Cast Iron Skillets
Cast Iron Skillets, according to cookware reviewers
Only claims about cast iron skillets made by people we have grounds to call cookware reviewers. The unrestricted cast iron skillets evidence is on the cast iron skillets page.
15 people we have grounds to call cookware reviewers make
200 quoted claims about cast iron skillets across
27 sources.
Membership of the cookware reviewers group is
recorded per person with its own evidence, and authority is scoped to cast iron skillets rather
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Which cast iron skillets do cookware reviewers recommend?
Endorsements and objections about cast iron skillets from cookware reviewers, together, strongest
evidence first.
6 voices 37 claims 5 objections
the field company this is 160 and you know those are directionally in and around the same prices for some really nice bespoke cast iron and of course the field and company coming in a little bit cheaper and i think that just has to do with the amount of weight or material of iron actually used in it relative to the…
value tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
Cites price
The best part is that you can get a Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet that will last a lifetime for under $30.
value tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites durability, price
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.
If you want to spend a little bit less, we have a best buy, which is old faithful Lodge cast iron. That's the Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet.
best in class tested it The Best Cast-Iron Skillets
Cites price
Because of the thick construction, it heated slower than the thinner skillets, but it retained heat well.
performance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst
Cites heat retention, non-stick surface
Despite the rough cooking surface, the egg didn't stick at all. It didn't slide quite as freely as it did on some of the smoother skillets, but the difference was pretty minor.
This skillet performs great, but I'm not a huge fan of the handle.
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
performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
Cites heat retention
when you touch the lodge you can hear the graininess as your finger goes across that cast iron pan that just isn't present in the other skillets here
performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
Cites heating speed (against), non-stick surface (against), surface finish (against)
now it's not to say your lodge won't be non-stick over time as you get more cooks in under your belt but it'll take a while before the seasoning over multiple cooks gets this to the point where it's as nonstick as one of these other cast iron skillets
not surprisingly because the field and the finex were actually the lightest pans they heated up the fastest and in that initial three or so minutes on the burner we actually got both of those up to around 320 to 325 degrees while the smithy and the lodge only heated up to 200 in the case of the smithy and 225 in the…
There are many other cheap cast iron skillets on the market, but Lodge is made in America, has been in business for over a century, and has high quality standards. So you know you're getting a good product.
recommendation tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites build quality, country of manufacture
Their skillets are thick and durable and because they hold heat so well, they're ideal for searing, frying, and baking.
use-case fit tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Their skillets are thick and durable and because they hold heat so well, they're ideal for searing, frying, and baking.
performance tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites heat retention
They may not have a perfectly smooth polished surface like some of the expensive artisan cast iron brands, but they perform just as well, and, in my experience, the rougher surface holds seasoning better.
Besides cast iron skillets, they make enameled cast iron Dutch ovens that perform like Le Creuset but cost much less.
Their skillets are thick and durable and because they hold heat so well, they're ideal for searing, frying, and baking.
durability tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites build quality, durability, seasoning durability
They may not have a perfectly smooth polished surface like some of the expensive artisan cast iron brands, but they perform just as well, and, in my experience, the rougher surface holds seasoning better.
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.
I can't talk about great quality, low-cost cookware without talking about Lodge.
best in class tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
2:03 supports Paul Villos Budget Buyers 5 voices 40 claims 16 objections
field stargazer two of the world's highest quality cast iron skillets
best in class tested it Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?
but if you're considering between something is as high quality as a field or stargazer i don't have one particular recommendation because they are both such high quality so it really depends on what you're looking for
when we did our unboxing video they sent us an 8 I love the skillet I do
recommendation owns and uses it daily Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review
Kent Rollins was given the product.
