What are the best cast iron skillets?

Question

CookingKitchen

What are the best cast iron skillets?

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19

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Recs.

Oct 4, 2023

Last
Updated

4 Options Considered

Best cast iron skillets	Price	Weight	Size
-- Le Creuset Signature Skillet	$164.95+	6.8 lbs	10.25 in
-- Field Skillet	$100	4.5 lbs	10 in
-- Lodge Cast-Iron with Handle Holder	$37.12	7.5 lbs	12 in
-- Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet	199.00	-	-

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score 8 · Answer 1

Le Creuset Signature Skillet

Top Pro

Dishwasher safe

This skillet can be washed or soaked in water without rusting. See More

Top Con

Very heavy

Weighing 6.8 lbs, this skillet may not be suitable for cooks with weaker wrists. See More

Specs

Weight:6.8 lbs

Size:10.25 in

Dimensions:17.5 x 11.75 x 1.75 in

Dishwasher safe:Yes

See All Specs

Top Pro

Can be used to cook acidic foods

Since this skillet's enamel is non-reactive, nothing from the cooking surface leaches into food, even when exposed to highly acidic foodstuffs. As a result, pasta sauce, chili or anything else can simmer for a long time or even be stored in the pan. See More

Top Con

Expensive brand

The smallest and cheapest 6.3'' skillet version costs $119.95. The largest 12'' skillet costs $199.99. See More

Top Pro

A looped extra handle for easier handling

Since the skillet is heavy, it has an extra handle for added balance when moving the pan. The handle is large and looped, comfortable to grip even when wearing bulky oven mitts. See More

Top Con

Sensitive to sudden changes in temperature

To use with high heat, this skillet should be heated up slowly for 10 minutes. When heated up, it should never be cooled suddenly (such as plunged in cold water), as the enamel coating may crack and come off entirely. See More

Top Pro

Can handle high heat

This Le Creuset skillet can be used in temperatures of up to 500 ºF. Most of the other enameled cast-iron frying pans are not supposed to be used above 450 ºF. See More

Top Con

Not suitable for using on a campfire

Unlike the bare-cast iron skillets, this enameled skillet should not be put straight into campfires. The temperatures of open flames are hard to control, and if the skillet gets too hot, the enamel can soften enough to get damaged. See More

Top Pro

Wide range of colors

The skillet comes in 16 colors: matte black, white, mineral blue, cerise red, sugar pink, cashmere grey, cotton beige, amethyst purple, marseille blue, soleil yellow, palm green, flame orange, carribean teal, hibiscus pink, marine blue, and oyster grey. The glossy outside enamel looks appealing and decorative. See More

Top Pro

Comes preseasoned for immediate use

This skillet comes with a layer of seasoning and can be used right away. The cooking surface of Le Creuset's enamel allows for some more seasoning, but not so much as a raw cast-iron skillet. See More

Top Pro

Spouts for easier pouring

This frying pan has spouts on two sides, so it is easy to pour out grease or gravy. See More

Top Pro

Suitable for various cooking mediums

The enameled Le Creuset skillet can be used with these heat sources: gas/electric/induction stove-tops, oven, broiler, and grill, although using a grill risks damaging the pan's outer glossy enamel layer. See More

See All

score 2 · Answer 2

Field Skillet

Top Pro

Safe for ceramic glass stovetops

Most cast-iron skillets made today have a pebbly surface on the inside as well as on the outside. This skillet is polished to a very fine grain, so the outer surface doesn't scratch ceramic glass stovetops. See More

Top Con

Expensive

The Field Skillet costs a whopping $100. Other raw cast-iron skillets on the market cost $15-30, so you need to decide whether the lesser weight and smoother surface is worth the upcharge. See More

Specs

Weight:4.5 lbs

Size:10 in

Dimensions:16.4 x 10.25 x 2 in

Dishwasher safe:No

See All Specs

Top Pro

Environmentally friendly

Made out of 75-90% recycled iron. See More

Top Con

No pouring spouts

This skillet has no spouts to help in pouring out the oil or gravy. See More

Top Pro

Much easier to handle than other cast-iron skillets

Weighing only 4.5 lbs it is easy to lift with one hand, in comparison to most of the other cast-iron skillets, that weigh anywhere from 6.5 to 8 lbs. The handle is ergonomic, long and provides a good grip. See More

Top Con

Comes in only one size so far

The No. 8 is the only size for this skillet available today, though the manufacturer promises to add a larger diameter No. 10 in the near future. See More

Top Pro

Comes preseasoned for immediate use

The Field Skillet comes with two layers of grapeseed oil seasoning for immediate use. The non-stick properties improve with further seasoning, achieved by frying food in oil or fat. See More

