Traditional Swedish Cast Iron

sv/nl/it/fr/fi/es/en/de/da

This is Carl Victor
We love cooking, a passion we share with a lot of people!
Everyone who shares the same passion for gastronomy is a friend. As a true cookware brand we are not looking for the short-term trends. The inspiration is far from glamour. The Carl Victor assortment is tradition, reflecting the feeling of everyday life, meant to be used.

Design goes beyond creating just a product that serves to fulfil a need or a function. The philosophy of Carl Victor is to become part of your gastronomic dreams.

Carl Victor is the ”proper taste”. Cast Iron has the ability to become better with age formed by its user and their cooking. The Carl Victor products may last for generations, the more they are used the greater personality it gets. The seasoned cast iron is a natural material that gives the food a great taste and a special character. The Carl Victor cast iron cookware is more than just a pan or a casserole; it is a natural attitude of old Swedish traditions.

Generations of Cast Iron experience
Carl Victor was established by Göran Ek in 2002. Göran with over 50 years of experience form the manufacturing of European houseware goods, selling worldwide in 150 countries – with Carl Victor he wanted make the traditional Swedish cast iron cookware, with the latest technology, is renowned for producing one of the finest cast iron cookware in the world. The family-owned company, based in Höganäs (Sweden), is one of few remaining manufacturer of cast iron cookware in the Sweden. The business continues to thrive due to its legacy of quality and dedication to improving manufacturing methods and philosophy of listening to what both the professional chefs and home cooks demand/need.

Why Cast Iron? 
Cast iron provides the finest heat distribution and retention of any cookware metal. The heat spreads rapidly and evenly across both the bottom and sides of the material and stays hot for a extended period of time. It is also extremely versatile and can be used to sear, fry, sauté, grill, roast, bake, braise and broil – both indoors or out (with stainless steel handles). Cast iron will tolerate any heat source (except microwaves) and is therefore suitable for induction, ceramic, electric and gas cooktops. It will perform effortlessly in the oven, on the stove, in the grill and even on barbecues/campfires. The material is also brutally durable to the point of being almost indestructible. In fact, amazingly, some of the very first skillets, griddles and Dutch ovens, produced more than 100 years ago, are still being used in kitchens today!

Why Carl Victor Cast Iron? 
All Carl Victor cast iron cookware are cast with carefully controlled materials, ensuring that no toxins are able to enter the manufacturing process.
Carl Victor’s precision moulding systems are the result of the company’s continued improving quality – a process that Göran Ek was determined should only be used and began with the very first skillet that was ever made.

Carl Victor cast iron cookware is superior to the most expensive stainless steel or aluminium cookware in heat distribution/retention, versatility, durability and value (as they last for generations). Its cooking performance ensures that it is an essential tool for both professional chefs and discerning home cooks.

Seasoning – a Natural Coating that Improves with Use 
Göran Ek was the pre-season pioneer as he in 1981 introduced pre-seasoned cast iron cookware, whichever after has been the Scandinavian standard for cast iron. This eliminated the requirement for seasoning prior to initial usage and ensured that cast iron cookware was ready to use as soon as it was removed from its packaging.

The Carl Victor seasoning procedure is a multiple-step process in which vegetable oil is applied via an electrostatic spray system that coats the cookware. It is then baked into the iron in commercial ovens at temperatures of 420 degrees Celsius (788 degrees Fahrenheit) for 20 minutes. This allows the oil to penetrate deeply into the pores of the iron and provides the easy-release properties that are equivalent to a natural non-stick surface. Crucially, this process eliminates the health concerns that are associated with chemical non-stick coatings.

The seasoning process done at the foundry is far superior to what can be accomplished at home. The oil is more advanced, the spray system coats the cookware more uniformly and the oven temperature is substantially hotter. Independent tests have confirmed that it takes several years of regular home seasoning to equal the performance of that attained at the factory.

The natural non-stick surface can actually be enhanced and repaired (if necessary) once it has been used. This capability, which isn’t evident in chemical-based coatings, means that Carl Victor products can be used on a regular basis for 100 years or more!

The Carl Victor ‘Blister’ 
Carl Victor cast iron cookware is hanging on a rack as it is pre-seasoned in the oven. As a result of this, a ‘bubble’ or ‘blister’ of oil may form at the lowest point of the product and be initially visible when unpackaged for use. The ‘bubble/blister’ can be rubbed-off and will leave a brown spot directly underneath it. This is not rust – it is a seasoned spot that is indicative of the varnishing stage of the coating process. It will turn black with usage, as does home-seasoned iron when employed repeatedly.

It is not the intention of Carl Victor to produce cookware that appears as if a non-stick coating has been applied to it. The black patina given to the products by the seasoning process is not paint, is not a synthetic polymer coating, nor is it enamel – all of which modify the valuable characteristics of cast iron. It is, in fact, vegetable oil that has been baked into the cookware. This is a functional application; it isn’t a cosmetic one.

Care and Use Instructions – Follow these to Ensure that Your Carl Victor Cast Iron Lasts for Generations! 
 Care 
1) Hand wash and dry immediately – even before the very first use.
2) Allow your cookware to cool naturally prior to cleaning (plunging hot cast iron into water may cause damage).
3) Rub a small amount of vegetable oil into the product after every wash. Use just enough to restore the sheen, without it becoming ‘sticky’. This reinforces the natural seasoning and protects the cast iron from moisture (which can lead to rusting).

Use 
1) It is safe to use metal, wood or silicone utensils with your cookware.
2) Some foods (especially eggs) may stick to some degree during initial usage. It is advisable to employ extra oil or butter until the seasoning has built-up.
3) Acidic foods such as tomatoes, beans and certain sauces can damage the seasoning and should be avoided until the natural non-stick layer has matured.
4) Cast iron rarely needs to be placed on an above-medium heat setting if adequately pre-heated. On occasions when a higher cooking temperature is required, elevate the heat gradually and apply oil just prior to adding the food in order to prevent sticking.

Cleaning – to Soap or not to Soap? 
Carl Victor cookware reaches 200 degrees Celsius (degrees 392 Fahrenheit) in 4 minutes on a medium heat setting and is sterile at 100 degrees Celsius (212 degrees Fahrenheit), so soap is often not necessary. However, if using it is preferred, wash with mild soapy water and dry immediately before adding oil.

Dishwashers, strong detergents and metal scouring pads will remove seasoning, so are not recommended, as will make the cast iron cookware rust.

How to Reverse Rusting 
Without protective seasoning, iron can rust. If this does occur, it can be easily fixed by scrubbing the rust, rinsing and drying the cookware, and then applying a small quantity of vegetable oil.

If significant rusting is apparent, then the cookware may need to be re-seasoned. Visit www. carlvictor.com/en/faq/ for specific directions.

Carl Victor offers 25 years Cast Iron Guarantee
Carl Victor’s cast iron is guaranteed to the purchaser by Carl Victor to be free from defects in material and workmanship at the time of purchase. Small cosmetic flaws inherent to sand casting and hand finishing which do not affect the performance of the cookware are not covered. This guarantee extends for 25 years from the date of purchase, for the original owner. This guarantee is exclusive of all other guarantees expressed or implied. This warranty is made by Carl Victor and no other person or entity.

For this warranty to apply, the owner must follow the use and care instructions provided with the product. The warranty covers normal household use, but does not include damage from abuse, neglect, abnormal wear, or any use not consistent with the directions included with the cookware. Rust is not considered a defect.