Stated in the source: “when we did our unboxing video they sent us an 8” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
but I will tell you what they done went and done they don't went and went to making a 10-inch skillet now I've had this about a week and I love this rascal
but when I run my hand across it it was the smooth finish
performance owns and uses it daily Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites non-stick surface, surface finish
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
but also when I look down at it I've seen the thickness of the walls it reminded me so much of an old Griswold or an old piece of Wagner ware
durability owns and uses it daily Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites build quality, ease of cleaning, seasoning durability
the more you use it the better it is going to become to you the slicker it's going to get the better finish it has
now what I have found that really helps these new skillets a whole lot deep fry you something in for you enough grease in there that you can fry something I cook me some deep fried chili rellenos in them I'll deep fry some fishing deep fry some potatoes in it really works good on seasoning easy to clean up that away…
they finish quicker and smoother than any of that other iron I ever used unless you get back to the Griswold in the Wagner so many years ago
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.
performance tested it Field Company Review: Best Lightweight Cast Iron?
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.
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.
performance tested it Field Company Review: Best Lightweight Cast Iron?
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.
It's [music] got three layers of grape seed seasoning on it. So, you can just give it a wash and just start cooking.
performance tested it Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins
Cites heat retention, maintenance, non-stick surface, searing and crust
the field turned out some nice cornbread, no sticking and a nice crust.
this field cranked out an absolutely delicious [music] grten with no sticking on the potatoes.
Butter potatoes. Those brown up pretty nicely and they did not stick. That's a good thing.
But the field did okay here and I think it helped with the browning that both the potatoes and the okra, they get moved around a little bit.
I think you did an okay job with bacon. Just a little bit of pulling on there, but the um the card says uh bacon can actually stick a little bit early on. So, with that in mind, I think it did uh just fine. I started it out in a room temperature pan, brought it up to heat, some early [music] flips, and mostly…
Um I mentioned that the pan doesn't have as much thermal mass as maybe some other cast irons or carbon steels for that matter, but I am still getting a good sear and browning here.
And here, summoning every bit of egg sliding mojo that I could muster, [music] I got a moderately decent sliding egg. It released even did okay on the flip. You know, cast iron skillets are not really known for flipping eggs, so the side walls are too tall, etc., etc., but it's still released on that second side, and…
but these are all heirloom pieces that will last for generations to come
durability tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites durability
i love using my field i like the weight of it i like how easy it is to grab i can i can work the pan really easily i find that i you know flip and work it really easily and a lot the stargazer is considerably heavier especially when it's full of food so i may flip it a little but i'm not working it nearly the same…
use-case fit owns and uses it daily Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?
Cites weight
but like i said i've used the field tons with the handle helper and it's about that's hot it's lighter so easy to kind of move around i find that why use the pan a lot with the handle helper i'll actually like flip things with it with the handle helper i could easily do that with this without the handle helper
handling owns and uses it daily Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?
Cites weight
so the field no difference could be the same pan
performance tested it Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?
Cites moisture retention, searing and crust
so in the first test onions to onions you know thoroughly cooked through good hot heat um you know really brown these onions up nicely there's lots of flavor developed really caramelize the brought out tons of the flavor of the onion still super juicy in the middle it's really held onto that moisture everything is in…
i found that the results in which i got out of the two pans were very similar i i the end cooking was was impossible to tell the difference
I think that lack of heaviness, lack of thermal mass, lack of metal, however you want to um describe that, uh for me anyway, I think it made the pan a little bit more difficult to cook in. It's difficult to get it heated evenly. I feel like um it's responsive, which is great for a uh copper skillet, for example. But…
performance tested it Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins
Cites base and rim (against), even heating (against), heat retention (against), non-stick surface (against), size and capacity (against), surface finish (against)
And I think one of the reasons I've had so much trouble with eggs in that field is that um those grooves, they uh I think they have not filled in yet and um they're kind of gripping food a little bit when I try and slide it around.
There is [music] a very tiny uh ring around the bottom of the pan which makes it sit up just a little bit. It's barely even noticeable. The Brevel has a temperature sensor in the middle of the cooking surface there and it has to stick up and make contact [music] with the bottom of a pan. Um there's also a logo here in…
Uh, no matter what I tried, I was getting, um, different essentially different cooking zones. I couldn't get the pan heated very evenly and I would put an egg in and sometimes um, part of an egg would stick and part would slide and the egg would come apart. And I think that's because the pan is not heated evenly and…
This uh 10-in pan um I had to work in two batches.
It's [music] um too narrow to lay out strips of supermarket bacon, but it will hold four if you cut them in half.