Top Pro

Suitable for all kinds of cooking mediums

The Field skillet can be used with these heat sources: gas/electric/induction stovetops, oven, grill, broiler, and open campfire. See More

See All

score 3 · Answer 3

Lodge Cast-Iron with Handle Holder

Top Pro

Suitable for all kinds of cooking mediums

This cast-iron skillet can be used with these heat sources: gas/electric/induction stovetops, oven, grill, broiler, and open campfire. See More

Top Con

Very heavy

Weighing in at 7.5 lbs, this skillet might not be suitable for someone with weaker wrists. See More

Specs

Weight:7.5 lbs

Size:12 in

Dimensions:13.6 x 19 x 6 in

Dishwasher safe:No

See All Specs

Top Pro

Extremely durable

Metal utensils can be used freely in this frying pan. The skillet will last for generations if treated properly. See More

Top Con

Not dishwasher safe, rusts if soaked in water

The Lodge Cast-iron skillet should not be put in the dishwasher or soaked. It will rust and chip if exposed to water for too long. The pan needs to be dried off completely directly after washing. See More

Top Pro

Very versatile use

This skillet can be used for a wide variety of cooking such as searing, roasting, frying, baking, and one pan stove-to-oven recipes. See More

Top Con

Can scratch ceramic glass stovetops

This skillet is heavy and might be a bit uneven (pebbly) on the outside. When using ceramic glass stovetops, you must only lift the pan out as sliding it around can damage the surface. See More

Top Pro

Made in the USA

American made quality supports manufacturing in the United States. See More

Top Con

Needs to be cleaned and dried immediately after use

After cooking, food should be removed immediately and the skillet should be cleaned. It can be scrubbed with a nylon/plastic brush if needed. Then it should be washed in warm water, dried off completely and wiped down with cooking oil. See More

Top Pro

Comes preseasoned for immediate use

The Lodge skillet is perfect for people not familiar with cast-iron cookware because it comes with a layer of seasoning and can be used right away. The non-stick properties improve with further seasoning. This can be done by either cooking greasy foods in it for the first few times or seasoning with oil/lard (see Care Of Traditional Cast Iron Cookware). See More

Top Con

Not suitable for cooking acidic food

When cooking with tomatoes, citrus, pineapple, or other acidic foods, the seasoning can strip away and the pan will need to be reseasoned. Without seasoning, the iron may leach and give food a metallic taste. See More

Top Pro

Comes with a silicone slip-on holder for burn-protection

The silicone handle holder protects from burns, as the short handle of this skillet gets very hot, especially after using in an oven. The holder slips on and off easily, providing a good grip. See More

Top Con

Silicone handle holder can slip off

Some users reported that the holder needs to be gripped tight, especially if the cook has difficulty lifting the skillet. See More

Top Pro

An extra handle for easier handling

Since the skillet is heavy, it has an extra handle for added balance when moving the pan. See More

Top Con

Rough, pebbled cooking surface

Some users dislike rough cooking surfaces of these skillets, because they take time and frequent use to get smoother. See More

See All

score 4 · Answer 4

Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet

score 2 · Answer 5

What are the best cast iron skillets?

4 Options Considered

Le Creuset Signature Skillet

My Recommendation for Le Creuset Signature Skillet

My Recommendation for Le Creuset Signature Skillet

Dishwasher safe

Very heavy

Can be used to cook acidic foods

Expensive brand

A looped extra handle for easier handling

Sensitive to sudden changes in temperature

Can handle high heat

Not suitable for using on a campfire

Wide range of colors

Comes preseasoned for immediate use

Spouts for easier pouring

Suitable for various cooking mediums

Field Skillet

My Recommendation for Field Skillet

My Recommendation for Field Skillet

Safe for ceramic glass stovetops

Expensive

Environmentally friendly

No pouring spouts

Much easier to handle than other cast-iron skillets

Comes in only one size so far

Comes preseasoned for immediate use

Suitable for all kinds of cooking mediums

Lodge Cast-Iron with Handle Holder

My Recommendation for Lodge Cast-Iron with Handle Holder

My Recommendation for Lodge Cast-Iron with Handle Holder

Suitable for all kinds of cooking mediums

Very heavy

Extremely durable

Not dishwasher safe, rusts if soaked in water

Very versatile use

Can scratch ceramic glass stovetops

Made in the USA

Needs to be cleaned and dried immediately after use

Comes preseasoned for immediate use

Not suitable for cooking acidic food

Comes with a silicone slip-on holder for burn-protection

Silicone handle holder can slip off

An extra handle for easier handling

Rough, pebbled cooking surface

Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet

My Recommendation for Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet

My Recommendation for Le Creuset Signature Iron Handle Skillet

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PUBG Cast Iron Skillet

My Recommendation for PUBG Cast Iron Skillet

My Recommendation for PUBG Cast Iron Skillet

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