but it's also the heaviest of the three options at eight pounds
Cites weight (against)
Articles · A disputed claim
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Weight: What 12 People Say
The Lodge cast iron skillet's weight is a downside to Hannah of America's Test Kitchen and the reason Prudent Reviews points some buyers to it.
About Lodge cast iron skillet.
We have not used any of these ourselves. We read 19 sources and structured what 12 people said. Of the 18 quotes below, 8 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 12 people, 19 sources and 98 recorded claims. A declared interest is labelled beside the quote rather than removed.
The answer
The Lodge cast iron skillet's weight is a fault to Hannah, of America's Test Kitchen, and a selling point to Prudent Reviews. Hannah found it the heaviest of three at eight pounds. Prudent Reviews, a cookware reviewer with an affiliate interest on some reviews, measured 8.1 lb and still sends buyers wanting more heft to the Lodge Classic. The case against is a scale reading and the case for is a preference. No one quoted says how long they have owned one.
The 4 quotes behind this, from 2 people · 2 objecting · 1 with a declared interest
The Lodge Classic is also a great option if you want something more substantial, and the value is incredible.
Cites weight
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.
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.
Where do people disagree about Lodge cast iron skillet?
- Weight in the Lodge is a fault to Hannah, who found it the heaviest of three at eight pounds, and to Adam, also of America's Test Kitchen. Prudent Reviews points anyone wanting "something more substantial" to the Lodge Classic, and BBQ and Bottles found heavier pans lost less heat.
- The Lodge's rough surface disappoints Papa Mau, who owns one, and Kent Rollins, of Cowboy Kent Rollins, who dislikes its factory seasoning. Adam found it "smooth and stick resistant" after testing.
- The Lodge handle has edges that dig into your hands, according to Prudent Reviews, and Noah Klein finds it small and short on feel. Kent Rollins likes that handle, and BBQ and Bottles found its edges rounded enough not to dig in.
- The Lodge needs a little fat to release food, says Hannah. Papa Mau, who owns one, says it cooks fine and needs nothing.
The 13 quotes behind this, from 7 people · 7 objecting
It's heavy.
Cites weight (against)
now what you'd also expect is that the heavier panes would retain their heat better and that's exactly what happened if we look at the field in the finance they both lost between 180 to 185 degrees fahrenheit over a 15 minute period while the lodge in the smithy only lost 80 to 75 degrees fahrenheit
Cites heat retention
compare that to my 90 years old grease wool. Yeah, massive difference.
Cites surface finish (against)
now of all the Skillets here the one that probably disappoints me the most in seasoning the way it comes to you or the way you buy it out of the store is Lodge with that rough finish on it
Cites seasoning durability (against), surface finish (against)
Actually, by the end of the testing, even though it was a little rougher at the beginning, it was smooth and stick resistant and well seasoned, and it's $43.
Cites surface finish, non-stick surface, seasoning durability
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 the handle is just your basic cast iron handle it's kind of small it doesn't have a really good feel to it
Cites handle (against)
and then the the lodge was not manageable obviously
that is Lodge now Lodge has been in business in South Pittsburg Tennessee forever and ever they have this handle that I really like
Cites handle
i don't notice a ton of difference between these three all of them have nice rounded edges so that when you're holding the pan your handle isn't actually digging into your hand that much so i don't notice much of a difference across these skillets but the finex is really a standout in this category
Cites handle, shape and form
you'll see both the smithy and the lodge have pour spouts built right into the sides so you can pour anything out either side whether that's something that you're cooking in the pan that you need to pour out or whether that's the residual grease from a cook so that's really handy
You will need to use a little bit of fat in these pans to get that non-stick ability.
Cites non-stick surface (against)
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.
What the evidence suggests
- Choose the Lodge Chef Collection if a heavy pan is hard for you to lift: Prudent Reviews found it almost 2 lb lighter in 2026.
- Choose the Lodge Classic if you want a heavy pan that holds its heat: Prudent Reviews suggests it to buyers wanting more heft. BBQ and Bottles measured the heavier pans losing less heat.
- Choose the Lodge if cost matters more to you than weight: Julia, of America's Test Kitchen, called it the best buy at $43 in 2023. Hannah, who faulted its eight pounds, still found it the most durable of three.
The 6 quotes behind this, from 4 people · 1 objecting
The Lodge Chef Collection has the same rough cooking surface as the Lodge Classic, but the walls are a quarter inch shorter and more sloped, which makes it easier to slide a spatula under food near the edges. The handle is also slightly longer, the walls are thinner, and it's almost 2 lb lighter.
Cites base and rim, handle, weight
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 8:02.
Cites heat retention
If you want a really nice cast iron skillet, check out the Smithey Ironware number 12 for $200, or for the best buy, check out the Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet for just $43.
Cites price
This means that of these three, the traditional mass produced lodge model is the most durable. It's basically indestructible
Cites durability
What the evidence doesn’t tell us
Prudent Reviews, one cookware reviewer, is the source of 39 of the 98 claims about the Lodge, which is 40% of what the 12 people quoted said.
No one quoted says how long they have owned a Lodge. Hannah, Adam and Prudent Reviews faulted its weight after testing one, and none of them describes years of carrying it. Hannah's eight pounds and Prudent Reviews' 8.1 lb are not tied to a stated size, so they may not describe the same pan.
The case that heft helps rests on a single heat test, by BBQ and Bottles in 2021.
The 4 quotes behind this, from 4 people · 3 objecting
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 1:00.
Cites handle (against), heat resistance (against), weight (against)
Quoted earlier on this page. Hear it at 8:02.
Cites heat retention
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.
Hannah Crowley
Executive editor for ATK Reviews and co-host of America's Test Kitchen's Gear Heads series on YouTube.
Adam Ried
Equipment expert at America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country, reviewing kitchen equipment on-camera in the show's Equipment Corner segments.
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/
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
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! 🔥
Julia Collin Davison
Executive editorial director and co-host of America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country, trained at the Culinary Institute of America (class of 1996).
Noah Klein
The official YouTube of 614Lyfe & The_Noahnator The Creator of THE HAND OF GOD The OG Nonstick Pan Man The OG Cheese Man The creator of the magic food grinder The Internets go to food experiment guy The guy who brings you some of the most satisfying videos in the Milky Way Galaxy Also Yes I am from & live in OHIO Let me know what you want to see next and I will make it happen. Booking: Johnny@olympustalentgroup.com
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.
Products
Sources
Short quotes and deep links only. We publish no transcripts, and every quote above opens the original at the second it was spoken.
- $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)
- Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
- 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 a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?
- I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst
- The Best Cast-Iron Skillets
- 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 2026-09-15
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.