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Articles · Where two groups agree

What cookware reviewer and collectors both recommend

Cookware reviewer and collectors converge on five cast iron skillets, but the ownership figures behind them run from six weeks to two years.

About Cookware Reviewer and Collectors.

We have not used any of these ourselves. We read 21 sources and structured what 12 people said. Of the 33 quotes below, 14 are complaints and 8 come 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 12 people, 21 sources and 243 recorded claims. A declared interest is labelled beside the quote rather than removed.

The answer

Cookware reviewer and collectors converge on five cast iron skillets: the Lodge, the Field, the Finex, the Stargazer and the Marquette. Cook Culture calls the Field one to cherish and use every day; BobbyGfl simply says he loves his Stargazer; and Kent Rollins, sent his Field free, says he loves the skillet. Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer who discloses an affiliate interest on some tests, holds 39% of everything said about all five, and nobody among the 12 people quoted has owned a Lodge or a Stargazer at all.

The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 1 with a declared interest
What people said about each product discussed below, tallied from the quotes in this article. This is not our ranking. The number beside a reason is how many people cited it, not how many times it was said.
Voices counts everyone quoted about that product, and the last column counts how many of them had a declared commercial interest.
ProductCited in favourCited againstVoicesDeclared interest
Lodge cast iron skilletdurability (2), heat retention (1)handle (1), heat resistance (1)3 voices1 of 3
Field cast iron skilletacid resistance (1), base and rim (1)heat retention (1), heating speed (1)5 voices2 of 5
Finex cast iron skilletappearance (1), handle (1)ease of cleaning (1), handle (1)3 voices1 of 3
Stargazer cast iron skillethandle (1), shape and form (1)handle (1), price (1)3 voices1 of 3
Marquette cast iron skilletappearance (1), ergonomics (1)none recorded1 voicenone declared

Where people disagree

  • Prudent Reviews calls the Lodge's cost incredible value, while faulting the Field for being the most expensive skillet with the worst heat retention it measured.
  • 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.
  • Cook Culture praises the Stargazer's handle as one it can use comfortably where the Field's grows too hot to touch, while Prudent Reviews faults the Lodge's for edges that dig into the hand.
The 6 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 3 objecting
3:32 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer
the field handle is too hot to touch comfortably like i can grab it for a sec where the stargazer handle is great i can use it

handling about Stargazer cast iron skillet Tested it Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?

Cites handle, shape and form

they have a cooling of design here so the way in which this small amount of material comes up to the handle it stops the amount of thermal transfer up into handle you'll see this a lot of time in stainless steel and that works great so that is probably yeah that's kind of hot to touch but you know if i had a cloth i…
i've also found that the usability was tremendous so you'll see that the edges here are really rounded they're edges in um the bottom edge and also the top edge so the splay of the pan is absolutely brilliantly designed
i really enjoyed using the handle helper and i found that the stay cool handle was brilliant and i was never dealing even open flame i use this an open flame outside all the time i wasn't dealing with a hot handle ever i never needed to use a cloth to grab that handle

The Lodge cast iron skillet's handle is the objection: Prudent Reviews says its edges "dig into your hands," on a skillet that at 8.1 pounds is also the heaviest in the group it tested.

Prudent Reviews, disclosing an affiliate interest, separately says a Lodge will last a lifetime for under $30, and measured its heat retention best of all twelve skillets. Kent Rollins, of Cowboy Kent Rollins, faults the rough factory finish as the most disappointing seasoning of any skillet he owns. Hannah, of America's Test Kitchen, calls it the most durable of the three she compared.

No one among the 12 people quoted states how long they have owned a Lodge.

The 6 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 3 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.

value about Lodge cast iron skillet Tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)

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.

The Field cast iron skillet's durability is the objection: Prudent Reviews found that "it warped significantly. The center curved downward," and rated it the worst heat retention among the twelve skillets it tested.

Big Lew BBQ & Other Things I Want to Do!, who was sent one free, says his family would fight for the pan at his funeral, and calls it easy to handle at about six pounds. Cook Culture uses one every day and calls it a pan to cherish. Kent Rollins, also sent his free, likes the smooth finish and the skillet's old-style look.

Uncle Scott and Kent Rollins each put a month and a half on a Field, the longest ownership stated for it.

