Sonora Large Pan

Top quality, great craftsmanship, good shipping. I purchased the large and small pans…. Wanted to get away from toxic chemicals in non stick. This is how we are supposed to be cooking !

For the money I think it is a great value. Honestly I think I did expect a bit more though. There were some gouges on the back of the pan that do not effect performance but could have been fixed easily enough, and there are a couple of hammer marks that are not in keeping with the others. Still working on learning this pan but all and all I am pretty happy with it. Nice balance and the handle feels good in the hand.

This skillet is worth every penny, and by far my favorite kitchen item. With that said, it took a little more effort than I initially expected, especially being that it wasn't my first carbon steel. I read somewhere that coconut oil (the factory choice that gives the purple color) doesn't last well as an initial seasoning, so I baked on a few layers of grapeseed prior to the first cook. My first eggs, and a good chunk of the seasoning was stripped, all the way to the metal. I coated with oil, and used the This skillet is worth every penny, and by far my favorite kitchen item. With that said, it took a little more effort than I initially expected, especially being that it wasn't my first carbon steel. I read somewhere that coconut oil (the factory choice that gives the purple color) doesn't last well as an initial seasoning, so I baked on a few layers of grapeseed prior to the first cook. My first eggs, and a good chunk of the seasoning was stripped, all the way to the metal. I coated with oil, and used the pan again at dinner. This time, nearly all of the initial seasoning was totally gone. Long story short, I tried a few more methods, then after cooking bacon for breakfast, it all came together, no more eggs sticking🙂. Now the pan is essentially non-stick to everything, and cooks perfectly to my liking. Be patient! It takes about a month to get the pan, and a good seasoning may take some effort, but this pan will quickly become your favorite kitchen tool for years to come. The value here is unmatched for a solid American made carbon steel skilletpan again at dinner. This time, nearly all of the initial seasoning was totally gone. Long story short, I tried a few more methods, then after cooking bacon for breakfast, it all came together, no more eggs sticking🙂. Now the pan is essentially non-stick to everything, and cooks perfectly to my liking. Be patient! It takes about a month to get the pan, and a good seasoning may take some effort, but this pan will quickly become your favorite kitchen tool for years to come. The value here is unmatched for a solid American-made carbon steel skillet.

EDIT AFTER FIRST COOK: except experience with first cook… simple fried egg… after a light wash and treatment with light grapeseed oil wipe down on hot pan… then cool down. Heated up pan on medium heat, tab of butter, add egg. All it took was a jiggle to the pan to get full egg release, pan flip w/o spatula and perfect over-easy with no egg stick. Easy wipe down and re-seasoned w/ light grapeseed oil. I’m going to love these pans!

Got the Sonora large, Sonora small, and Sonora roaster and all three are beautiful…. Excellent size, weight (perfect wall thickness), and finish. I love the genuine hammering rather than the fake hammering on some carbon steel pans. I also love the amount of detail/design… understated & elegant. I like these better than any of the other custom carbon steel pans, and these are also with the most fair prices. As a former Gaucho, my only regret is not going to their shop in person.

Well done, guys!

Greg
North Salt Lake

Thank you for forging such an incredible pan. The craftsmanship is truly remarkable. The first thing we cooked was an egg, which glided perfectly onto my plate as if any gravity was involved! Super excited to use it for many years to come.