Articles · Where two groups agree
Home cooks and buy it for life enthusiasts converge on five products, and a Lodge owner compares its finish unfavorably to a 90-year-old family pan.
About Home Cooks and Buy It For Life Enthusiasts.
We have not used any of these ourselves. We read 40 sources and structured what 16 people said. Of the 27 quotes below, 14 are complaints and 2 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 16 people, 40 sources and 383 recorded claims. A declared interest is labelled beside the quote rather than removed.
Home cooks and buy it for life enthusiasts converge most decisively on five products: a Le Creuset dutch oven, the Field, the Smithey, the Lodge and an All-Clad 10-piece set. David Gafford, disclosing a gifted set, says his HexClad has fit his family well for 18 months; Papa Mau says a well-used Lodge cooks perfectly fine needing nothing more. Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer who discloses an affiliate interest on some tests, holds 63% of everything said about it, and nobody quoted has owned the Le Creuset or the Lodge.
So, the question remains, is HexClad the right pan or pot for you? If you want nonstick with the ability to use metal utensils, this fits the bill. The lifetime warranty is wonderful as long as they make it easy to fix something when it truly has gone bad. I've enjoyed having HexClad as our main pot and pan set here…
David Gafford was given the product. Stated in the source: “HexClad sent us these pans over a year and a half ago for us to test and see if we like them.”
Owned 18 months
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Le Creuset dutch oven | durability (1), ease of cleaning (1) | heat retention (1), lid (1) | 1 voice | 1 of 1 |
| Field cast iron skillet | none recorded | heat retention (1), heating speed (1) | 2 voices | none declared |
| Smithey cast iron skillet | appearance (1), durability (1) | price (1), weight (1) | 1 voice | none declared |
| Lodge cast iron skillet | durability (1), heat retention (1) | handle (1), maintenance (1) | 3 voices | none declared |
| All-Clad 10-piece cookware set | appearance (1), durability (1) | ergonomics (1), size and capacity (1) | 2 voices | none declared |
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)
The Lodge Classic is also a great option if you want something more substantial, and the value is incredible.
Cites price
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.
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)
The Le Creuset dutch oven's price is the objection: Prudent Reviews says its performance can be found in "much cheaper Dutch ovens," since they share cast iron and enamel construction.
Prudent Reviews ranks it the third-worst performing brand it tested, tracing that to thinner, lighter walls. The same reviewer, disclosing an affiliate interest, credits its handles with the widest openings among the ovens it measured, and separately says a Le Creuset can perform exceptionally well and last for generations despite the upfront cost.
No one among the 16 people quoted states how long they have owned one.
Le Creuset was the third worst-performing brand. Although I was not surprised by this since it's the thinnest and lightest.
Cites heat retention (against), lid (against), moisture retention (against), weight (against)
Some brands, like Staub, have dimples inside their lids to encourage a self-basting process, but Le Creuset doesn't.
Since Le Creuset has a domed lid with a smooth interior, the evaporated water collected and ran down the sides of the lid rather than evenly dripping back over the food.
Along with Misen, Le Creuset handles have the widest openings.
Cites ease of cleaning, handle, heat resistance, lid, weight
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.”
Because of that and the lightweight design, it's by far the easiest Dutch oven to pick up, wash, and store.
The lid has ridges that prevent a spoon from slipping off
the knob has a wide top and a thick stem, which makes it easy to grip and control
In my test, both knobs stayed cooler than most other brands, but the plastic knob barely heated up at all.
the plastic knob barely heated up at all
I love Le Creuset's color options, lightweight design, and large handles.
While this is a significant investment, both brands perform exceptionally well and can last for decades.
Two judgements rest on this sentence:
Their heavy lids lock in moisture, and the thick walls retain heat and maintain steady temperatures.
The Field cast iron skillet's durability is probably the objection: Prudent Reviews found that "it warped significantly. The center curved downward," and rated it the worst heat retention among the cast iron skillets it tested.
Uncle Scott, a month and a half into his, is still having trouble getting the seasoning to develop and getting non-stick eggs. Prudent Reviews separately says the Field's main benefit is that it is lightweight and heats fast, though the same thin construction that makes it light also limits how well it holds heat.
Uncle Scott's month and a half is the longest ownership stated for a Field.
During my testing, it warped significantly. The center curved downward, and the pan wobbled on the cooktop.
Cites warp resistance (against)
On the negative side, it has the worst heat retention of all the cast iron skillets I've tested, which means it cools down faster when you add cold ingredients.
Cites heat retention (against), heating speed (against)
Since it heats up so fast, you can easily overcook your food if you're not paying attention.
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 main benefit of Field is that it’s lightweight and heats fast, but since the construction is thinner than most cast iron skillets, it doesn't retain heat as well.
Cites heat retention (against)
I did not take anything for free. I bought this with my own money and these opinions are my own after cooking in this field [music] for about a month and a half or so now.