The 8 quotes behind this, from 5 people · 3 objecting · 4 with a declared interest
0:00 supports Big Lew BBQ & Other Things I Want to Do! Collectors was given the product
folks and your family will fight for this frying pan at your funeral

durability about Field cast iron skillet Tested it Field Company No. 10 Skillet Follow Up Review

Cites acid resistance, durability, seasoning durability

Big Lew BBQ & Other Things I Want to Do! was given the product. Stated in the source: “i do want to thank the field company for sending it to me for a review”

skillet was easy to clean that night too and just getting some more good seasoning layer on there with that skillet
i was already trusting the seasoning coat to use acidic foods like lemon butter uh they were delicious and all that fond on the bottom of the pot went into my shrimp a2 faders a pound of shrimp a little more than a pound of shrimp in there also a can of rotel tomatoes but you can see the seasoning on the bottom was…
i've used it as much as i can look how black it is came sort of charcoal gray did get a little bronze that first day or two but it blackened up real quick it's as seasoned as i've ever had a skillet i've only had it a week
but look how easy it seasoned in one week it's not that charcoal gray color it's black all right almost like a mirror finish
1:00 supports Big Lew BBQ & Other Things I Want to Do! Collectors was given the product
and i'm impressed with it really really nice skill skillet only about six pounds guys

handling about Field cast iron skillet Tested it Field Company No. 10 Skillet Follow Up Review

Cites base and rim, handle, shape and form, weight

Big Lew BBQ & Other Things I Want to Do! was given the product. Stated in the source: “i do want to thank the field company for sending it to me for a review”

i will say when i dump the potatoes out that first day i'm gonna dump the shrimp creole out um not shrimp creole what they'll make shrimp a two-fade right um and the gravy from the pork chops and stuff i'm gonna dump the leftover out uh that did well because it's real thick
also this is kind of nitpicky but i've got an induction stove and both skillets that i have my other number 12 skillet same size bottom they fit on that burner that over there that i use my number 10 skillet on but with the other one since this sides flare out i've got to kind of duck under and look to see if it's…
i really like the handle the handle doesn't look that cool on youtube every video i saw that and even looking at it on the camera it doesn't look as cool as it is in real life it feels awesome i just love the way this handle feels maybe it's because i got big hands whatever i like the way this handle feels that handle…
but when I run my hand across it it was the smooth finish

performance about Field cast iron skillet Owns it Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review

Cites non-stick surface, surface finish

Kent Rollins was given the product. Stated in the source: “we got this box in the mail we did an unboxing video on an 8 inch field skillet”

so I fried me some bacon in there without doing a thing to it I just washed it out good with hot water dried it put that bacon in there it wasn't no sticking it wasn't like heated meaning something other ovens where I had to get to a putty knife a chisel and a hammer to knock it off there no it was good
what I put in there a scrambled egg and folks I was amazed there was no sticking like them egg whites will do too to where you can't even get them out of there
I've been using this skillet for a month and a half every day is it solid black everywhere no it's got some bronze coating to it a little spotted in colored a little motley color

durability about Field cast iron skillet Owns it Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review

Cites seasoning durability

Kent Rollins was given the product. Stated in the source: “we got this box in the mail we did an unboxing video on an 8 inch field skillet”

Owned 2 months

2:31 objects Uncle Scott Beginners
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.

durability about Field cast iron skillet Tested it Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins

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 Finex cast iron skillet appears to rust with use: Prudent Reviews noticed it "rusted on the bottom inside the engravings," something it saw on no other skillet tested.

Luis J., two years into his, says the seasoning has developed well and calls Finex his favorite modern cast iron maker; that ownership is the longest stated for any product on this sheet. Prudent Reviews also found the handle thick and round enough to rotate awkwardly in the hand, and rated its heat retention toward the lower end of the group. BBQ and Bottles, sent theirs free, likes the coiled steel handle that stays cool no matter how long it cooks.

The 5 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 3 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
0:00 supports Luis J. Cookware Reviewer
so with that said guys this video is going to be about finex cookware and specifically my number 10 which is now two years that I've had it two years that I've owned it and used it as you can see the seasoning has developed really well not completely jet black but we'll get into the specifics right now

durability about Finex cast iron skillet Owns it Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet

Cites maintenance, seasoning durability

Owned 2 years

to be honest it holds up really well um it's not difficult to maintain it's not difficult to keep seasoned and and honestly the more you use it the more you cook with it the better it does become and that's just something that I love about Finance they're not they're easy to maintain they're not hard and the seasoning…
11:03 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer
Heat retention was toward the lower end of the group and it warped slightly, but not enough to cause noticeable wobbling.

performance about Finex cast iron skillet Tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites ease of cleaning (against), handle (against), heat resistance (against), heat retention (against)

