so in my mind and I'll give you my opinion in my mind I would much rather buy a l cruset knowing that if I ever wanted to sell it I could get 75% of what I paid for it back without any hassle then try to save some money and get this have a subpar product and at the end of the day never be able to sell it and get my…
Articles · Where two groups agree
What buy it for life enthusiasts and beginners both recommend
The buy-it-for-life crowd and beginners converge on four pans, and three of the seven durations behind them are just words like forever.
About Buy It For Life Enthusiasts and Beginners.
We have not used any of these ourselves. We read 18 sources and structured what 7 people said. Of the 20 quotes below, 9 are complaints and 1 comes from someone with a declared commercial interest. Every one of them links to the person who said it and the second they said it.
Based on 7 people, 18 sources and 178 recorded claims. A declared interest is labelled beside the quote rather than removed.
The answer
The buy-it-for-life crowd and beginners converge on four pans, and three people say plainly what they would buy. The Knife Wizard would rather buy a Le Creuset than a cheaper pot, since it holds three-quarters of its resale value; Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer who discloses an affiliate interest on some tests, calls the Lodge's value incredible; and Papa Mau, who owns one, says it cooks fine despite the rough surface. Prudent Reviews holds 76% of everything said about all four.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people
The Lodge Classic is also a great option if you want something more substantial, and the value is incredible.
Cites weight
this cooks perfectly fine. Like needs nothing. It is rough. Yeah, it is.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
bad is in the pan. It's probably the cook is you.
| Product | Cited in favour | Cited against | Voices | Declared interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field cast iron skillet | heating speed (1), non-stick surface (1) | heat retention (1), maintenance (1) | 2 voices | none declared |
| Smithey cast iron skillet | base and rim (1), durability (1) | price (1), weight (1) | 1 voice | none declared |
| Lodge cast iron skillet | durability (1), heat retention (1) | handle (1), surface finish (1) | 3 voices | 1 of 3 |
| Le Creuset dutch oven | durability (1), handle (1) | price (1) | 2 voices | none declared |
Where people disagree
- Prudent Reviews found the Lodge the best of twelve skillets for heat retention, and the Field the second lowest, tracing the gap to their different wall thickness.
- Prudent Reviews calls the Smithey's handle among the best it has tested, then faults the Lodge's for edges that dig into the hand.
- On price, Prudent Reviews calls the Lodge's cost incredible value, while arguing the Le Creuset's performance is matched by cheaper Dutch ovens.
The 6 quotes behind this, from 1 person · 3 objecting
Despite the lighter construction, it actually had the best heat retention of all 12 skillets.
Cites heat retention, price
On the lower end, Victoria and Lodge Chef Collection are my two top picks.
But because there's less mass to hold on to that heat, it had the second lowest heat retention in the group.
Cites heat retention (against)
I recently tested six of the highest-rated cast iron skillets on the market, and according to my tests, Smithey is the best overall. It had the best heat retention, the smoothest non-stick surface, the widest pour spouts, and one of the better-designed handles.
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
The biggest issue for me is the handle. It gets very wide where it connects to the skillet, then it narrows toward the end, and the edges feel sharp and dig into your hands.
Cites handle (against)
Although the performance is great, the same could be said for much cheaper Dutch ovens, especially since they’re all made with the materials - cast iron with an enamel coating.
Cites price (against)
Le Creuset Dutch ovens are significantly more expensive than brands like Lodge, Tramontina, and many others. And based on my testing, you’re not getting any meaningful advantages in performance.
The Field cast iron skillet's heat retention is probably the objection: Prudent Reviews found it "had the second lowest heat retention in the group," for its thinner walls.
At $215, the same reviewer says it is only worth buying for a lightweight skillet that heats up fast, weighing just 5.5 pounds. Uncle Scott, who bought his own, spent a month and a half still fighting the seasoning break-in and getting eggs to stick.
Its case rests on three people, none disclosing a paid interest, and none reporting more than two months with one.
The 4 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 3 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 9:02.
Cites heat retention (against)
At $215, this skillet is only worth buying if you want a lightweight skillet that heats up fast.
Cites price
it's incredibly lightweight at just 5.5 lb, and because the construction is thinner than most cast iron skillets, it heats up much faster.
Cites heating speed, non-stick surface, stovetop compatibility
I tested it against Lodge, Calphalon, and Stargazer, and it was the fastest to boil water on both induction and electric cooktops.
It has a smooth polished cooking surface that provides excellent non-stick performance, especially for eggs.
I also am having a little trouble getting the seasoning to develop and come in, or what they call the break-in period. At a month and a half in, I am still having trouble getting non-stick eggs.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
I have reseasoned this pan multiple multiple times. I have seasoned it with Crisco, with grape seed oil, with peanut oil. I have seasoned it in the oven. I have done carbon steel type seasonings on a stove top, getting the pan smoking there.
The Smithey cast iron skillet may cost more than it needs to: Prudent Reviews says it is "heavy and expensive, but it will last a lifetime."
