Why Every Woman Needs a Copper State Forge Artisanal Pan
There’s cookware, and then there’s what Copper State Forge makes: forged-by-hand heirlooms that ask you to slow down, season well, and make something worth remembering. Based in Arizona, this artisanal brand creates heritage carbon steel skillets with a reverence for the process and the people who use them.
Each Copper State Forge pan carries the marks of its making, subtle hammer lines, heat-tempered patinas, and hand-finished handles that feel more sculptural than mass-produced. These aren’t just tools; they’re functional art. Forged one at a time using traditional blacksmithing techniques, each piece has a lived-in beauty that brings soul to even the most curated designer kitchen. Whether resting on an open shelf or simmering on the stove, these pans become part of the visual language of the home, raw, elegant, and unmistakably handmade.
We sat down with Bill and Tristan, father and son blacksmith duo behind the forge, to talk craftsmanship, conscious living, and what happens when everyday objects become legacy pieces.
The Story Behind the Flame
Q: Let’s start at the beginning. How did Copper State Forge come to life, and why pans?
A: (Tristan) I love working with my hands. I learned how to weld by watching YouTube videos. After learning how to weld, I wanted to learn how to forge. I watched some more videos and built a forge. I enjoy cooking, so I made a pan. Came out pretty good. I gave a few to my friends and family as gifts. They loved them. After COVID, my Dad suggested we try selling them at the Farmers Market. Folks loved them, and the rest is history.
Q: Was there a moment when you realized you weren’t just making cookware, you were making heirlooms?
A: It hit home when people started coming back to our booth at the Farmers Market to tell us they love their pans and one day they will be passed down to their kids.
Q: What philosophy guides your work? It feels like your pans are more than just functional objects.
A: While crafting each piece, we think about how we are part of the customer’s daily cooking ritual. We want to ensure that not only is each pan functional, beautifully handcrafted, but also a healthy way to cook their food.
From Fire to Form
Q: Walk us through the process. What actually goes into forging a pan from scratch?
A: It’s a labor-intensive process that requires a lot of steps. Scoot over to our website or check out our video below.
Q: Why carbon steel? What’s the difference, and what makes them special?
A: Carbon Steel is for people who want to get away from chemistry set cookware. Our pans will last forever. No Teflon-coated pan will do this. Carbon steel has stovetop capabilities. Can also handle versatile cooking methods. It heats up quickly and allows for better temperature control.
Q: Your designs are minimal but stunning. How do you balance form and function in your pieces?
A: The pans we started with are different from what our current designs are. We receive feedback from our customers and make the adjustments from longer handles to subtle changes for comfort in the length and angles.
For the First-Time Buyer
Q: I’m new to forged cookware. How is it different from what I’d find in a big-box store?
Handcrafted vs. mass-produced
- Copper State Forge: Each piece is hand-forged in Arizona by skilled makers—meaning no two are exactly alike. It’s cookware with character.
- Big-Box Cookware: Typically mass-produced in factories overseas, often using molds and coatings that prioritize cost over craft.
Solid materials, zero shortcuts
- Copper State Forge: Made from pure, solid metals like copper and stainless steel—no cheap coatings, no shortcuts, and nothing toxic. Built to last and display proudly.
- Big-Box Cookware: Often made with aluminum or mixed alloys, coated in nonstick chemicals that wear out (and flake off).
Designed to be displayed
- Copper State Forge: This isn’t cookware you hide in a drawer. It’s functional art—meant to live on your stovetop, open shelves, or even your wall.
- Big-Box Cookware: Designed for function first, it often lacks the beauty or soul to be left out on display.
Built for a lifetime (or several)
- Copper State Forge: Heirloom quality. Meant to be seasoned, passed down, and appreciated over time.
- Big-Box Cookware: Usually designed with a 2–5 year lifespan before replacing. Disposable by design.
Story & soul included
- Copper State Forge: When you buy from a local maker, you’re getting more than a product—you’re investing in craft, heritage, and a story worth telling.
- Big-Box Cookware: Just another SKU on a shelf.
Q: Do your pans come pre-seasoned? What’s the care routine like for beginners?
A: Yes. Our pans come pre-seasoned. Dry your pan completely. Coat the inside (and a little of the outside) of the pan with a thin layer of high point smoke oil, like:
- Grapeseed oil
- Flaxseed oil
- Avocado oil
Q: How long does it take to “break in” a pan, and what should a first-time buyer expect during that process?
A: It’s ready to go. You need to understand, every time you use your pan, the patina will change. It’s cooking by design.
Q: If someone wants to start with just one, which pan do you recommend, and why?
A: We recommend a 10" deep pan; it’s the universal utilitarian pan. From eggs to steak, it does the job!
Q: Can your cookware go in the oven? On induction? Are there any limitations or pro tips for first use?
A: Yes, you can use your cookware in the oven and on induction. The one limitation is acidic foods. No long simmer of tomato sauce in a carbon steel or a cast iron pan, for that matter.
Q: What are some common mistakes people make with artisan cookware, and how can they avoid them?
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- They forget to preheat the pan. You need to heat the pan for approximately 3 minutes on Medium heat for even cooking. You don’t want to start with cold food in a cold pan.
- People often worry too much about the seasoning. Stop worrying about it and get cooking. Using your pan will maintain its wonderful cooking properties.
Q: Why do your pans cost more than typical cookware? What is the buyer truly investing in?
A: Each pan undergoes a meticulous hand-forging process, done by hand with precision. You are investing in an artisanal product that will last lifetimes. It is a functioning work of art to be displayed. It’s a conversation piece.
The Kind of Cookware You Don’t Hide Away
Copper State Forge pans aren’t meant to be tucked in drawers or buried beneath mismatched lids. They’re meant to live out loud, hung proudly on the wall, resting on the stovetop, or catching the morning light from an open shelf. These pieces hold more than heat; they tell a story, they hold history, intention, and the quiet power of something well-made. In a world of quick clicks and forgettable purchases, this is cookware that reminds you: beauty belongs in the everyday.
