The 9 Best Cast Iron Skillets We Tested in Our Kitchens

Of all the cast-iron skillets we tested, the Stargazer 12-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet stood out for its classic look and thoughtful details. While most cast-iron skillets come pre-seasoned, Stargazer offers the option to buy it pre-seasoned or bare (if you prefer to pre-season it yourself).

One feature we especially appreciated during testing was the stay-cool handle. Traditional cast-iron skillet handles usually heat up with the pan, leaving you reaching for a towel or oven mitts. This pan also has a wider, drip-free rim that makes pouring sauces or excess oil easier (and less messy).

Writer and editor Olivia Campbell tested the pre-seasoned version to make everything from stir-fries to pancakes to grilled cheese. She notes that the smooth cooking surface released food easily and didn’t even stick when used to cook eggs, which can be tricky in cast-iron skillets.

Stargazer offers a limited warranty for cookware that is defective or fails during proper use. Besides the 12-inch size, it also offers a 10.5-inch skillet, a 13.5-inch braiser, and cast-iron lids — something we wished we had during testing.

The Smithey No. 12 Skillet stands out for its unusually smooth cooking surface. The polished interior is pre-seasoned with grapeseed oil to help give it a nonstick cookware feel. We felt that the size of this skillet was perfect — not too big or too small. Smithey suggests this size for a family of four, or if you like cooking enough for leftovers. We noticed that food didn’t stick very easily, which can sometimes happen with other traditional cast-iron skillets. This, in turn, made it easy to clean, which is another reason why we love this skillet.

Editor Katie Tuttle says that she particularly liked the beautiful, unique coppery finish. It’s worth noting, however, that the color will slightly darken over time, which is normal. This skillet works on any stovetop, in the oven, or even over a campfire. Smithey excels at creating heirloom-quality, American-made cookware that also has a lifetime guarantee. A thoughtful design touch is that the handles even have holes for easy hanging in your kitchen.

This pan is on the heavier side at approximately 8.7 pounds. Tuttle notes, “When this [skillet] is full, you will want to use both hands to maneuver this skillet around.” There are also two pour spouts on the sides that help transfer food out of the pan seamlessly.

Most cast-iron skillets range from 10 to 12 inches in diameter, and these sizes can meet most people’s needs for feeding their family. What sets the Smithey No. 14 apart is its extra-large, 14-inch size, along with all the things we love about the Smithey No. 12, including the pour spouts and a smooth surface that makes it easier to clean. This makes it our top pick for feeding a crowd, whether you have a large family, cook during the holidays, or love to host others.

Naturally, it weighs more than all the skillets we tested, at a hefty 12 pounds. While this skillet can be used on induction, gas, fire, and electric stovetops, Smithey suggests using burners that are at least 10 inches in diameter to ensure even cooking.

If you want more of the Smithey quality in other cookware, the Smithey cast-iron Dutch oven is one of our favorites, and Smithey also offers smaller cast-iron skillet sizes, like its No. 8 Chef Skillet and No. 6 Skillet.

At just 6 pounds, the Field Company No. 10 is noticeably lighter than most cast-iron skillets we tested. Besides being easier to maneuver, this skillet has a smooth interior that makes it easy to cook with and clean up.

One thing to note is that the sizing is slightly different from that of other cast-iron skillets. Normally, cast-iron skillets are named by their diameter. However, Field Company uses a slightly different sizing guide. Instead of measuring 10 inches, the No. 10 skillet actually measures 11 ⅝ inches. Field Skillets use the same numbering system found on vintage cast iron: instead of indicating the pan’s diameter, the number reflects the size of the burner ring on old wood-burning stoves.

Field Company has cast-iron skillets ranging from extra-small (No. 4) all the way up to extra-large (No. 12). We think any size skillet would make an excellent gift, especially when given as a Starter Set that includes a cast-iron skillet, seasoning oil, a natural fiber brush, and a chain mail scrubber, providing everything you’ll need to keep your skillet clean and well oiled.

The Lodge 12-inch skillet is proof that you don’t have to spend a lot to get a dependable cast-iron pan. In fact, all of the experts we interviewed recommended our best budget pick, Lodge. Shaira Daya, MPH, RDN, a women’s health dietitian and culinary nutritionist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, loves her Lodge cast-iron skillet and uses it daily.

Their skillets come pre-seasoned, and even though this one is budget-friendly, it can still be used for many years. Daya says, “When I cook with my Lodge, I don’t have to worry about PFAS or other harmful chemicals making their way into foods. Even with daily use, my cast-iron skillet has long outlasted the many other eco-friendly, nonstick skillets I’ve tested over the years.”