Let's talk a little bit more about that uneven heating though here. Uh you can really see it with these grilled cheese sandwiches. Give them their first turn there. And you can definitely see where one half of the grilled cheese is toasted and the other uh the butter is melted, but there is no toasting on there. So,…
I've also made some breaded squash and zucchini. And I like these for testing pans because I can lay them out all around the pan. Then when I flip them, I can tell if they're hotter or cooler spots. You can definitely tell that um some of these zucchini are much browner than the others.
And it's just a little bit more uneven and a little bit more difficult to cook in this pan than some others I have reviewed.
And after doing a ton of work on the seasoning and doing a lot of cooking, circling back to eggs, and I got this. And I got to say, I have never seen that [laughter] fried egg before. It's almost like uh orbiting almost like a planet or something. I don't know if that counts as half of a fried egg. never had um a…
And finally, I got to where I found that, uh, just trying different temperatures, if I went really, really low, um, I could get an egg to release, and this is after three or four minutes of setting up very, very slowly. I could get an egg to kind of sort of release and it'll move around, but I still say that egg is…
It's really good at certain tasks such as hightemp sears, um, oven performance, grotens, cornbread.
use-case fit tested it Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins
So people that have maneuverability issues, have trouble with the weight of cast iron, uh they're going to like the field.
I think if you are in the market for a lighter cast iron pan, you might really like the feel, especially if your cook top can get it heated evenly.
it ain't no work to it this skillet pays dividends every day that I cook into it because number one we're getting to absorb iron number two Shannon and the beagles really happy because I didn't burn nothing
value owns and uses it daily Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites maintenance
number one thing I liked about it when I pull it out of the box was the weight
handling owns and uses it daily Field Company Cast Iron Skillet Follow Up Review
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites weight
my wife loves the field company and that's because she prefers the lightweight and prioritizes that
best in class relaying someone else Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites weight
field company pretty similar as well very very smooth
performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites heating speed, surface finish
not surprisingly because the field and the finex were actually the lightest pans they heated up the fastest and in that initial three or so minutes on the burner we actually got both of those up to around 320 to 325 degrees while the smithy and the lodge only heated up to 200 in the case of the smithy and 225 in the…
5 voices 18 claims 1 objection
what i want to point out with the smithy is that the lid actually doubles as a skillet or a griddle and that i think is really really cool so it not only is this a lid so if you're baking bread or any other recipe that you're making that actually needs a lid you've got one but if you want to make smash burgers which…
use-case fit tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites versatility
In the end, it was one of these pans from a smaller producer that took the top spot. This is the Smithey Ironware number 12.
best in class tested it The Best Cast-Iron Skillets
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.
best in class tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More
Cites base and rim, handle, heat retention, non-stick surface
At 105°F, Smithey had the best heat retention, followed by Lodge Classic, Stargazer, a tie between Lodge Chef Collection and Calphalon, and finally, Field, which had the lowest temperature.
performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon
Cites heat retention, heating speed, non-stick surface
3:31 supports Valerie Li Stack Cookware Reviewer but for us i actually really like the smithy and the reason for that not just the fact that it's really smooth but i love the extra weight to me it's not a big deal and that's the whole reason that we're cooking with cast iron is to get that thermal capacity and i also love the fact that the lid doubles as a griddle…
best in class tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites surface finish, versatility, weight
but these are all heirloom pieces that will last for generations to come
durability tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites durability
similarly you can see on the back here they pay homage to that right with a stamp on the bottom of your skillet which is pretty cool i like that
appearance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites appearance
it's not to say that these other skillets don't look nice they absolutely do i love the smithy you got some nice touches here with this bird imprint their logo right on the handle you've got nice little touch finishing touches up here beautiful stamps on the back of these so it's not that these skillets don't look…
you're gonna go across the smithy here same you don't feel any bumps at all
performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites heat retention, surface finish
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
4 voices 27 claims 5 objections
right off the bat when I looked at this the very first time I'm thinking whoa I love the design of this handle because look how far I can stand away from the Heat and this thing is rounded to where it really don't hurt your hands when you grab a hold of it and it's got this v-notch in here which is going to keep it…
handling 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
here look at here a two-handle deal I really like this deal I do
a shorter handle means it's heavier for you to pick up you ain't got the leverage that you might have over here with this Skillet so that longer handle does help you out some on the weight that it's got
perfectly cooked okay everything is juicy in the middle there's no hard crusty bits even the smaller pieces here haven't been overcooked so now perfectly cooked in the stargazer absolutely amazing
performance tested it Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?
