Yeti's Cast Iron Skillet and Insulated Rambler Bowls Review

[Travis Bertrand]

Hey all, I know I have been absent lately. If you know me, it's because of a significant injury which made me unable to hunt this year. I have been trying to get out camping with the family as much as I can though and have been testing out Yeti's new Skillets and Insulated Bowls. Here are my thoughts so far. Has anyone else used them?

YETI has expanded its Outdoor Kitchen line with cast iron skillets (10", 12", 14") and Rambler Insulated Bowls. After 2-3 months testing the 12" and 14" skillets and various insulated bowls. The skillets are exceptional, high-quality pans, while the bowls excel in temperature control but aren’t full replacements for standard mixing bowls. I have not found a solid spot for these yet.

Crafted via a ceramic mold process, YETI’s skillets boast a smooth, naturally non-stick surface, pre-seasoned for immediate use. They develop a slick patina over time, rivaling boutique brands like Field Company while being lighter than traditional Lodge pans. The prices are 12" (~$250), 14" (~$300), 10" ($200). Premium but justified. The 12" weighs ~7 lbs, lighter than Lodge’s 8.5+ lbs, These pans are thick where needed for even heating; oven-safe to 500°F, ideal for. As far as care. It is a cast iron so that comes with the debate of soap vs no soap. People are adamant that soap will damage their cast iron. That was true back in the day, however lye is not found in todays modern soaps. With that, Yeti recomends hand-wash, dry over low heat, lightly oil. I’ll leave the soap up to you.

Over months, the 12" and 14" skillets handled steaks, stir-fries, cornbread, and campfire roasts. The smooth surface releases food easily with minimal oil, and eggs slide effortlessly after seasoning builds. Heat distribution is consistent, with no hot spots, and the lighter weight makes flipping and moving easy. Campfire tests showed no warping, though minor cosmetic “mottling” marks appear but fade. These pans a heirloom-quality, worth every penny for serious cooks.


YETI Rambler Insulated Bowls


The YETI Rambler Insulated Bowls have double-wall stainless steel with Tritan lids and come in six sizes (1 Qt to 4.5 Qt), designed to keep food hot or cold for hours, perfect for potlucks or outdoor meals.From $25 (1.6 Qt Low) to $50+ (4.5 Qt) They are spendy but top quality..

Hot sauces stayed warm during meal prep, freeing up stove space, while salads remained crisp for hours at picnics. Heat retention is what you are paying for, you just have to decide if it is worth it. They’re ideal for transport, with secure lids preventing spills on car rides, and their nesting design saves space. However, they’re not ideal for mixing due to curved interiors and lack of a flat base. Only the larger bowls have a rubber non slip pad. , and they can’t replace stainless steel bowls for tasks like vigorous stirring or reheating. I have found these bowls best for outdoor cooking a food transporting.

 

[jofes]

Bot?

 

[Travis Bertrand]

Bot?

Moderator.


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[robby denning]

$300 frying pan?


How much are you getting paid to hawk this stuff?




We need another great depression.

We pay all our writerss for their reviews, takes time, and none of us have been able to figure out how to trade gear for our mortgages.

But if you pay attention, by the time they publish the final review, they show any warts if they’re in there.

 

[RockAndSage]

Hey all, I know I have been absent lately. If you know me, it's because of a significant injury which made me unable to hunt this year. I have been trying to get out camping with the family as much as I can though and have been testing out Yeti's new Skillets and Insulated Bowls. Here are my thoughts so far. Has anyone else used them?

YETI has expanded its Outdoor Kitchen line with cast iron skillets (10", 12", 14") and Rambler Insulated Bowls. After 2-3 months testing the 12" and 14" skillets and various insulated bowls. The skillets are exceptional, high-quality pans, while the bowls excel in temperature control but aren’t full replacements for standard mixing bowls. I have not found a solid spot for these yet.

Crafted via a ceramic mold process, YETI’s skillets boast a smooth, naturally non-stick surface, pre-seasoned for immediate use. They develop a slick patina over time, rivaling boutique brands like Field Company while being lighter than traditional Lodge pans. The prices are 12" (~$250), 14" (~$300), 10" ($200). Premium but justified. The 12" weighs ~7 lbs, lighter than Lodge’s 8.5+ lbs, These pans are thick where needed for even heating; oven-safe to 500°F, ideal for. As far as care. It is a cast iron so that comes with the debate of soap vs no soap. People are adamant that soap will damage their cast iron. That was true back in the day, however lye is not found in todays modern soaps. With that, Yeti recomends hand-wash, dry over low heat, lightly oil. I’ll leave the soap up to you.

