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The best cast iron skillets for most kitchens
The Lodge 12-inch skillet is the best all-around buy: it sears and holds heat well, costs little, and earned top marks in hands-on tests.
| Best overall | Best value | Cheapest that's still good | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, 12-Inch | Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25-Inch (L8SK3) | Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 8-Inch |
| Price | about $30 | about $25 | about $18 |
| Why | Tom’s Guide named the 12-inch Lodge its best tested skillet, noting fast, even preheating and good results with steak, eggs, and pizza. It gives most households useful cooking space at a modest price. | It costs less than the 12-inch Lodge while remaining a strong all-purpose pan: TechGearLab rated its cooking performance highly and recommended it as its best overall cast-iron skillet. Its size works well for everyday meals without the larger pan’s price and heft. | It is the least expensive pick here, and the same Lodge line is repeatedly recommended by hands-on reviewers for dependable cooking and heat retention. It is a sensible small-pan choice, but not a substitute for a full-size skillet. |
| Good to know | It is heavy, and the handle can get hot during cooking. | The short handle and shallow pour spouts can make it less comfortable to maneuver and pour. | Its cooking surface is too small for most full meals or multiple servings. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
picture by AITom’s Guide named the 12-inch Lodge its best tested skillet, noting fast, even preheating and good results with steak, eggs, and pizza. It gives most households useful cooking space at a modest price.
Good to know: It is heavy, and the handle can get hot during cooking.
See on Amazonpicture by AIIt costs less than the 12-inch Lodge while remaining a strong all-purpose pan: TechGearLab rated its cooking performance highly and recommended it as its best overall cast-iron skillet. Its size works well for everyday meals without the larger pan’s price and heft.
Good to know: The short handle and shallow pour spouts can make it less comfortable to maneuver and pour.
See on Amazonpicture by AIIt is the least expensive pick here, and the same Lodge line is repeatedly recommended by hands-on reviewers for dependable cooking and heat retention. It is a sensible small-pan choice, but not a substitute for a full-size skillet.
Good to know: Its cooking surface is too small for most full meals or multiple servings.
See on AmazonDanilli may earn a small commission from Amazon when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Product pictures are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.
What matters
Choose a 10- to 12-inch pan that fits your burner and the amount you cook; cast iron is heavy, so a helper handle helps. Bare cast iron needs seasoning and drying after washing, while a smaller pan costs less but has less room to cook.
Who this is for
These picks suit cooks who want a durable pan for searing, frying, and baking, and are willing to care for bare cast iron. Choose the 8-inch Lodge mainly for small portions, sides, or a tight budget—not as your only skillet for family meals.
The picks, one by one
Best overall: Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, 12-Inch
Tom’s Guide named the 12-inch Lodge its best tested skillet, noting fast, even preheating and good results with steak, eggs, and pizza. It gives most households useful cooking space at a modest price. In the reviewer’s cooking tests, it heated evenly and handled steak, fried eggs, and pizza well. It comes pre-seasoned, and its long handle helped with maneuvering, though the pan is heavy. It is a practical everyday workhorse if you cook for several people or want room to sear. Skip it if lifting a heavy pan is difficult or you usually cook single portions.
Good to know: It is heavy, and the handle can get hot during cooking.
See on AmazonBest value: Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25-Inch (L8SK3)
It costs less than the 12-inch Lodge while remaining a strong all-purpose pan: TechGearLab rated its cooking performance highly and recommended it as its best overall cast-iron skillet. Its size works well for everyday meals without the larger pan’s price and heft. TechGearLab tested it against a large group of skillets and found reliable temperature control, good heat retention, and seasoning that improved with use. Its 10.25-inch size suits many stovetops and everyday meals. The rougher cooking surface may take time to build a slick seasoning layer. Consider the 12-inch version instead if you often cook several servings at once.
Good to know: The short handle and shallow pour spouts can make it less comfortable to maneuver and pour.
See on AmazonCheapest that's still good: Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 8-Inch
It is the least expensive pick here, and the same Lodge line is repeatedly recommended by hands-on reviewers for dependable cooking and heat retention. It is a sensible small-pan choice, but not a substitute for a full-size skillet. The 8-inch size is handy for one or two eggs, reheating a small portion, or cooking a side dish. Like the larger Lodge skillets, it arrives pre-seasoned and works on the stovetop, in the oven, or over a fire. It is still heavy for its size and needs the same drying and seasoning care. Skip it as your only skillet if you regularly cook meals for more than one person.
Good to know: Its cooking surface is too small for most full meals or multiple servings.
See on AmazonHow we chose
Reviewers cooked eggs, steaks, onions, pancakes, and other foods, judging sticking, browning, heat distribution, and handling. Some also measured heating and heat retention; testing ranged from weeks of daily cooking to several months of use. Danilli read the reviews and tests listed below and compared current prices; it does not take money from brands to pick a product.
Sources
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Written with Danilli's AI from the sources above and refreshed about once a month; prices change, check Amazon for today's price. Danilli may earn a small commission from Amazon when you buy through these buttons. The price is the same for you. Product pictures are made by Danilli's AI to show the product; check the real photos on the store page.