Cites even heating, moisture retention, searing and crust
so in the first test onions to onions you know thoroughly cooked through good hot heat um you know really brown these onions up nicely there's lots of flavor developed really caramelize the brought out tons of the flavor of the onion still super juicy in the middle it's really held onto that moisture everything is in…
i found that the results in which i got out of the two pans were very similar i i the end cooking was was impossible to tell the difference
but what i found is that pretty much everything else that i was doing i was leaning towards a stargazer i was finding that the evenness of the heavier weight gave me even a more consistent finish and it slowed the process down even more so i could you know steam the lid on bring the heat way down and just let things…
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 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
field stargazer two of the world's highest quality cast iron skillets
best in class tested it Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?
but if you're considering between something is as high quality as a field or stargazer i don't have one particular recommendation because they are both such high quality so it really depends on what you're looking for
17:46 supports BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer so there you have it I love this pan
recommendation tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
so there you have it I love this pan
thank you Stargazer for a fantastic product
thank you Stargazer for a fantastic product I am very impressed
0:31 supports BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer so it comes uh wrapped obviously it's not all oily because it's uh been seasoned by them usually when I order pans I order them uh seasoned you know they uh they do them in you know I don't know they they're just always even and and pretty nice
performance tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
Cites coating, non-stick surface, seasoning durability, surface finish, warp resistance
and they've machined the entire inside so the outside has the traditional texture in fact it's way smoother right out of the right out of the box than you would get on like say a lodge or some other mass produced Skillet
but what they've done is put this Pan on a lathe the entire pan and spun it uh to completely machine the inside so it's very smooth but it's not so smooth that that you would think that it's not going to hold seasoning
and as I'm heating it up to uh take care of that extra seasoning uh the pan doesn't Flex at all stays perfectly flat
oh yeah I can tell already you know you just can't get a fried egg to do this in a Teflon pan I mean look at that this look at that it's like almost almost non-stick I mean it's fantastic
oh yeah I can tell already you know you just can't get a fried egg to do this in a Teflon pan I mean look at that this look at that it's like almost almost non-stick I mean it's fantastic
Overall, it cooks as well or better than any cast iron I've tested.
best in class tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Unlike the Lodge and Victoria skillets, the cooking surface is smooth and because of that, it performed extremely well in the egg test. The egg released immediately and slid around the pan without any help from the spatula.
performance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst
Cites base and rim, heating speed, non-stick surface
The flared rim also poured cleanly.
It was one of the fastest skillets to heat, but there was a large difference between the center and the edge after 2 minutes, and heat retention was middle of the pack.
13:12 supports BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer um this is uh the closest thing to carbon steel in cast iron uh that that I've ever used really impressed with the weight
best in class tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
Cites weight
2:32 supports BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer so we've got Stargazer made in USA
value tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
Cites country of manufacture, price
I got to tell you at priced at 88 bucks I think for unseasoned maybe it was a little more for seasoned um something like $10 shipping or something I mean it's this this this guy doesn't know what he has here because these pans could easily go for 150 bucks
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 tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites price (against)
but you pay a premium for it
It's an ideal skillet for searing and roasting meats because the temperature doesn't fluctuate as you add ingredients; it stays hot and it cooks evenly.
use-case fit tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites even heating, heat retention
First and foremost, the performance of this skillet is excellent. I've used it to cook steak, chicken, fish, and several other meals, and every time the food comes out great.
performance tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites ease of cleaning, even heating, heat retention, induction compatible, non-stick surface, searing and crust, surface finish
The skin on the chicken gets golden and crispy, salmon gets an even sear, and steak gets nice and charred.
But once it's hot, it retains heat really well.
If you compare Stargazer next to other brands you'll notice that the Stargazer cooking surface is significantly smoother. This is due to their proprietary two-step treatment that smoothes out the surface while creating enough texture for the seasoning to stick to.
