Tools

Inside Our Heirloom Cast Iron Foundry

By Team Made In
Aug 28, 2021
factory process
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Heirloom recipes deserve heirloom pieces of cookware. Meals that tell a story passed down generation after generation deserve vessels with an equally rich history.

And we can’t think of a better story to tell than the one about how we decided where we were going to make our limited edition, USA-made, seasoned, Cast Iron Dutch Ovens and Braisers.

It all started in 1946, when one brave family decided to open a cookware manufacturing facility in bucolic Indiana. The intention for the factory was to craft aluminum cookware, but without a market, they never got to punch even a single pot. To keep the foundry running, they pivoted to casting parts for a variety of industries, like agriculture, automotive, and construction.

Along the way, they established a state-of-the-art production line, one that uses a technique called “shell-molding” which results in a smoother surface on our Cast Iron pieces, unlike the gritty texture you may be accustomed to. But they’re made the right way, too. All of the equipment in the factory was built in house, including the molds themselves. It’s a place where no corners are cut and no detail is spared, ever. It’s a place where trusted, artisanal knowledge is passed down, and has been for three-generations, and where pride is taken in the work that is done.

The end result? A Cast Iron Dutch Oven and Braiser with a smoother texture, perfect for baking bread, simmering stews, or roasting birds.

We believe America is the best place to pour cast iron, and we hope you enjoy cooking in these pieces half as much as we enjoyed making them for you.