Ironclad Pan: a culinary bond between generations

In an era of disposable products and throwaway consumption, Kate Slavin, Levi Slavin and Joe Carter set out to create a meaningful product that people only had to buy once. A product that was truly precious, evoked memories and could be handed down for generations. Enter: the Ironclad Legacy Pan.

Couple Levi and Kate had inherited a cast iron skillet and every time they’d use it (nearly every day), they were reminded of their family history - one that was rich in cooking traditions. Memories would be evoked of their grandparents’ cooking and the stories and recipes they’d shared. As Levi and Kate’s family grew, so did their desire to leave a healthier planet for their children. So, Kate set out to design a new skillet, one that would be sustainably manufactured here in Aotearoa, and last for generations to come.

So often is our fixation on what is convenient and cheap, instead of what is durable and made to last. We’re quick to head to the latest big box retailer sale, but can find ourselves replacing these items, sometimes after only a few uses. And the planet hates us for it! 

“At least 1,500,000 non-stick pans are sent to landfill in New Zealand alone every year, and the problem with these pans is that they are extremely hard to recycle”, says Joe. “Most recycling companies won’t accept them, so they simply get thrown out with the household waste. This is a disaster as the coating leaches into and remains in the soil for centuries; they often contain PFAS, also known as ‘forever chemicals’, because they don’t break down in the environment or the human body”.

It’s not just the impact on the environment that’s of concern, but because we’re replacing these pans so often, our wallets also take a hammering. So, what’s the solution? Once again, enter: the Ironclad Pan.

“A cast iron skillet is one of the only products on the planet where the more you use it, the better it gets” Joe comments. He and the team are so confident in their long-lasting skillets in fact, that they offer their customers a 100-year replacement guarantee. Yes you read that right, that’s a Three Generation Guarantee. When buying Ironclad cookware, you can know that your product is as unique as you, each has been hand-poured and hand-finished, made to last so that it can be handed down for generations. Your very own heirloom. 

“People sometimes assume that cast iron and steel is expensive, but when you consider the fact that you only have to buy these pans once (versus once every 1-2 years for the cheaper options), the value for money starts to become much more apparent” explains Kate.

The trademark design of Ironclad’s iconic Legacy Pan is the result of lots of love and lots of cooking. The cooking surface is large enough to prepare family meals, yet small enough to be lifted with a single hand. And just like a fine wine, they only get better with age.

www.ironcladpan.com