Petromax

Origins and track record

Petromax is one of those German names with more than a century behind it. It was born in 1910 with its famous kerosene pressure lamps, a product that became shorthand for portable light across much of the world. Over the decades the house channelled that know-how into premium outdoor cooking, and today its cast-iron and steel range is a reference for anyone cooking over open fire, embers or a kamado.

What sets it apart

The signature of Petromax is a range built to live alongside the flame. Fire skillets (Feuerpfanne) such as the FP35 cast-iron pan with side handles or the FP20 with a long handle arrive with thick walls and generous thermal mass, able to take direct fire without warping. The FT9 Dutch oven, a lidded cast-iron pot, is the classic for stews, breads and long braises among the coals. And the FS38 solid-steel fire bowl and griddle at 38 cm sits between a flat-top and a fire pan. They all speak the same language: honest iron and steel, a natural patina that improves with use, and finishes that are unafraid of ash.

Our assessment

At mikamado we added Petromax to the catalogue because it fills a gap few kamado accessories cover well: live-fire work and long cast-iron cooks. Based on the specifications, the reputation within the user community and our own experience cooking on our Big Green Egg Large, the verdict is solid: cast iron of this kind holds and spreads heat beautifully, which pays off inside the stable chamber of a kamado. As an honest caveat, it is a material that demands seasoning and care (drying and oiling), carries real weight and is not the lightest to handle. It competes head to head with Lodge and Skottsberg in cast iron, with slightly more refined engineering and finishing in exchange for premium positioning.

Who it is for

It is the natural choice for anyone who wants more than grilling and would rather stew, fry and bake over embers: a Dutch oven for bread and braises, a fire skillet for vegetables and seared meats, a griddle for breakfasts and stir-fries. If you want serious-grade iron and steel that lasts seasons and gains character with every cook, Petromax fits. If you prefer light, zero-maintenance or stainless-steel accessories, look at other options in the catalogue.