But when I heated it in a 400°ree oven to see how quickly the handle cooled, it was still too hot to touch after 15 minutes. And it wasn't any cooler than a regular cast iron handle.
And because the coil isn't removable, grease and moisture can collect underneath it around the cast iron shaft, and it's difficult to clean and dry.
first i want to talk about the finex it has this beautiful coiled steel handle and the reason for that is this coil design not only does it look great

appearance about Finex cast iron skillet Tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge

Cites appearance, handle, shape and form

BBQ and Bottles was given the product. Stated in the source: “the brands who sent these skillets out to us free of charge and we're not being paid for this review video”

and you can actually see right here on the back of the pan they've got a really nice design that pays homage to that origin
now the next thing i want to compare is just the overall style or aesthetic of these skillets and the standout for me is going to be the finex there this octagonal shape i think looks really great i love the steel coiled handle it's just something really unique that sets that skillet apart from the others

The Stargazer cast iron skillet's price is the objection: Prudent Reviews, disclosing an affiliate interest, calls it "the number one downside," pricier than the more familiar Lodge.

Prudent Reviews, also disclosing an affiliate interest, separately says the edges "can dig into your hand" and calls it not the most comfortable, though it also says the deep groove gives a secure hold that keeps the pan steady while cooking. Cook Culture, by contrast, calls the Stargazer's handle the one it can use where the Field's grows too hot to touch. BobbyGfl puts it simply: he loves the pan.

No one among the 12 people quoted states how long they have owned a Stargazer.

The 5 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 3 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
The number one downside to Stargazer is the high price. Lodge, which is arguably the most well-known cast iron brand, sells its skillets for less than half the price of Stargazer.

value about Stargazer cast iron skillet Tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?

Cites price (against)

Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links so I will earn a commission if you click and buy but at no extra cost to you.”

but you pay a premium for it

Marquette cast iron skillet

The Marquette cast iron skillet has no real detractors on this sheet: only Kent Rollins speaks to it, so we do not know whether that holds up broadly.

Rollins picks it as his overall favorite for design, likes the handle's cooler-running shape, and says it feels like a vintage Wagner or Griswold straight out of the box. Nobody else among the 12 people quoted addresses a Marquette, and no one states how long they have owned one.

The 3 quotes behind this, from 1 person
6:02 supports Kent Rollins Chef
My overall pick for just best in design is I'm gonna have to go with the Marquette just because of the way it feels in my hand and the way that I know it performs and the two poor spouts

best in class about Marquette cast iron skillet Tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites ergonomics, handle, seasoning durability, shape and form, surface finish

if we had to pick a winner on a handle that was most comfortable to your hand it would be the Marquette
next we're going to go to Marquette this review not long ago to me this was the smoothest Skillet coming to me of anyone that I got out of the bunch
so my overall winner for seasoning is eeny meeny miny mo is going to be the Marquette because to me it had the smoothest glossiest finish when I got it and accepted seasoning the easiest
5:01 supports Kent Rollins Chef
this handle too notice the v in here too but this one's going to stay a little bit cooler and I love the way that they've got this rounded off on both sides here it fits your hand really well it does

handling about Marquette cast iron skillet Tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites handle, heat resistance, weight

we have arranged these from lightest to heaviest first Marquette field Lodge Stargazer and finance
4:31 supports Kent Rollins Chef
when I first picked this up right out of the box I'm thinking feels like a Wagner or a Griswold into me just the way it sort of felt it's got a light weight to it and look here right off the bat two poor spouts now I really do like that I do

appearance about Marquette cast iron skillet Tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites appearance, shape and form, surface finish, weight

we get down to the Marquette to me the thing that really just stood out most of all to me what is the closest resemblance to the old cast iron I'm talking Griswolds and Wagner's to me it was the closest design to it and had this finish that was just like they used to have on them

How long each one lasts

Luis J.'s 24 months on a Finex, said in 2023, is the longest figure on this sheet. Kent Rollins names a month and a half on a Field in 2018, and Uncle Scott separately names a month and a half on one in 2026.

None of the 12 people quoted names any duration for the Lodge, the Stargazer or the Marquette.

The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 1 objecting · 1 with a declared interest

What happens over time

Uncle Scott, tested for a month and a half on a Field, was still fighting the seasoning break-in and getting eggs to stick, a shorter and rougher account than the people who report owning theirs. Kent Rollins, sent his free and owning it for the same month and a half, already loves the skillet's old-style design. Luis J., two years into a Finex, reports the seasoning has developed well, with only a small warp to show for it.

