The Best Cast Iron Skillets You Can Buy Right Now
published about 1 hour agoThere is no class of cookware with a more devoted fanbase than cast iron skillets. They’re durable, versatile, virtually nonstick, and so long-lasting they can, quite literally, be passed down from generation to generation.
There’s just one question: What’s the best cast iron skillet you can buy? To find out, I rounded up the most popular options on the market (including skillets that cost just $25 and higher-end, hand-forged skillets that go for hundreds) and put them to the test. What did I learn? For starters, my neighbors love free cornbread. Also, there are a ton of great cast iron skillets out there. Here’s what I found out. But, first, let’s take a look at the winners.
The Best Cast Iron Skillets
- Best Overall : Lodge Chef Collection Skillet
- Best Splurge : Smithey No. 12 Cast Iron Skillet
- Best Budget : Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
- Best Lightweight Option : Lodge Blacklock Triple Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
- Best Enameled Cast Iron Skillet : Staub Enameled Cast Iron Fry Pan (also great: Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet )
The Tests
- Make chili-lime steak bites .
- Bake skillet cornbread .
- Make honey-glazed salmon .
- After every test, wash each skillet by hand according to the manufacturers’ instructions.
Why You Should Trust Us
I’m the Tools Editor at The Kitchn and a professional kitchen equipment tester. I previously worked at America’s Test Kitchen and my reviews on topics like stand mixers, induction burners, toaster ovens, and multicookers have been published in Cook’s Illustrated, Cook’s Country, and on the America’s Test Kitchen website. My work has also been featured on America’s Test Kitchen’s and Cook’s Country’s television programs. I also happen to love cast iron cookware.
What Makes Cast Iron So Great?
Before getting into the testing nitty-gritty, let’s go over why I think you should have (and use!) a cast iron skillet.
- It retains heat. A cast iron skillet takes longer to heat up than, say, stainless steel or nonstick. But it can withstand high temperatures and, once it heats up, it maintains that heat beautifully. This is what makes cast iron so great at browning and searing things like steak, pork chops, chicken thighs … the list goes on. Its heat retention and durability also make it a great choice for shallow-frying foods, like chicken cutlets, fritters, and donuts.
- It gets more nonstick the more you use it. Almost all cast iron skillets are sold pre-seasoned these days, so you really can get cooking straight out of the box. While you may notice some stickage initially, the more you cook in a cast iron skillet, the more you’ll build up the seasoning — and the more nonstick it’ll become. A great cast iron skillet will only get better with age.
- It’s durable (like, very durable). One might even call a cast iron skillet indestructible. (Just check out this story for proof!) You can use cast iron on the stovetop (it’s induction-friendly, too!), in the oven, on the grill (a grilled fruit crisp, anyone?), and even over an open fire. As long as you treat cast iron right and clean it properly , you’re golden. However, if the seasoning gets stripped, no worries! It’s easy to reseason a cast iron skillet , too. You can even bring a rusty cast iron skillet back to life !
What to Consider When Buying a Cast Iron Skillet
How Well Does It Cook?
Cast iron is heavy, but its heft is actually what makes it such a browning superstar. Thick, heavy cast iron skillets conduct and retain heat, which translates to even, thorough browning. Conversely, lighter options tend to cook more unevenly, as they just don’t have the same amount of material mass to retain heat as well. With that in mind, I’ve found that skillets weighing in at 6.5 pounds and above perform the best; they evenly and deeply brown steak, skin-on salmon, and cornbread.
Differences in Surface Texture
The higher-end, hand-forged skillets I tried (like this stunner from Smithey Ironware Co.) came with smooth surfaces. Others, like those from Lodge, have gently textured, pebbly surfaces. Both of these cook wonderfully and were virtually nonstick by the end of testing. A couple of the skillets I tried had surfaces with super-rough textures. I can’t recommend these, as food stuck more to them and it was harder to maintain their seasoning.
How Easy Is the Skillet to Use?
There are several things that make a skillet easier to use (and some that don’t): the height of the walls, handle design, number of pour spouts, and whether or not it has a helper handle.
Skillets with walls that are about 2 inches high are ideal (any shorter and they don’t easily contain food; too much taller and it makes it harder to, say, maneuver a spatula in the skillet and flip a salmon fillet). As for the handle design, my three favorite skillets have solid handles, which make them feel secure and easy to pick up. Handles with intricate designs or with gaps are harder and more uncomfortable to hold onto.
And as for the pouring spouts, some skillets don’t have any, some have one, some have two, and at least one brand has eight (!!!). I find two to be the sweet spot, as it’s the most helpful, allowing you to easily pour sauces, oil, and ingredients out of the skillet — whether you’re right- or left-handed. I also prefer skillets that have some sort of helper handle, which makes it more comfortable to maneuver around the stovetop or into and out of the oven.
What Size Skillet Should You Get?
For this testing, I focused on 12-inch skillets. This is the ideal size if you often cook for four or make recipes that serve four. A 10-inch skillet is great if you mostly cook for two to three people. If you’re torn between getting either size, I say go bigger. You can also make less in a 12-inch, but can’t make more in a 10-inch. That said, I’ll note what other sizes my favorite skillets come in when I get to that part, below.
Do You Want Traditional Versus Enameled Cast Iron?
And, finally, is a traditional or enameled cast iron skillet right for you? Personally, I think it’s worth having both. But here’s the rundown: If you want the heat-retaining abilities of cast iron, but don’t want to worry about maintaining the seasoning, an enameled cast iron skillet (like my top pick from Staub ) is a great option. You can wash it with all the dish soap you want and don’t have to worry about drying it on the stovetop or rubbing oil onto its surface, like you do traditional cast iron. Acidic ingredients can also strip the seasoning of traditional cast iron, but not enameled cast iron, making the latter a great choice for pan sauces or browning meatballs and simmering them in tomato sauce.