Owned 2 months
The Smithey cast iron skillet is probably heavy and expensive for what it does: Prudent Reviews calls it "heavy and expensive," though it says the skillet will last a lifetime and is worth the investment.
Prudent Reviews separately calls it the best overall skillet if price isn't a factor, crediting the best heat retention of six it tested, and says a smoother surface and higher-end design are worth the extra cost if a reader doesn't mind spending more. After more than two years, Prudent Reviews still reaches for it more than most of what it owns, the longest ownership stated for the Smithey.
It's heavy and expensive, but it will last a lifetime, so it's worth the investment.
Cites durability, price (against), weight (against)
If price is not a factor, Smithey is the best overall skillet.
If you want a skillet with a smoother surface and a more high-end design, and you don't mind spending more to get it, Smithey and Made In are my two favorite premium options.
Cites appearance, 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," on a pan Papa Mau says some owners grind down entirely rather than live with its rough factory surface.
Prudent Reviews separately singles the Lodge out as worth buying for anyone who wants a sturdier skillet, and measured its heat retention best of all twelve skillets it tested. Papa Mau, despite the rough surface, says a well-seasoned Lodge cooks perfectly fine and needs nothing else. Hannah, of America's Test Kitchen, calls it the most durable of the three she compared, though also the heaviest at eight pounds.
No one among the 16 people quoted states how long they have owned a Lodge.
why so many people go all in and grind these pants completely
Cites surface finish (against), maintenance (against)
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
This means that of these three, the traditional mass produced lodge model is the most durable. It's basically indestructible
Cites durability
but it's also the heaviest of the three options at eight pounds
Cites weight (against)
The All-Clad 10-piece cookware set's handle is a mild objection: Lisa says the set's handles are "not as comfy" as some rivals, though she adds they stay anchored without rotating dangerously in the hand.
We do not know whether the set holds up broadly: mostly Lisa and Hannah speak to it among the 16 people quoted. Lisa also notes neither this set nor its Made In rival includes a 12-inch skillet. Hannah, thirteen years in, says hers still looks brand new, the longest ownership stated for it.
They're not as comfy but they don't rotate in your hands dangerously. They stay anchored.
Cites ergonomics (against), handle, safety
Although we love a 12-inch skillet, neither of these sets have a 12 inch. They have an eight and 10. So you may wanna add that on if you have these sets.
Cites size and capacity (against)
'Cause I got a similar All-Clad set for my wedding 13 years ago and I have to say, it looks brand new and I've used it for all those 13 years.
Cites appearance, durability
Owned 13 years
Hannah's 13 years on an All-Clad 10-piece set, said in 2026, is the longest figure on this sheet. Prudent Reviews puts 2 years on a Smithey, elsewhere calling the same skillet worth buying for a lifetime without a number attached. Uncle Scott names a month and a half on a Field in 2026, the shortest figure among the five products picked here.
No one among the 16 people quoted names any duration for the Le Creuset or the Lodge.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:32.
Cites durability, price (against), weight (against)
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:31.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
Uncle Scott, testing a Field for a month and a half, was still fighting the seasoning break-in and getting eggs to stick. Hannah, 13 years into an All-Clad 10-piece set, says it still looks brand new. Prudent Reviews, 2 years into a Smithey, still reaches for it more than most of what it owns.
None of the 16 people quoted reports a longer span than Hannah's 13 years.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 2:31.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
Owned 2 months
15 more products are named on this sheet without enough behind them for their own sections, among them Heritage Steel cookware, a HexClad Hybrid, Hestan CopperBond and a Demeyere Industry. Thin coverage is not a verdict against any of them; it is simply what these 40 sources can carry.
Papa Mau, a home cook, judges the Lodge by whether it gets the job done without fuss, a rough pan that cooks perfectly fine once you know how to use it. Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer, measures that same roughness in millimeters and pour-spout width instead. Uncle Scott, testing a Field for a month and a half, judges it by how the seasoning is coming along, where Hannah, thirteen years into an All-Clad set, judges cookware by whether it still looks new.
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 5:01.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
At 5 mm thick and 8.1 lb, it's the thickest and heaviest skillet in the group.
Cites handle (against), heat resistance (against), weight (against)
It's a little too short, and when I boiled water in each skillet for 10 minutes to compare handle temperatures, it was too warm to grab with a bare hand.
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 5:01.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 10:33.
Prudent Reviews alone holds 240 of the 383 claims in these 40 sources, 63% of everything in scope, so much of these five products' cases rests on one reviewer's testing. None of the 16 people quoted claims to have owned anything longer than the 13 years behind Hannah's All-Clad set. Nobody quoted about the Le Creuset or the Lodge speaks as an owner at all, and both carry no ownership duration whatsoever.
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.
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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! 🔥
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.
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