No one among the 12 people quoted reports a longer span with any of these five skillets.

The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people · 1 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
8:36 supports Luis J. Cookware Reviewer
so overall this number 10 has done wonderful it's held up seasoning really well it's cooked really well besides that small little defect with my time that it tends to warp I've had no issues and uh as you know as I said it cooked my breakfast beautifully and I'm happy with it so two years it's done great I'm happy and…

best in class about Finex cast iron skillet Owns it Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet

Cites seasoning durability

Also named, on thinner evidence

One more product is named on this sheet without enough behind it for its own section: a Griswold cast iron skillet, resting on a single recommender. Thin coverage is not a verdict against it; it is simply what these 21 sources can carry.

The quote behind this, from 1 person

Who wants what

Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer, measures these skillets in millimeters, degrees and pounds: wall thickness, warp angle, heat loss per minute. Cook Culture, also reviewing cookware, describes the same pans in the plain language of daily use, a pan to cherish or a handle too hot to touch. Kent Rollins, a chef, judges a skillet by feel in the hand and by how it looks fresh out of the box, where BobbyGfl sums up a Stargazer in four words: he loves the pan.

The 4 quotes behind this, from 4 people · 1 objecting

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.
  • Choose the Field cast iron skillet if you will use it daily and don't mind a seasoning break-in: Cook Culture uses one every day and calls it a pan to cherish.
  • Choose the Stargazer cast iron skillet if a smoother cooking surface is worth the extra price: BobbyGfl simply says he loves the pan.
The 3 quotes behind this, from 3 people

What the evidence doesn’t tell us

Prudent Reviews alone holds 94 of the 243 claims in these 21 sources, 39% of everything in scope, so much of these five skillets' cases rests on one reviewer's testing. None of the 12 people quoted claims to have owned anything longer than the 24 months behind Luis J.'s Finex. Nobody quoted about the Marquette or the Griswold speaks as an owner, a professional user, or someone who stopped using one, and four of the five 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.

Kent Rollins

Love outdoor cooking? Want to learn more about Dutch oven cooking, cast iron or grilling? Then you've saddled up to the right place. I've been cooking outdoors over live fire for over 34 years as a chuck wagon and cowboy cook. We have a new series on the Outdoor Channel "The Cst Iron Cowboy" You may have also seen me on Chopped Grill Masters, Chopped Redemption or Beat Bobby Flay. Stick around and be sure to subscribe for tips, tricks and recipes. Keep the fire hot and the wood dry... Kent

Big Lew BBQ & Other Things I Want to Do!

Barbecue and other stuff I want to do; such as cast iron cooking and deep frying turkeys and fish. I'm a family man. I enjoy cooking, it's fun, especially outdoor cooking. I'm doing this channel for fun. If it ever becomes not fun I'll quit doing it. I'm not a professional chef or cook, I haven't been formally trained in culinary arts. I'm not a competition BBQ guy. Therefore, I don't have to impress judges or paying customers with my skills and meals. I only have to impress my family, if it makes them smile, then it makes me smile. I hope my videos will make you smile too. Much of my equipment is very affordable. Many of my grills cost less than $100. For 5,000+ years of recorded history, mankind has cooked with wood and charcoal, so do I. Occasionally I cook with propane or electricity. For inquiries- email: biglew.dos@gmail.com Thanks for a cup of coffee. PayPal link: https://www.paypal.me/BigLewII On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BigLewBBQ/

Cook Culture

We are a small kitchenwares business based in Vancouver Island, Canada. We specialize in lifetime cookware and tools, We believe that the one thing that everyone can make in the kitchen is a better life.

Luis J.

God, Cooking, Iron Skillets, and Family. My channel will be of moments in my life, Bible scripture, vintage iron skillets, cast iron skillet reviews, Apple tech reviews and Amazon finds.

BBQ and Bottles

Some of the best memories I've created over the years have been the result of slaving away over a meal that gets shared with friends and family. In this age of technology the dinner table is one of the last few places where everyone puts their phones down to connect again as humans. It's these moments that justify the effort that goes into making the meal and that effort is just another way of showing people some love. We started this channel in hopes of inspiring more people to grill or barbecue at home, to slow down the pace of life for just a brief moment and to create your own memories with family & friends. Thanks for being part of this community! Don't forget to follow us on: Website: bbqandbottles.com Instagram: instagram.com/bbqandbottles/ Facebook: facebook.com/bbqandbotles TikTok: @BBQandBottles Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/BBQandBottles/

BobbyGfl

Random videos you may enjoy.

Hannah

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.

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.