That said, enameled cast iron won’t become more nonstick the more you use it and is less durable than traditional cast iron, as its enameled coating can chip or crack over time.
What We Look for in a Cast Iron Skillet
I judged all of the skillets on the following criteria, on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best):
- Performance : How well does the skillet cook?
- Ease of use : How easy is the skillet to use?
- Cleanup : How easy is it to clean the skillet?
Best Overall: Lodge Chef Collection Skillet
Buy NowThis skillet is a joy to use and cook in. It browns beautifully and has a helper handle. It’s a little lighter than other cast iron skillets (right at my ideal 6.5-pound cut off!), which makes it easier to lift. It has tall, curved sides that are the perfect height for containing ingredients, but also easily reaching in to flip food. The skillet has two pouring spouts and a long, solid handle that’s comfortable to grip. It has everything you need in a cast iron skillet and nothing you don’t.
Specifications
- Weight : 6.5 lb
- Wall height : 2 in
- Handle length : 5.75 in
Rating Criteria
- Performance : 5
- Ease of use : 5
- Cleanup : 5
Who it’s best for : Anyone who wants a great, basic cast iron skillet that will last.
Good to know : It’s also available in 10- and 8-inch sizes.
Best Splurge: Smithey No. 12 Cast Iron Skillet
Buy NowIf you want to splurge on a cast iron skillet, this is the one to get . This handcrafted skillet arrives with a beautiful, almost caramel-colored surface. After searing steak, the surface did become blotchy. However, the company says this is normal and that, over time, it will “begin to develop a mature (darker) seasoning layer.” Again, cast iron gets better over time! Right out of the box, this pan’s smooth surface releases and browns food beautifully. It has a small, helper handle with three holes in it, which are helpful if you hang your cookware on a rack or peg board , a la Julia Child. It also has two pour spouts and a comfortable, solid handle. Overall, this is a beautifully constructed, investment-worthy pan.
Specifications
- Weight : 7.8 lb
- Wall height : 2.25 in
- Handle length : 5.4 in
Rating Criteria
- Performance : 5
- Ease of use : 5
- Cleanup : 5
Who it’s best for : Anyone who is looking to invest in a statement-worthy cast iron skillet that will last.
Good to know : It comes in a 10-inch size, as well as this teeny-tiny number . You can also buy the 12- and 10-inch sizes as part of this griddle-skillet combo .
Best Budget: Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Buy NowFor the price, you absolutely can’t go wrong with this skillet from Lodge. It thoroughly browns and easily builds and maintains its seasoning. (It does come preseasoned and gets even better over time. By the end of testing, nothing was sticking at all!) It has high sides and a helper handle, both of which you know I love. It’s heavier than our top pick from Lodge and has a shorter handle, too. However, these are still small qualms when you consider the the incredible value and versatility this pan offers.
Specifications
- Weight : 8 lb
- Wall height : 2.25 in
- Handle length : 5 in
Rating Criteria
- Performance : 5
- Ease of use : 4
- Cleanup : 5
Who it’s best for : Anyone who wants a great cast iron skillet but also wants to spend as little money as possible.
Good to know : It comes in lots of different sizes !
Best Lightweight Option: Lodge Blacklock Triple Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Buy NowIf you find cast iron skillets to be too heavy, this lighter-weight offering from Lodge is a good option. Weighing in about two pounds less than other models, this skillet is easy enough to pick up, even when full. It has a helper handle, two pouring spouts, and curved sides that, at times, felt too tall, but contained food exceptionally well and made for easy stirring. It didn’t brown food as evenly as heavier skillets and its looped handle felt less comfortable than others. However, it’s still a solid choice for those seeking out a lighter cast iron skillet.
Specifications
- Weight : 5.8 lb
- Wall height : 2.3 in
- Handle length : 6 in
Rating Criteria
- Performance : 3.5
- Ease of use : 4
- Cleanup : 5
Who it’s best for :
Good to know : It comes in two smaller sizes and one larger size.
Best Enameled Cast Iron Skillet: Staub Enameled Cast Iron Fry Pan
Buy NowStaub makes one of our favorite enameled cast iron Dutch ovens , so it’s no surprise their cast iron fry pan is also fantastic. It browns food beautifully; has two pour spouts; has a comfortable, ergonomic handle; and has tall, slopped sides that both contain and make it easy to access food. While it does lack a helper handle, it’s a small sacrifice for an otherwise great piece of cookware. If you do want a helper handle, though, the Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Skillet is your best option. It browns a little less evenly, but is otherwise comparable to Staub’s fry pan.
Specifications
- Weight : 6.7 lb
- Wall height : 2 in
- Handle length : 5.35 in
Rating Criteria
- Performance : 5
- Ease of use : 4
- Cleanup : 5
Who it’s best for :
Good to know : This skillet comes in 10 colors, as well as a 10-inch size.
Kitchn’s Best List Promise
We will do our homework, going wildly in depth with our testing. But we’ll condense the info into easy, breezy summaries, so that you can see what we picked and why, and then move on with your life. Because we know you’re busy!
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Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
Lifestyle Editor, Tools
Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm is the Tools Editor at The Kitchn. A professional kitchen equipment tester, she's worked for America's Test Kitchen, EatingWell, and Food52. Her goal: to find the best gear for your kitchen so you don't waste time or money on anything else. She lives in Boston, MA with her two dogs.
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