Cast Iron Heirloom-Quality Cookware

Cast Iron Heirloom-Quality Cookware Lancaster Cast Iron of Conestoga, Pa., produces heritage-quality, lightweight cast iron for easy, even cooking. “Our company was founded in 2019 by Mark Longenecker and Brandon Moore, and in many ways, it grew from equal parts passion and necessity,” says Rachel Longenecker, Mark Longenecker’s wife. “They knew from the beginning they wanted to build something meaningful together, but they needed the space and clarity to figure out the details. So they quit their jobs, packed up a car, and took a four-month camping road trip to Alaska with one shared goal: come home with a business plan and the courage to pursue it.”  Mark grew up cooking with antique cast iron, which he found both lightweight and smooth compared with modern options. “This sparked a simple question: why did cast iron used to be so much better?” Longenecker says. “The answer was equally simple. A century ago, cookware was made primarily by hand, with more time, more steps, and more care.” Believing that modern customers would value the same level of quality, the team went all in on making cast-iron skillets the old-fashioned way. “The very first Lancaster skillets were made in our garage. Literally,” Longenecker says. “Mark and Brandon machined the interiors themselves, removing 4 lbs. of excess iron. They smoothed the pour spouts, refined the bottoms, tumbled the exterior, and spent countless late nights perfecting the design so the skillet wouldn’t just cook beautifully—it would feel wonderful in your hands.” In this way, the company aims to recreate the feeling of heirloom pieces people remember from their grandparents’ kitchens. “Making cast iron is truly an art, and much of that art has been lost over time,” Longenecker says. “If you talk to anyone in this field, you’ll almost always hear the same phrase: ‘It’s a lost art.’ For us, that meant learning, reviving and reteaching this craft from the ground up.” Today’s designs feature two pour spouts and a small helper handle for easier gripping. Everything is smoothly polished and double-seasoned to prevent food from sticking. Finishing each skillet takes about four hours. This process involves removing approximately 5 lbs. from the 10-in. dia. skillet, for a total weight of 6 lbs. Longenecker believes these extra steps set the company’s cast iron apart. “We intentionally spend more time on every single skillet. Our cookware is lightweight, fully smoothed inside and out, and balanced for everyday use. We don’t think of our work as reinventing cast iron—we see it as bringing back what made it special in the first place.” The Conestoga retail location sells the company’s skillets, Dutch ovens and other cooking items, including high-end wooden utensils and leather handle holders/placemats. “Our No. 8 skillet will always hold a special place in our hearts because it was the beginning of everything,” Longenecker says. “We poured so much care into its design, and it truly launched Lancaster Cast Iron. But our Dutch Oven is another piece we’re deeply proud of. It’s not only beautiful—it performs at the highest level. From bread baking to slow braising, every detail was intentionally engineered to give home cooks the best possible results.” Lancaster Cast Iron completes everything in-house with six employees, from production through packaging and shipping. While the business is expanding into wholesale, the core business remains online orders from the website. “Without question, the greatest joy is getting to build this business alongside our friends and family. Creating a product we believe in is rewarding, but doing it with people we love and respect is what makes Lancaster Cast Iron truly special.” Prices online start at $120 plus shipping for a No. 4 skillet and go up to $329 for a 5-quart Dutch oven. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lancaster Cast Iron, 3340 Main St., Conestoga, Pa. 17516 (ph 717-803-3040; info@lancastercastiron.com; www.lancastercastiron.com).

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