Because of this foods like eggs and pancakes are much less likely to stick and it's easier to clean.
There are a few things I like about the bottom. First, there's no heat ring like you'll find on some cast iron skillets. It sits completely flat which helps it heat evenly on electric and induction cooktops.
nice smooth interior in the stargazer i'm really enjoying this stargazer it's so far so good you know of course i love my field um it doesn't mean that i don't like it as much i'm just you know so far so good with the stargazer i'm i'm i'm impressed
appearance tested it Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?
Cites surface finish
2:32 supports BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer something that sets Stargazer apart is uh the cool touch handle
handling tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet
Cites handle, heat resistance, shape and form, weight
it's lighter weight for the size significantly lighter weight you can feel how they've taken down the material here on the side and the bottom actually feels thicker than the sides so there's some engineering going on there
and then it's got this nice handle on the end here I assume this would probably get pretty hot uh but my experience with these is uh anything that's forked stays cool to the touch and you don't really need a uh hot pad to hold on to it
the thumb area here I mean it's a great handle feels really comfortable
and this is different from most of the the pans I have most of the pans I have have much longer handles so this will be a a welcome change
another thing I wanted to mention is uh they PRI themselves on this lip so some of the lodge pans of a similar size you'll they have a pour spout this doesn't you know you could pour from pretty much anywhere
I have to tell you this handle is toasty warm but not something you can't touch
I have to tell you this handle is toasty warm but not something you can't touch
but I noticed after using the skillet a handful of times that the seasoning wears off. Because they apply such thin layers, you need to apply one or two more coats either before you start cooking or soon after.
durability tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
it's not the most comfortable to hold
handling tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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Cites storage and stacking (against), handle (against)
but these edges can dig into your hand
They remind me of a wider version of All-Clad handles which people often complain about.
Also the long handle makes it a bit more difficult to store.
It's an heirloom quality piece
durability tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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Cites durability
The final pro I want to mention is the fact that Stargazer skillets are made in the USA. This is a company of skilled craftsmen that's proud to manufacture its products in America using domestically sourced recycled iron. The casting happens in Wisconsin then the Skillets are shipped to Ohio for machining and finally…
value tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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Cites build quality, country of manufacture, price
The main reason Stargazer costs more is because of the manual steps involved. This is not a mass-produced skillet; each one is hand finished seasoned and carefully inspected.
It's worth mentioning that they offer a military discount to active service members and veterans.
The main benefit of Stargazer is the design features that enhance the comfort and overall experience.
If those features are appealing to you, it's well worth the investment.
so it's worth spending a little bit more up front to get something you'll love
Second I really like the engraved logo and name. It makes a statement and it looks pretty cool in my opinion.
appearance tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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Cites appearance
Lastly they stamp the date that the skillet was casted on the bottom of the helper handle. This skillet was made on August 15 2022. I like this because it adds keepsake value
Each Stargazer cast iron skillet is hand seasoned with two coats of a blend of canola, grapeseed, and sunflower oil. This results in their signature bronze color which looks great
Another thing that makes this Skillet unique is its long handles which are significantly longer than most cast iron skillets. The handle on the 12-inch Stargazer Skillet is 7.6 inches long. For comparison, the handle on this 12 inch Calphalon Skillet is 4.75 inches.
handling tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?
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Cites ergonomics, handle, heat resistance, shape and form
The extra length makes it easier to maneuver the skillet while keeping your hand away from the heat.
I've also noticed that the Stargazer handle stays cooler thanks to the y-shaped design that disperses heat.
The helper handle opposite the main handle is also much larger and easier to grip than the ones on most cast iron skillets.
Another feature I really like about Stargazer is that it has a flared rim all the way around for easy pouring from any angle. Most cast iron skillets have a pour spout on each side which is a bit more limiting.
It has a cup-shaped design that ensures your hand won't slip or rotate when you tilt the skillet
4 voices 13 claims 2 objections
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 tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
BBQ and Bottles was given the product.
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evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites appearance, handle, shape and form
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
it is a great piece of cast iron to me really if you're sitting on the table full of something to eat and you want to make a statement and you set this out there that is a statement piece it is
appearance tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?