The same reviewer calls it the best overall skillet, crediting the heat retention and one of the better-designed handles among six it tested. After more than two years, it still reaches for it more than most of what it owns.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 1 person · 1 objecting
It's heavy and expensive, but it will last a lifetime, so it's worth the investment.
Cites durability, price (against), weight (against)
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:32.
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
I've used Smithey for over 2 years, and it's still one of the pans I reach for the most.
Cites durability
Owned 2 years
The Lodge cast iron skillet's handle is the objection: Prudent Reviews says its edges "dig into your hands."
Prudent Reviews, disclosing an affiliate interest, separately says a Lodge "will last a lifetime for under $30," and measured its heat retention best of twelve skillets. Papa Mau, who owns one, says it cooks fine despite the roughness.
Hannah found it the heaviest of three skillets she compared, at eight pounds. No one among the 7 people quoted states how long they have owned a Lodge.
The 5 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 2 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
The best part is that you can get a Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet that will last a lifetime for under $30.
Cites durability, price
Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.”
Besides cast iron skillets, they make enameled cast iron Dutch ovens that perform like Le Creuset but cost much less.
Instead of paying over $400 for a Le Creuset Dutch oven, you can get a Lodge that's made of the same materials and is actually thicker for under $100.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:30.
Cites heat retention, price
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:01.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
but it's also the heaviest of the three options at eight pounds
Cites weight (against)
The Le Creuset dutch oven's price is probably the objection: Prudent Reviews says the same performance can be found in "much cheaper Dutch ovens," since they share the same cast-iron-and-enamel construction.
The Knife Wizard would rather buy a Le Creuset than save money on a lesser pot, since it holds "75% of what I paid for it back" on resale, and separately calls it built to "last you pretty much forever." Prudent Reviews, disclosing an affiliate interest, confirms the enamel is covered for life by the brand's own warranty, and measured this 5.5-quart size at 11.4 pounds, lighter than the two others it tested.
No one among the 7 people quoted states how long they have personally owned one.
The 5 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 1 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:38.
all I know is that these are both things that are going to last you pretty much forever until you drop it and break a hole through your floor
Cites durability
After speaking with their customer service, I confirmed that they cover the enamel for life. So, if 10 years down from now under normal circumstances, you see a chip in the enamel they'll replace the Dutch oven for free.
Cites warranty
After posting that video, dozens of people commented that Le Creuset does the same, and as the customer service rep confirmed, they were right.
As I mentioned earlier, it's significantly lighter than the other brands. This 5.5-quart Dutch oven weighs 11.4 pounds. The other two 5.5-quart Dutch ovens I tested weigh 12.6 and 12.8 pounds.
It also has extremely wide handles. There’s an inch and a half of space between the handle and the pot, which gives you plenty of room to grip even with oven mitts.
The lighter weight and large handles make Le Creuset the easiest Dutch oven to pick up, transfer to the oven, and wash.
These knobs are wide and have a thick stem that makes it easy to grip and tilt the lid. It’s a much better design than Staub's thin knobs and Great Jones’ looped handle.
How long each one lasts
Two figures here are genuinely timed: Uncle Scott put a month and a half on a Field in 2026, still fighting its seasoning break-in, and Prudent Reviews has used a Smithey for just over two years, in 2026, and still reaches for it often.
Everything else is a prediction. Prudent Reviews confirms Le Creuset's own warranty covers chipped enamel for life; The Knife Wizard, in 2015, calls a Le Creuset built to last pretty much forever; and the same reviewer, more skeptically, says a Smithey will also last a lifetime despite being heavy and expensive. None of these speakers report how long they have actually owned one.
Papa Mau's ninety-year figure belongs to a piece of steel wool he owns, not to the Lodge he is comparing it against.
The 6 quotes behind this, from 4 people · 3 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:31.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:38.
Cites durability
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:32.
Cites durability, price (against), weight (against)
compare that to my 90 years old grease wool. Yeah, massive difference.
Cites surface finish (against)
What happens over time
Uncle Scott's account of a Field, recorded on this sheet as testing rather than ownership, lands at a month and a half in, still fighting the seasoning break-in and getting eggs to stick.
Prudent Reviews, at the longer end, has owned a Smithey for over two years and still reaches for it more than most of what it owns. Nobody among the 7 people quoted reports a longer span with any of the four pans.
The 2 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 1 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:31.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
Who wants what
The Knife Wizard, weighing resale value at 75%, thinks like a buy-it-for-life enthusiast: durability is a financial hedge, not just a feature. Papa Mau, a home cook, takes a plainer view of the Lodge's roughness, accepting it as part of the deal, where Prudent Reviews, testing the same pan, treats the roughness as a trade-off against how well it holds seasoning.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 1 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:38.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:01.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
It's heavier and the surface is rougher, but it holds on to seasoning better and it still passed the egg test with no sticking.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface, seasoning durability, weight (against)
What the evidence suggests
- Choose the Lodge cast iron skillet if price and long-term seasoning matter most: Prudent Reviews says it will last a lifetime for under $30, and Papa Mau, who owns one, says it cooks fine despite the roughness.
