Best Cast Iron Skillets

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson

For many people cast iron skillets have long been their first choice for cooking everything from eggs to steaks. The cast iron skillet provides a non-stick surface and requires less oil than skillets made of steel or aluminum. Cast iron skillets offer superior heat retention which is great for searing steaks and caramelizing veggies.

Cast iron skillets offer great flexibility. They can easily go from stovetop to oven. Cast iron cookware is great for camping and grilling. Today, quality cast iron skillets are very affordable. Nothing beats a warm chocolate chip cookie baked in an iron skillet.

Seasoning Cast Iron

Even if you buy a skillet and it claims to be pre-seasoned, you’ll still benefit from further seasoning. Doing so will provide a cooking surface that’s slick, nonstick and easier to clean. Seasoning involves applying oil to the skillet and putting it through heating and cooling cycles. You can follow the recommended steps below to season any cast iron cookware.

Warm up your cast iron to about 200ºF on a stovetop.
Rub polyunsatured fat like 100 percent flaxseed oil into the iron with a paper towel, leaving a thin sheen of oil.
Place the pan upside down in the oven, heated to 500ºF, and bake for one hour.
Turn the oven off and let the pan cool completely for at least two hours.
Repeat the process up to six times to achieve the thickest, most durable layer of seasoning.

Caring for Cast Iron Skillets

Caring for cast iron isn’t difficult or time consuming and will ensure the best performance and longevity. When cleaning you’ll want to avoid abrasive pads or harsh chemicals. Avoid dish soaps like Dawn that strip away oils. Your best beta are to let the skillet cool and rinse with hot water while scraping with a wooden spoon or simply rinsing with water and a soft sponge. Be sure to immediately dry the skillet to avoid rusting. With proper care cast iron cookware should last several generations.

Cleaning Cast Iron Skillets

Best Selling Cast Iron Skillets

Cast iron skillets come in various sizes. The most popular for everyday home use are 6-inch, 8-inch, 10.25-inch and 12-inch. For the purpose of this article we’ll focus on 10.25-inch and 12-inch versions. If you’re interested in other sizes, the quality and functionality carries over to other sizes from the same manufacturer.

#1 – Lodge 10.25″ Pre-Seasoned

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B00006JSUA” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JSUA?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” specs=”One Lodge Pre-Seasoned 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Skillet~~~Assist handle for better control~~~Unparalleled heat retention and even heating~~~Pre-seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil~~~Use to sear, sauté, bake, broil, braise, fry, or grill~~~Use in the oven, on the stove, on the grill, or over a campfire” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Assist Handle, 10.25″, Black[/amalinkspro]

#2 – Utopia Kitchen 12″ Pre-Seasoned

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B00X4WQMAS” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X4WQMAS?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” specs=”Cast iron cookware is less smoother than the Non-Stick cookware.~~~Iron deficiency is fairly common worldwide especially among women so cooking food in a cast iron skillet can increase iron content by as much as 20%~~~Its superior heat retention will keep your mouth watering food warm for a long time” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet – Utopia Kitchen (12.5 Inch)[/amalinkspro]

#3 – Victoria 12″ Pre-Seasoned

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B01726HD72″ apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01726HD72?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” specs=”✔️Better Performance. The 12 inch large cast iron pan has greater retention and distribution of heat. This seasoned frying pan can keep your food hot for 15 min or longer. Curved, bigger and longer handles for better grip.~~~✔️Lifetime Warranty. High Quality commercial iron casting for durability excellent heat retention. Made in Colombia using European cast iron machinery. Suitable for cooking in: induction, ceramic, campfire, grill, broiler and oven.~~~✔️Ready-to-use seasoning: 100% non-GMO flaxseed oil seasoned coating. Does not contain PTFE and Pfoas that can be harmful to your health. Flaxseed oil its a vegetable oil, Perfect natural easy-release seasoning that gets even better with time.~~~✔️Healthy For You. Trace amounts of iron are naturally released when cooking with seasoned cast iron skillet, boosting the mineral in your diet.~~~✔️Versatile. The big frying pan can be used for serving, cooking, baking, grilling, and oven-to-table. Multi-use, you can make deep dish pizza, carrot Cake, baked asparagus, its big enough to roast and sauté pork chops, chicken, searing steaks and mo” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Victoria Cast Iron Skillet Large Frying Pan with Helper Handle Seasoned with 100% Kosher Certified Non-GMO Flaxseed Oil, 12 Inch, Black[/amalinkspro]