Over months, the 12" and 14" skillets handled steaks, stir-fries, cornbread, and campfire roasts. The smooth surface releases food easily with minimal oil, and eggs slide effortlessly after seasoning builds. Heat distribution is consistent, with no hot spots, and the lighter weight makes flipping and moving easy. Campfire tests showed no warping, though minor cosmetic “mottling” marks appear but fade. These pans a heirloom-quality, worth every penny for serious cooks.


YETI Rambler Insulated Bowls


The YETI Rambler Insulated Bowls have double-wall stainless steel with Tritan lids and come in six sizes (1 Qt to 4.5 Qt), designed to keep food hot or cold for hours, perfect for potlucks or outdoor meals.From $25 (1.6 Qt Low) to $50+ (4.5 Qt) They are spendy but top quality..

Hot sauces stayed warm during meal prep, freeing up stove space, while salads remained crisp for hours at picnics. Heat retention is what you are paying for, you just have to decide if it is worth it. They’re ideal for transport, with secure lids preventing spills on car rides, and their nesting design saves space. However, they’re not ideal for mixing due to curved interiors and lack of a flat base. Only the larger bowls have a rubber non slip pad. , and they can’t replace stainless steel bowls for tasks like vigorous stirring or reheating. I have found these bowls best for outdoor cooking a food transporting.

Good stuff, thanks for sharing. I picked up one of these 12's for my wife as an anniversary present - she needed a pretty large cast-iron pan, but one that would be light enough for her to handle easily. She's got a number of others of different sizes and makes, including some great old ones, and there's definitely a performance difference with this one in handling, cooking, and cleaning that makes it worth the premium. Definitely expensive, but it's the kind of expensive that comes with actual quality that you can see, feel, and enjoy experiencing. Given she uses it multiple times a week, it's been a great purchase.

 

[robby denning]

Good stuff, thanks for sharing. I picked up one of these 12's for my wife as an anniversary present - she needed a pretty large cast-iron pan, but one that would be light enough for her to handle easily. She's got a number of others of different sizes and makes, including some great old ones, and there's definitely a performance difference with this one in handling, cooking, and cleaning that makes it worth the premium. Definitely expensive, but it's the kind of expensive that comes with actual quality that you can see, feel, and enjoy experiencing. Given she uses it multiple times a week, it's been a great purchase.

Is the weight savings significant?

We’ve got the full cast-iron pans and we use them in our kitchen, but man they are heavy. Especially when they’re full of food and you’re moving them around.

 

[RockAndSage]

For anyone questioning the prices on these, it absolutely does have parallels to guns. Yes, a $400 Glock or a $500 Ruger American can get the job done "just fine" - but they are a very different experience from something like an Atlas 2011, or a Park West rifle. And that's okay.

If you have the money and really want to enjoy something at a higher level, it's great to have the experiences of a luxury purchase - especially when you enjoy it regularly.

 

[RockAndSage]

Is the weight savings significant?

We’ve got the full cast-iron pans and we use them in our kitchen, but man they are heavy. Especially when they’re full of food and you’re moving them around.

I do think so, personally. Just weighed our 10" Lodge (8" cooking surface), and the 12" Yeti (10" cooking surface). The Lodge came in at 5lb 10oz, the Yeti at 6lb 11oz.

Between the two diameters of the cooking surface though, you've got about 50% more cooking area with the Yeti for that extra pound (50 square inches vs 78 square inches).

They put a lot of work into the Yeti - it's not just cast, seasoned, and boxed like the Lodges. The casting molds were definitely designed well to minimize weight, and then their surfaces are machined too. It's also kinda "balanced" well, in a way that just makes it feel like it's easier to move around easily on the stove.

We're good with our smaller pans, but would 100% do a Yeti in the 14" size if we needed a bigger one. Definitely one of the more satisfying and useful purchases for the house the last year or so.

EDIT: Just checked Lodge's website, and their 12" pan comes in at 7lb 11oz, so the Yeti is about a full pound lighter.

 

[JDT1982]

Get a vintage Wagner, Griswold, or Lodge on ebay. Smooth cooking surfaces, lighter weight, and much cheaper than Yeti cast iron.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

Is the weight savings significant?

