom, which means they weigh about the same as other skillets but have one of the best heat distribution profiles.  (Yes, actually better than the Lodges.)  I don't know if "lightweight camp skillet" means they shaved off some of the metal from the bottom.  Still, it's probably a good pan.

That said, these smooth cast iron pans aren't that easy to use.  The polished surface makes food stick, regardless of how well seasoned it is, which I think defeats the purpose of a cast iron skillet.  Mine is only slightly more non-stick than my stainless steel lined copper one.  You might as well use an enameled one and avoid all the hassles of an unsealed iron pan.

Anyway, Butter Pat's legit and this is probably a petty nice pan, but I think it's too finicky to take camping.  I have a Lodge flat grill I take camping and my go-to cast iron skillet at home is a Lodge too.  My much-more-expensive well-researched Marquette Castings one doesn't come out of the cupboard very often. (Oh, and don't pay the surcharge for the Yeti logo!)