- Choose the Le Creuset dutch oven if resale value matters to you: The Knife Wizard says it holds 75% of its price back, versus a cheaper pot you likely could not resell at all.
- Choose the Smithey cast iron skillet if a smoother finish and better heat retention are worth the extra cost: Prudent Reviews, over two years in, still reaches for it more than most of what it owns.
The 5 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 1 with a declared interest
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:00.
Cites durability, price
Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.”
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:01.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 3:38.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:32.
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
What the evidence doesn’t tell us
Prudent Reviews alone holds 136 of the 178 claims in these 18 sources, 76% of everything in scope, so most of these four pans' cases rest on one reviewer's testing. None of the 7 people quoted claims to have owned anything longer than the 24 months behind the Smithey account. None of the 7 people quoted about the Le Creuset speaks as an owner, a professional user, or someone who stopped using one, and two of the four products carry no ownership duration at all.
The quote behind this, from 1 person
Who says so
Authority here is scoped to the subject, never to how large someone’s audience is. Where we hold no domain expertise for a person, the page says so rather than implying one.
Prudent Reviews
Our mission at Prudent Reviews is to help you find the best products for your home. We take the stress out of shopping by testing, analyzing, and comparing the top products. Our reviews, comparisons, and product guides are in-depth, carefully researched, and completely unbiased. Since launching, we've helped millions of people across the globe find the best products and improve their lives at home. If you have questions or want to partner with Prudent Reviews, email Andrew@PrudentReviews.com. As an Amazon Associate Prudent Reviews earns from qualifying purchases.
Papa Mau
Cooking with Healthy and Durable Cookware: Cast Iron, Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, etc I’m PapaMau, a dad with roots in Argentina, living in Australia for the past 15 years. I’m here to inspire families to choose healthier, long-lasting, and undeniably cooler cookware that's making a massive comeback. Specializing in cast iron and carbon steel, I create How-To and Tutorial videos to help you care for your cookware, master cooking techniques, and replace Teflon with sustainable, durable alternatives. I share cooking tips, tools, and recipes to help home cooks impress family and friends—whether in the kitchen or around the fire pit. Together, let’s cook better, eat healthier, and make the world a better place, one meal at a time. Join me on this journey to make cooking an adventure and forge unforgettable memories with cookware that’s built to last! 🔥
The Knife Wizard
Arguably, one of the most important purchases you are going to make for your kitchen is your knife set. Proper knifes are what separate the amateur from the professional chef— a good set not only give you cleaner, safer cuts, but also give you the proper mindset that helps you grow your skills. This all started because I was shocked at the terribly subpar reviews and general lack of information out there. Since I have a strong background in a variety of things including cooking, engineering, production, and whatnot, I thought that I would take it upon myself to create REAL reviews based on having the various knives in my possession. The owner of this YouTube channel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.
Uncle Scott
Our Motto: You can never have too much great cookware and kitchen gear. Our Philosophy: If you have great equipment and great ingredients, with a little practice you can cook any dish in the world. At USK, we make recipes, review frying pans, deep fryers, knives, grain mills, gadgets, pots and pans, and anything else you might find in a high-end kitchen. We teach people how to season carbon steel and cast iron pans, show people the proper way to cook eggs, tell a few jokes, and cook delicious meals. We really like high quality brands such as De Buyer, Falk, Matfer, Lodge, Smithey, Mauviel, Le Creuset, live, Staub, Breville, and others. And, importantly, Uncle Scott buys all of the products he reviews with his own money, and unlike many cookware channels, no free items are accepted for review. This keeps Uncle Scott's reviews genuine, trustworthy, and unbiased. Any sponsored videos or affiliate sales links are clearly labelled.
What this piece cites evidence about
Every product, brand and category named in a claim behind this article, not only the ones with a section of their own above. Where we hold a full page for one, it is linked; the rest are named as text because the evidence has not cleared that bar yet.
Sources
Short quotes and deep links only. We publish no transcripts, and every quote above opens the original at the second it was spoken.
- Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More
- Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads
- Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)
- Don't Buy Le Creuset Until You Watch This (Test Results)
- Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins
- Field Company Review: Best Lightweight Cast Iron?
- I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst
- Le Creuset vs. Lodge Enamel — Compare and Contrast.
- The Uncomfortable Truth Behind Lodge Cast Iron Pans
How this page was made
The prose above was written by a model from a fact sheet assembled out of the evidence, then checked line by line: every quote verbatim against the evidence table, every name against a claim, every number against the sheet. Prose that fails is not published. It is derived data, not testimony. The testimony is the quotes.
Verified 2026-09-17
How we handle commercial relationships
When someone quoted here was paid, sponsored, sent the product free or works for the brand, the quote says so and, where they said it themselves, gives their own words about it. We keep those quotes rather than dropping them: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.