While I love that Lodge also offers a Silicone Hot Handle Holder to make moving the pan during cooking easier, the pan was a little heavier than I liked. But don’t worry, if you’re looking for a lightweight budget skillet, Lodge has those too. Lodge recommends adding a light layer of oil after hand-washing and drying, which is common for most cast-iron skillets but not always needed for polished skillets.

If you want a cast-iron skillet that combines function with fanciness, we recommend the Victoria 12-Inch Skillet in Signature Gold. Writer Mary Sauer says, “I love that this skillet arrived pre-seasoned and has an elevated design. The gold handle is a really nice touch, and it looks awesome on my stove stop or on the table when I am serving food.”

The handle has vents (rather than solid cast iron) to keep it cooler and more evenly weighted. Another thing that makes this skillet unique is the special trademarked Spherrous iron used. According to Victoria, this type of cast iron is stronger than traditional cast iron and can withstand extremely high cooking temperatures (up to 1,500 degrees F, versus typical cast-iron cookware’s 500 to 650 degrees F).

The smooth, polished surface has three layers of non-GMO flaxseed oil, so you can use it right out of the box without any additional seasoning to the pan, which is what we did. We didn’t have any issues with food sticking to it. Remember, though, it’s still recommended that you cook with a thin layer of oil and let the pan heat up gently before adding food.

The only concern we have with this skillet is the potential durability of the “gold” accent. You may want to take extra care when hanging the pan or storing it, to avoid scratching the gold handle.

I love using enameled cast-iron skillets because they offer the benefits of cast iron but are usually easier to clean and maintain. Instead of cast iron, the inside of these skillets is a black, matte enamel. Enameled cookware is usually lighter than pure cast iron and has a beautiful, glossy finish — both aspects that stood out to me when using this French-made, enameled cast-iron skillet. It’s a beautiful, dark blue color and is lighter than other cast-iron skillets; it’s also easy to use and feels like a pan I could use for everything. Plus, this pan doesn’t just claim to be free of PFAS — Made In does third-party testing to ensure that its cookware is free of 30 types of PFAS to meet U.S. and European food standards.

I used it to make eggs, pancakes, French toast, veggie sautés, and seared meats. The pan’s width, length, and depth make it easy to use for so many things. Upon first use, I sautéed some veggies and added cooked noodles. The noodles did stick a little, which I was nervous would make cleaning challenging. But the stuck food came right off after the pan cooled; all I had to do was add some soap and water, then gently wipe it off.

Made In also makes one of our favorite stainless steel cookware sets, and they have an enameled cast-iron set if you want to complete your cookware collection.

If you want a stylish enameled cast-iron skillet with modern design touches, Caraway is a great option. We tested the 10.5-inch skillet; however, if you want something bigger, we like that they also offer a 12-inch skillet with a slightly deeper 2.5-inch height (compared with 2 inches with the 10.5-inch size). If you want to go smaller, Caraway also has an 8-inch mini skillet, which is only 3.7 pounds.

We appreciate the quality of Caraway, including third-party testing for PFAS chemicals, easy cleaning, and beautiful colors to choose from. Just keep in mind that if you’re used to traditional cast iron, enameled cast iron requires a more delicate approach, including using wooden or silicone utensils.

Caraway also has some of our favorite nontoxic bakeware and an enameled cast-iron trio if you want all three skillet sizes.

Ask any expert, and they will tell you that putting a cast-iron skillet in a dishwasher is a big no-no. They are hand-wash only. But what makes the Le Creuset Signature Skillet the easiest to clean is that it can go into the dishwasher, though Le Creuset recommends hand-washing most of the time to extend the pan's life. But if you need to throw it in the dishwasher once in a while, it can handle it.

Le Creuset was my first cast-iron skillet, which I bought in 2018, and I still use it now. I love the beauty of the enamel and that it requires minimal maintenance because food releases easily. I like the 10.25-inch size, but note that it’s not as deep as other enameled skillets. The height is only about 1.75 inches, while most other skillets are closer to 2 inches. Personally, I found it best for searing meats or making eggs, as opposed to sauces.

It is pricier than other enameled cast-iron skillets, but Le Creuset is a trusted, France-based culinary brand, especially known for its enameled cast iron. We also love the Le Creuset enameled cast-iron Dutch oven, and Le Creuset offers many other enameled skillet sizes as well, including an 11.75-inch skillet and a 9-inch round skillet.