#4 – Home Complete 12″ Pre-Seasoned

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B016IMVNEK” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016IMVNEK?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” specs=”Cook your best food ever! Forget all those non-stick flimsy pans you have in your cabinets Use cast iron to cook with instead! It makes a world of difference in taste and your ability to cook food that cant be made with regular cookware~~~Taste the way food was meant to be made! Cast iron is preferred by gourmet chefs around the world and its always used by those who demand perfection~~~Fast (pre-seasoned coating) even heating high heat No problem! An important part of cooking is controlling the temperature of the cooking surface Cast iron gives you the ultimate in control and flexibility! It makes the perfect veggies and meats just the way you want them~~~Easy to clean! Just water! Do not put in the dishwas” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Home-Complete Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet-12 inch for Home, Camping Indoor and Outdoor Cooking, Frying, Searing and Baking, 12″, Black[/amalinkspro]

#5 – Backcountry 12″ Pre-seasoned

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B074ND5RDT” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074ND5RDT?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”4″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” specs=”Cast iron has superior heat retention for even cooking, restaurant quality searing and comes pre-seasoned for teflon like non-stick cooking surface when used with a thin layer of oil. Ready to use out of the box!~~~Use with confidence on all cooking surfaces: gas, electric, induction, oven, broiler, grill and even the fire pit.~~~Your skillet can rust so keep it out of the dishwasher, do not soak and dry immediately after cleaning. Use warm water, scrape any stuck bits with a spoon, a little elbow grease with a rag and finish with a paper towel. Lightly polish with a stainless steel chainmail scrubber for a smooth patina.~~~Proudly designed in the USA, pre-seasoned with our proprietary oil blend, cast from the finest virgin ore and built to last for generations to come.~~~Compare to LODGE CAST IRON AMERICAN MADE SINCE 1896 and Utopia Kitchen. Support small business and sa” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”0″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Backcountry Cast Iron Skillet(12 Inch Large Frying Pan + Cloth Handle Mitt, Pre-Seasoned for Non-Stick Like Surface, Cookware Oven/Broiler/Grill Safe, Kitchen Deep Fryer, Restaurant Chef Quality)[/amalinkspro]

QUICK COMPARE	Lodge 10.25"	Utopia 12.25"	Victoria 12"	Home Complete 12"	Backcountry 12"
Manufacturer	Lodge	Utopia	Victoria	Home Complete	Backcountry
Size	10.25"	12.25"	12"	12"	12"
Width / Height	16.12" x 2"	17" x 2.3"	20.5" x 2.75"	16.53" x 2.55"	17.7" x 3.75"
Material	Cast Iron	Cast Iron	Cast Iron	Cast Iron	Cast Iron
Pre-Seasoned	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Assist Handle	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pouring Spouts	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Weight	5 Pounds	8 Pounds	6.7 Pounds	7.2 Pounds	7 Pounds

Popular Accessories

These best sellers will help you get the most our of your cast iron skillet with these popular accessories.

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B088NZCC3Q” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088NZCC3Q?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”5″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”1″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Silicone Hot Handle Cover, Assist Pan Holder for Cast Iron Skillets and Traditional Pots – Red[/amalinkspro]

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B01A51S9Y2″ apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A51S9Y2?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”5″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”1″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Amagabeli 8″x6″ Stainless Steel Cast Iron Cleaner 316 Chainmail Scrubber for Cast Iron Pan Pre-Seasoned Pan Dutch Ovens Waffle Iron Pans Scraper Cast Iron Grill Scraper Skillet Scraper[/amalinkspro]

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B01GT43AAW” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GT43AAW?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”5″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”1″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Caron & Doucet – Cast Iron Seasoning & Cleaning Oil | 100% Plant-Based & Food Grade! | Best for Seasoning, Restoring, Curing and Care (8oz)[/amalinkspro]

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B071SGF6GT” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071SGF6GT?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”5″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”1″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Cast Iron Cleanser by Culina® – Cleans and Protects Cast Iron Cookware, Kosher Certified 8oz[/amalinkspro]

[amalinkspro type=”showcase” asin=”B074ZTMGVF” apilink=”https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074ZTMGVF?tag=pcdssite-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1″ new-window=”true” addtocart=”false” nofollow=”true” sc-id=”5″ imgs=”LargeImage” link-imgs=”false” btn-color=”#ff9900″ btn-text=”Buy on Amazon” alignment=”alignnone” hide-prime=”0″ hide-image=”0″ hide-price=”1″ hide-button=”0″ width=”750″]Pan Scrapers, 4 Pack Professional Pan Scraper Set Thicker Plastic Durable Pan Cleaner Tools for Cast Iron Skillets, Cookware Pans, Frying Pans (Classical Black, Kitchen Red)[/amalinkspro]