We’ve got the full cast-iron pans and we use them in our kitchen, but man they are heavy. Especially when they’re full of food and you’re moving them around.

I want to say a 12” lodge is almost 1.5 pounds heavier than the 12” yeti. Let me check my notes! I did check.


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[Justin Crossley]

I just published Travis's full review on our homepage. Check it out!

YETI Outdoor Kitchen Expansion

 

[Brock A]

Good review! I didn't realize how much lighter the Yeti cast irons are vs Lodge.

 

[TxLite]

I can appreciate luxury items and have no problem spending money for quality items. I understand the 1.5Lb weight savings is significant and can appreciate that. What I struggle with is the pan itself. Cast iron isn’t rocket surgery. If you got a lodge or similar cast iron and spent 5 minutes sanding out the defects on the cooking surface, it would be the exact same cooking experience (aside from the weight savings) while saving a substantial amount of money.

 

[khart_6882]

1.5lbs is worth an extra couple hundred bucks? Is anyone really packing in a cast iron skillet on their back? Even when I use my horses, I’m as mindful as I can be about weight, but I couldn’t see myself spending that kind of dough on a frickin pan.
If I’m using a cast iron it’s on a camp chef when I’m camping at the truck, and my pickup doesn’t mind an extra 1.5lbs. I could buy a lot of ribeyes and potatoes to fry in my $25 pan

 

[robby denning]

1.5lbs is worth an extra couple hundred bucks? Is anyone really packing in a cast iron skillet on their back? Even when I use my horses, I’m as mindful as I can be about weight, but I couldn’t see myself spending that kind of dough on a frickin pan.
If I’m using a cast iron it’s on a camp chef when I’m camping at the truck, and my pickup doesn’t mind an extra 1.5lbs. I could buy a lot of ribeyes and potatoes to fry in my $25 pan

You’re right but plenty of guys on here that are weight weinies and pay way more for anything lighter. Not everyone trying to save a buck

I see the same thing with paying way more for small differences in optics’ performance

Thanks for giving the article a look and for chiming in.

 

[RockAndSage]

If you got a lodge or similar cast iron and spent 5 minutes sanding out the defects on the cooking surface, it would be the exact same cooking experience (aside from the weight savings) while saving a substantial amount of money.

I've done this - it's not remotely the same thing. Not trying to be a jerk here, but sanding down a Lodge (which I spent several hours on, with tools, getting it exceedingly smooth) and expecting it to be one of these Yetis is like bolting on chrome and a few upgraded parts onto a car and calling it just as good as a Lambo. It's just not the same thing, at all. Even if they do 90% of the same stuff. It's a different experience entirely.

 

[5MilesBack]

I considered these for Christmas presents for my wife and 3 daughters, but ended up going with Smithey because of their Black Friday specials. Their cast iron is polished smooth. First use was fried eggs over easy.......no problems at all. All yolks intact, and no sticking. If the Yeti's are similar, they're a winner. Two of my daughters say they use them every day now. Heirloom pieces that my granddaughters will use someday too.

 

[Brock A]

1.5lbs is worth an extra couple hundred bucks? Is anyone really packing in a cast iron skillet on their back? Even when I use my horses, I’m as mindful as I can be about weight, but I couldn’t see myself spending that kind of dough on a frickin pan.
If I’m using a cast iron it’s on a camp chef when I’m camping at the truck, and my pickup doesn’t mind an extra 1.5lbs. I could buy a lot of ribeyes and potatoes to fry in my $25 pan

My take away from the review is a little more than the weight savings. Some folks like to spend the extra money on a more quality product. Sure, one can argue that a cast iron skillet is a cast iron skillet but I would guess there is more to them that just that. Probably not your cup of tea, and that is fine. Also, nobody is packing these in on their back, that is just nuts!

 

[RockAndSage]

Also, nobody is packing these in on their back, that is just nuts!

Lol, 100%. They're a home nicety.

 

[TxLite]

I've done this - it's not remotely the same thing. Not trying to be a jerk here, but sanding down a Lodge (which I spent several hours on, with tools, getting it exceedingly smooth) and expecting it to be one of these Yetis is like bolting on chrome and a few upgraded parts onto a car and calling it just as good as a Lambo. It's just not the same thing, at all. Even if they do 90% of the same stuff. It's a different experience entirely.

I don’t doubt they are nice.

I have a hard time comparing cast iron to a lambo. Cast iron is cast iron. Polish it and season it and it’s going to do the same thing