Cites appearance, handle
you want to make a statement this is the piece I mean a great different unique design that I've never seen on a piece of cast iron and the handle I mean it is the talking point of the kitchen but also the dining table because this thing is fancy enough to serve right out of it is
but it actually prevents this handle from warming up no matter how long we've cooked for using this skillet this handle won't get hot at all
handling tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites heat resistance, lid, shape and form
now going to the finex you might not see an obvious spout but because of this octagonal shape that they have to the pan you can actually use any of these edges as a pour spout and you won't get anything that drips out so that's a pretty cool feature there
so the finex comes with a lid you don't have to worry about fumbling around and finding a lid that will fit that shape
you rub your finger just along the base of the skillet there that is absolutely smooth just like glass
performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites heating speed, surface finish
not surprisingly because the field and the finex were actually the lightest pans they heated up the fastest and in that initial three or so minutes on the burner we actually got both of those up to around 320 to 325 degrees while the smithy and the lodge only heated up to 200 in the case of the smithy and 225 in the…
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 owns and uses it daily Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet
Cites seasoning durability
but these are all heirloom pieces that will last for generations to come
durability tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge
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” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites durability
2:03 supports Luis J. Cookware Reviewer okay guys so now let's just talk about the cooking performance of this Skillet of the finex number 10 and I'm not disappointed because I've done a lot of things I've done gravies I've done um like uh searing a steak and then making a sauce with deglazing using wine beef stock or chicken stock you know and things like…
performance owns and uses it daily Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet
Cites acid resistance, heat retention, seasoning durability, versatility
you know yes the seasoning does take a hit but it bounces back right away and then it's back to its seasoned Glory even seasoning
but that's just pretty much the only downside to these Skillets they they cook beautifully they work beautifully they're heavy enough to retain a good amount of heat but they're not too heavy to the point that they're just over you know like overwhelmingly heavy
6:35 objects Luis J. Cookware Reviewer one of the cons about the finex Skillets and probably one of the biggest downsides to them is the fact that there is nothing you can specifically do with the spring handle and the end cap uh to where you can remove it so that way you can have um you know the ability to season that cast iron shaft that is you know for…
repairability owns and uses it daily Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet
Cites repairability (against)
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 owns and uses it daily Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet
Owned 2 years
Cites maintenance, seasoning durability
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…
Lodge 6-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
2 voices 3 claims 1 objection
0:30 supports Liz Cookware Reviewer the lodge 6q enameled cast iron Dutch oven is a versatile and durable piece of cookware known for its ability to retain and distribute heat evenly
performance tested it Amazon Basics vs Lodge vs Staub vs Le Creuset Dutch Ovens
Cites even heating, non-stick surface, ease of cleaning, even heating, heat retention
all four ovens scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for heat retention and evenness of cooking
the L cruset Lodge and stove have a non-stick enamel finish over the interior and exterior of the pots Amazon does not have enamel but instead is pre-seasoned lay cruset and Lodge each scored Perfect 10 out of 10 however we did notice some veggies sticking to the bottom of both the stove and Amazon dutch ovens while…
while the lodge was a pretty quick cleanup there was some Browning we noticed from the oven that didn't come out when cleaning taking it down to a 7 out of 10
2:31 supports Product Reviews Cookware Reviewer the lodge 6qt enameled cast iron Dutch oven is a budget-friendly choice that doesn't compromise on performance it's perfect for home Cooks seeking a Dutch oven's benefits without the Hefty price tag of Premium Brands
value Top 3 Dutch Ovens 2024: Staub vs. Le Creuset vs. Lodge Review
Cites price, price
Lodge's main advantage is affordability delivering Great Value often below $100 making it accessible for many
2:30 mixed Liz Cookware Reviewer Lodge enameled cast iron Dutch oven
1 voice 5 claims no objections from cookware reviewers
I'm going to give this guy a 90% thumbs up on the pro side.
recommendation tested it NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!
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Cites appearance, country of manufacture
But I am glad I have one of them in my Battery Deuisine now. They crank out a ton of delicious food. I think they have a nice look and design. They're made in America.
Um, I really like mine. I'm giving it a 90% thumbs up.
