The Solidteknics AUS-ION Carbon Steel Flaming Skillet
See Review Below
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Kickstarter: bit.ly/ausion3
Ends March 28, 2016
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I finally got a chance to take this new Solidteknics flaming skillet for spin. When I first saw it, my mind gravitated to using it with foods like vegetables or things that would normally need some type of basket when grilling over an open flame. Mark J. Henry, owner of Solidteknics, suggested that I try a large piece of meat, searing it over an open flame for a couple of minutes and then finishing over indirect heat or in the oven. So that is exactly what I did. For my tests, I did two 1.25” bone-in pork chops, and one 1.25” bone-in ribeye. Since it was my first time cooking in this skillet, I started my testing with the pork chops. They were much less expensive and I could get the feel of cooking with it first without ruining a steak.
In my charcoal grill, I built a 16”x16” fire with apple wood. When the fire had died down a bit but was still flaming, I put the skillet on top of the coals to preheat it. After a few minutes, I added the steak. With cooking directly on top of the coals, I was curious as to how quickly the steak would sear. I learned that if the skillet sits directly on top of the coals, in the area where the steak is placed, there is some oxygen deprivation that makes it difficult for the steak to get a good sear. It will get there eventually; it just takes longer. For optimal and faster searing, Solidteknics recommends keeping the skillet a 2-3 inches above the coals. So, I kind of went back and forth. Keeping the skillet up a bit definitely works better, but I also liked keeping it on the coals to keep my hands free. I should note that the skillet is made for quick sears over a direct flame, and then indirect cooking or baking for finishing. Cooking something in this skillet all the way on the coals for long periods of time is not recommended, but I decided to push the envelope with my tests. For campfire cooking, I would probably recommend getting a good sear over the flame and then raising the skillet upward a bit. You will need to experiment to figure out what works best for you.
With the pork chops, I seared them for a few minutes per side, moved them from over the flame, then closed my grill and let them cook over indirect heat until my desired doneness was reached. With the steak, I went all of the way directly over the fire until I reached a medium cook temperature. There is nothing like the taste of grilled meats with the taste of wood smoke, but flaming the steak added an incredible dimension of flavor. It was pretty amazing. I think I liked the pork chop more than I did the steak, probably because the pork chop was brined. I am really looking forward to testing other foods in this skillet - fish, chicken, shrimp, etc. I do a lot of sous vide cooking, so using this skillet to sear should be stellar - much better than using a torch.
The flaming skillet is the seventh piece in the Solidteknics Aus-Ion carbon steel line. Every piece is equally beautiful as the next. Like all of the pieces of Aus-Ion cookware, the flaming skillet is made with a seamless, one-piece, rivetless design and is much more comfortable to hold than a conventional carbon steel skillet. I believe that beautiful cookware adds to the wonderful experience of cooking, and the flaming skillet does not disappoint in this area. This 26cm skillet is made with 3 mil thick carbon steel, and the diamond pattern is CNC punched. It is really a beautiful piece. Once again, the long handle with the webbed attachment to the skillet stays cool as long as it is not extended over the flame, and is extremely comfortable.
You are probably wondering with all of those holes, how does it clean up? I found it to be pretty easy to clean. I just used hot water, a green, non-scratch ScotchBrite scouring pad, and a stiff plastic brush. Because I really pushed the skillet by cooking at longer periods directly on the coals, the piece needed to be reasoned. I will not try to keep this piece looking as my beautiful as I do my collection of cast iron. For me, this piece is about functionality.
If you have been eyeing this piece and have been wondering how to use it, I hope this video gives you some new ideas on how to use it. The experience of cooking with it was amazing, and it will definitely be a part of my grilling activities this summer.
Solidteknics is currently running a Kickstarter for this piece, as well as a new 22cm Aus-Ion sauteuse pan. For kickstarter backers, the pieces will be engraved with ‘First Edition’. You can find it here: bit.ly/ausion3
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Videographer: Kristen N. Rogers
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Artist: ikoliks
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