Cast iron
Cast iron is made from pig iron, which is the product of smelting iron ore in a blast furnace. Cast iron can be made directly from the molten pig iron or by re-melting pig iron, often along with substantial quantities of iron, steel, limestone, carbon (coke) and taking various steps to remove undesirable contaminants. Phosphorus and sulfur may be burnt out of the molten iron, but this also burns out the carbon, which must be replaced. Depending on the application, carbon and silicon content are adjusted to the desired levels, which may be anywhere from 2–3.5% and 1–3%, respectively. If desired, other elements are then added to the melt before the final form is produced by casting.
List of cast-iron cookware manufacturers
Milo is a Los Angeles based company that manufactures kitchen essentials. They launched in 2018 with a cast iron enameled Dutch Oven. They sell exclusively online from their website and have a lifetime warranty on their products.
Field Skillets are manufactured in Wisconsin and Indiana and the focus is on creating lighter weight cast iron. The pans have a smooth finish.
Several companies import cast-iron cookware of Chinese manufacture and market these products in America. Known American marketers of Chinese cast-iron cooking equipment include Bayou Classic, Camp Chef, Coleman, Old Mountain and Texsport.