Cast Iron Skillets: Lodge, Stargazer and Le Creuset

The 6 pans here are sorted by size, surface and finish, the 3 choices that decide which skillet suits a kitchen, and each is read against its maker’s listing, as How we choose describes. Nothing here was handled or tested.

Lodge 10.25-inch ↓

See on AmazonSee Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 Inches on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Best for A first skillet for 1 or 2

Watch for Small for 4

Lodge 12-inch ↓

See on AmazonSee Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inches on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Best for Cooking for a family

Watch for Heavy to lift

Utopia Kitchen 12-inch ↓

See on AmazonSee Utopia Kitchen Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Best for A budget or grill pan

Watch for Not made in the USA

Stargazer 12-inch ↓

See on AmazonSee Stargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Best for A smooth surface

Watch for The price

Le Creuset Signature ↓

See on AmazonSee Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet, 11.75" on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Best for No seasoning, acidic sauces

Watch for Less suited to searing

Lodge Combo Cooker ↓

See on AmazonSee Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 3.2 Quart on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Best for Bread and a skillet

Watch for Takes cupboard space

Lodge’s 10.25-inch is the first skillet most kitchens need

A 10.25-inch pan covers most weeknights for 1 or 2 people. Lodge’s 10.25-inch pre-seasoned skillet is made in the USA, comes seasoned, and is stated to work on the stove, in the oven, on a grill and over a campfire. It is the size to learn on.

01

Best first skillet

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 Inches

Lodge's standard pre-seasoned skillet, made in the USA and stated to work on the stove, in the oven, on a grill and over a campfire.

LodgeLodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 Inches

See it at AmazonSee Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 Inches on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.

Specifications for Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 Inches

Diameter	10.25 inches
Made in	USA

The standard first skillet, for 1 or 2.

Buy it if

• A cook for 1 or 2 buying a first cast iron pan

Don't buy it if

• Searing for a family of 4 in one batch

Size up to 12 inches when you cook for 4

A family dinner needs room, and a crowded pan steams rather than browns. The Lodge 12-inch is the same pan, larger, with the room a family dinner needs. Utopia Kitchen’s 12-inch skillet is also pre-seasoned and stated safe on the stove, grill and campfire, and suits a second pan kept with the barbecue kit.

02

Best for a family

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inches

The same Lodge skillet in the 12-inch size, made in the USA.

LodgeLodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inches

See it at AmazonSee Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inches on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.

Specifications for Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inches

Diameter	12 inches
Made in	USA

The 12-inch Lodge, for cooking for 4.

Buy it if

• Cooking for 4 or more

Don't buy it if

• A small hob, or anyone who finds heavy pans hard to lift

03

Best budget

Utopia Kitchen Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inch

A pre-seasoned 12-inch skillet stated safe on the stove, in the oven, on a grill and over a campfire.

Utopia KitchenUtopia Kitchen Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inch

See it at AmazonSee Utopia Kitchen Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inch on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.

Specifications for Utopia Kitchen Cast Iron Skillet, 12 Inch

Diameter	12 inches
Finish	Pre-seasoned

A budget 12-inch, for the grill or the camping box.

Buy it if

• A second pan for the grill or the camping box

Don't buy it if

• A buyer who wants a USA-made pan

Stargazer’s smooth surface is what the extra money buys

One pan here is sold on its cooking surface. Stargazer sells its 12-inch skillet as made in the USA, seasoned, with a smooth cooking surface. That suits eggs and fish. It costs several times a Lodge of the same size, so it suits a cook who already knows they love cast iron.

04

Best smooth surface

Stargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

A premium 12-inch skillet made in the USA, sold seasoned with a smooth cooking surface.

StargazerStargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

See it at AmazonSee Stargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.

Specifications for Stargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Diameter	12 inches
Surface	Smooth, per the maker

A smooth-surface 12-inch, for eggs and fish.

Buy it if

• Eggs and fish, where a smooth surface helps

Don't buy it if

• A budget buyer; it costs several Lodges

Le Creuset’s enamel skips the seasoning entirely

Enamel fused to the iron stops rust and removes the need to season. The Le Creuset Signature enamelled skillet is 11.75 inches across and suits tomato sauces and a cook who won’t oil a pan after washing it. Enamel can chip if the pan is dropped or plunged into cold water while hot, and it gives up some of bare iron’s searing heat.

05

Best no-seasoning pan

Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet, 11.75"

An enamelled cast iron skillet, 11.75 inches, which needs no seasoning.

Le CreusetLe Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet, 11.75"

See it at AmazonSee Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet, 11.75" on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.

Specifications for Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron Skillet, 11.75"

Diameter	11.75 inches
Finish	Enamel

An enamelled skillet, for a cook who won’t season.

Buy it if

• Tomato sauces and a cook who won't oil a pan after washing

Don't buy it if

• Very high-heat searing, and the price

The Lodge Combo Cooker is a skillet that bakes bread

A 3.2-quart pot with a 10.25-inch skillet for a lid makes 2 pans from one purchase. The Lodge Combo Cooker lists sourdough, frying and camping among its uses. A loaf bakes on the shallow skillet with the deep pot over it as a dome.

06

Best for bread

Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 3.2 Quart

A 3.2-quart deep pot with a 10.25-inch skillet that doubles as its lid.

LodgeLodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 3.2 Quart

See it at AmazonSee Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 3.2 Quart on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Current price shown on Amazon. We may earn a commission.

Specifications for Lodge Cast Iron Combo Cooker, 3.2 Quart

Pieces	3.2-quart pot and 10.25-inch skillet lid
Maker suggests	Sourdough, frying, camping

A pot and a skillet lid, for a bread baker.

Buy it if

• A sourdough baker who also wants a skillet

Don't buy it if

• A small cupboard

What lost: 6-piece sets and extra-large 17-inch pans

Sets of 3 to 13 pieces were left out: most kitchens use one size every day, and the rest of a set sits in a cupboard. A 17-inch dual-handle pan was left out as too large for most home hobs. For the rest of a cook’s kit, see chef knives and baking sheets. For why some nonstick coatings fail at high heat while iron doesn’t, see nonstick coatings and heat.