Of course if that's all there was to a Rome pie iron, this site wouldn't exist, you wouldn't be reading this and we probably wouldn't have been making them since the early 60's. What the pie iron really does is bring together family and friends around a campfire to enjoy easy to cook snacks in a fun and inclusive environment.

Basic Designs:
Pie Irons are available in both cast iron & aluminum. The two camps of opinion are pretty strong with the majority leaning towards cast iron these days, although they both have their good & bad points. Click on the image below to read more about the two metals.

We offer designs in both materials and in several different styles - round, square, double sized, plain or Teflon coated (on aluminum). Additionally, we make use specific designs such as a waffle iron, burger & meat griller, a bratwurst/corn bread iron and even a panini press.

Regardless of material or shape, all of our pie irons are made using top quality components such as chrome plated rods and long hardwood handles and are assembled with care in our both our domestic and overseas workshops.

Cultural Connections:
Pie Iron cooking is part of a unique cultural legacy that spans the globe. In many countries you can find hinged cooking devices similar to a pie iron being used to create stuffed, grilled, pressed or toasted food. Unlike in North America though, most of these devices are used by street vendors, take-away stands or in cafes, where the demand for easily portable, finger foods and snacks are high.

Some of the international pie iron relatives include:

Jaffle Iron - This Australian design was developed around the same time as pie irons in the United States. Originally a brand name, the jaffle iron is now the common name for hinged cavity cooking in Australia, South Africa, and Indonesia. In these countires, any pressed or grilled sandwich may be referred to as a "jaffle."

Panini Grill - Although Panini literally means sandwich in Italian, what it generally refers to is a sandwich that is placed between a two-part grill and pressed to make a tight, flavor packed sandwich about ¾" to 1" thick. Popular in Italian bars and cafes for ages, grilled panini sandwiches are now common street food throughout Europe.

Toasties - A common name for pie iron style sandwiches in the U.K.

Sandwich Cubano - Grilled and pressed flat, the sandwich cubano is popular not only in Cuba but throughout Florida as well. Although there are many sandwich variations, the classic consists of swiss cheese, ham, roast pork, salami, sweet pickles & mustard.

North American Variations - Here at Rome we generally refer to all of our irons (aluminum & iron) as Pie Irons, however it seems like everyone has another name for them. The most common ones being Pudgie Pies, Mountain Pies, Hobo Pies, Sandwich Cookers, Camp Cookers and Pie Shams. In the end, it makes no difference what you call them, as it's the final result that counts - a smile on the face and a full stomach.