This lodge is pushing 15 pounds. Holy cow, that is a sturdy piece of cookware.
handling tested it NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!
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Cites weight
First is realworld cooking performance. It has turned out a ton of delicious food and that is the most important factor.
performance tested it NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!
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evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites heat retention
it is nice to see the Lodge USA made Dutch oven competing nicely with the stove and I think this beef bergen was equally delicious in both.
the oil temperature only dropped down to about 342. So that is not much of a drop in temperature at all. And then of course it rebounded on up.
So there's a lot of heat trapped in that thermal mass of a lodge and I think it did a great job.
It's winter time in Utah at the moment and I've been using these lodges to crank out some shephardd's pies and they've turned out fantastically.
What I like here is that with this six quart size, I can lay out the dry spaghetti completely and submerge it before it turns soft.
use-case fit owns one NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!
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evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites browning visibility, size and capacity, versatility
So, boiling, browning, stove top, deep frying, um making sauces, going from stove top to the oven. I think the Lodge has done a fantastic job with cooking and has turned out a ton of delicious food.
Next to a Luset, you can really see how light the interior color of the lodge is. Now, this is great for seeing food as it cooks.
I think it's a good-looking piece of cookwware. It's got some design elements. We'll get to that here in a minute. And it's made in the USA.
appearance tested it NEW: Lodge USA Enamel Review with cooking & Staub/Le Creuset comparison!
Uncle Scott earns commission on this.
Stated in the source: “USK currently has affiliate links and/or influencer links with Amazon, Falk, De Buyer, Thermoworks, Breville, Lodge, Smithey and others.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped — a paid endorsement is still
evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
Cites appearance, country of manufacture, shape and form
I think it is kind of distinctive though. And that design, it's actually raised. I don't know if that comes through on camera. And then you can feel the uh the opposite of it on the inside of the pan. So that's kind of neat.
Marquette cast iron skillet
1 voice 4 claims no objections from cookware reviewers
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 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
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 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
Finex cast iron pan
1 voice 4 claims no objections from cookware reviewers
so for serving mistake if we want to dry these steaks into the cast-iron pan just like that drop in the rosemary the garlic so you can see presentation-wise lay your dinner out in the cast-iron pan serve it on the table like this that's gonna be absolutely beautiful your guests will love it so just look at that who…
use-case fit tested it Steak Experiments - Lodge vs Finex Cast Iron Pan
Cites appearance
now it's a beautiful steak you've got the rosemary and the garlic flavor and that rich buttery Ness from the clarified butter even though you clarify it you still get that rich beautiful flavor that was really textbook I'm really really pleased with the outcome here and no complaints at all
performance tested it Steak Experiments - Lodge vs Finex Cast Iron Pan
Cites ease of cleaning, searing and crust
now we just ate our steaks we're doing cleanup here look at how much cleaner the fine axe is after just wiping it down with a quick paper towel so that's one benefit that we didn't realize until this stage so that's pretty big plus if you ask me
and who knows these are but spoke really custom-made cast iron pans and they're very very heavy it's almost it feels like it's 25 maybe 50% heavier than the lodge so maybe that plays out that it will actually last longer
handling tested it Steak Experiments - Lodge vs Finex Cast Iron Pan
Cites weight
Lancaster cast iron skillet
1 voice 3 claims 1 objection
Calphalon cast iron skillet
1 voice 3 claims 3 objections
Le Creuset enameled cast iron skillet
1 voice 2 claims 1 objection
Viking enameled cast iron skillet
1 voice 1 claim no objections from cookware reviewers
Griswold cast iron skillet
1 voice 1 claim no objections from cookware reviewers
Victoria Signature Series
1 voice 1 claim 1 objection
Made In enameled cast iron skillet
1 voice 1 claim 1 objection
And not surprisingly, cast iron heated the slowest.
performance tested it Carbon Steel Pans EXPLAINED (What They Don’t Tell You)
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Cites heating speed (against)
The stainless steel pan cooked the pancake fast and evenly, carbon steel heated quickly but one side of the pancake cooked more than the other, and the cast iron pan heated so slowly that the pancake wasn’t close to done when the timer went off.