Skillets: where buy it for life enthusiasts and r/BuyItForLife agree

Only the skillets that buy it for life enthusiasts and r/BuyItForLife have independently backed. A product one group praises and the other has never mentioned does not appear here.

9 people we have grounds to call buy it for life enthusiasts and r/BuyItForLife make 60 quoted claims about skillets across 11 sources. Membership of each group is recorded per person with its own evidence, and authority is scoped to skillets rather than to fame.

Which skillets do both buy it for life enthusiasts and r/BuyItForLife recommend?

Endorsements and objections about skillets from buy it for life enthusiasts and r/BuyItForLife, together, strongest evidence first.

Lodge cast iron skillet

3 voices 15 claims 4 objections

2:31 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

This means that of these three, the traditional mass produced lodge model is the most durable. It's basically indestructible

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites durability

2:01 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

We'll first look at our traditional winner from lodge. This is by far the least expensive of the bunch and it is a really great bargain.

value tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites price

2:31 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

but it's also the heaviest of the three options at eight pounds

handling tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites weight (against)

2:31 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

You will need to use a little bit of fat in these pans to get that non-stick ability.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites non-stick surface (against)

1:30 supports Quality Collapse

It is a heavy, crude piece of iron, But, it is indestructible. You can scrape it with steel wool. You can put it directly in a campfire. You can drop it on concrete and it will not crack.

durability relaying someone else The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites durability, weight (against)

2:00 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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.

6:02 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

If you don't want to spend that much, Lodge Classic is the best value. It costs a fraction of the price and still performs really well.

value tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites build quality, price

1:30 supports Quality Collapse

A brand like Lodge, which is still made in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, sells a 12-in skillet for $25.

value relaying someone else The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites price

2:00 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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)

Cites build quality, country of manufacture

1:30 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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)

1:30 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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)

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.

1:30 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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)

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.

1:30 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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)

6:02 mixed Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

It's heavier and the surface is rougher, but it holds on to seasoning better and it still passed the egg test with no sticking.

performance tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface, seasoning durability, weight (against)

2:00 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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.

appearance tested it Cheap Cookware That's Actually Worth Buying (And 4 Brands to Avoid)

Cites surface finish (against)

Smithey cast iron skillet

2 voices 4 claims 2 objections

3:31 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

This pan by Smithey is around $200 compared to the Lodge's, $44 a quarter of the price.

value tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites price (against)

3:01 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

You can see right here this pan is really smooth to the touch, whereas this one is a little rougher.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites surface finish

5:32 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

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

5:32 mixed Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

It's heavy and expensive, but it will last a lifetime, so it's worth the investment.

value tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites durability, price (against), weight (against)

Field cast iron skillet

2 voices 4 claims 1 objection

11:35 supports Chris Hall Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Said he had a field and he had trouble with eggs early on and he resolved to just quit cooking eggs for a while. He went and cooked a bunch of other stuff and said he circled back around to eggs later on and then they were non-stick.

durability relaying someone else Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins

Cites seasoning durability

12:05 supports Chris Hall Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Now, Chris also said later that uh all that cooking he did, he was in some sort of um hurricane relief situation, and I don't know if he was cooking for first responders or for people in a shelter or what have you, but when one of the hurricanes hit, he was doing a ton of cooking and used his field.

use-case fit relaying someone else Field Cast Iron Review: Egg Problems & Great Gratins

Cites seasoning durability

6:02 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

If you want a skillet that's easy to handle, Field Company is the best option. It has a smooth surface just like Smithey, but it weighs significantly less and heats up faster.

handling tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites surface finish, heating speed, weight

6:02 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

The one major downside is that it warped significantly when I tested it on induction.

durability tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites induction compatible (against)

What do buy it for life enthusiasts and r/BuyItForLife say about skillets in general?

Not a recommendation for a specific product — technique, materials and what to look for in skillets. Citable on its own terms.

8:33 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

First, a broad cooking surface. We preferred pans that offered at least 10 inches of flat cooking surface.

recommendation tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites handle, shape and form, size and capacity

That extra height is really necessary for containing hot oil and food, such as when frying donuts and shallow frying chicken.

but we preferred those with wide broad loops that we could really hang onto, especially when wearing oven mitts

Generally though, we recommend buying a 12 inch skillet if you can. It's always good to have the option of a bigger pan for recipes of different sizes

6:32 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

If you wanna bang it around with no fear of damage and use it at any temperature under the broiler or on the grill, even over live fire or with metal utensils.

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites durability, heat resistance

5:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

The enamel isn't toxic, but you certainly don't want that in your food and it does make the surface more sticky.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites non-stick surface (against)

Another downside, don't expect enamel cast iron skillets to be or become non-stick.

5:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

The enamel coating can sometimes heat and expand and retract at different rates, which can lead to cracking, an issue called crazing.

reliability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites crazing (against), non-stick surface (against)

While some manufacturers claim their pans will do this and become more non-stick with use, in our hands-on testing experience, we found that not to be the case.

5:02 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Be warned however that this enamel coating makes these skillets less durable than their uncoated brethren.

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites coating (against), durability (against), scratch resistance (against)

You also wanna avoid using metal utensils and scraping or banging the pan, you know it's glass, so you gotta be a little bit careful with it.

3:01 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Artisan makers often cast their to have thinner sides, but a thicker bottom which cuts down on the total weight of the pan, but keeps that heat retention capability.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites heat retention, non-stick surface, surface finish, weight

Most artisan makers will also take the time to hand polish their pan surface, which makes it naturally non-stick much faster than a mass produced pan.

2:01 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Generally being a single piece of metal also makes these skillets very sturdy.

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites build quality, coating, durability, ease of cleaning, maintenance, rust resistance

These cast iron pans start out like traditional cast iron, but then they're coated in a glass like vitreous glaze that seals the pan from air and moisture that could cause rust

their enamel coating makes enamel cast iron pans virtually maintenance free. You never have to season them and you can soak, use soap and scrub as much as you'd like.

Okay, that is my buying guide for these wonderful lifetime pans.

0:30 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

In terms of cooking, there's very little these pans can't do.

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites even heating, heat conduction, heat retention, searing and crust, versatility

Its superpower is that it can retain and conduct plenty of heat for deep browning of food.

like regular cast iron, these pans have excellent heat retention, so they'll sear, fry and braise well maintaining the heat you want without undesirable temperature dips as food is added or flipped

Though all of these are gonna sear a great steak.

A thick heavy pan has the mass and density to hold more heat than a thinner pan does, and once preheated will cook more evenly than a thinner and lighter pan

0:00 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Cast iron skillets are one of the most versatile pieces of cookware you can buy since they work on the stove top in the oven, even on the grill.

use-case fit tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites acid resistance, induction compatible, maintenance, oven safe, stovetop compatibility, versatility

Best of all, you can cook almost anything, even acidic foods that need to be simmered for a long time like a tomato sauce because the enamel seals the cast iron making the pan rust proof and non-reactive.

While both regular and enameled cast iron pans are induction compatible, the smoother enameled bottoms can be a little gentler on glass cooktops

Enameled is for the person that never wants to think about seasoning their pan. Enamel doesn't need it.

14:05 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

So a little maintenance upfront and a little bit of maintenance each time after you cook, that's the trade-off for an extremely durable pan that's naturally non-stick.

value Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites durability, maintenance (against), non-stick surface

12:04 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

This is a beautiful pan. It's one of my, probably my most reached-for pan.

best in class owns and uses it daily Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Our buying, seasoning, and maintenance guide for every chef's secret weapon, the carbon steel skillet.

11:03 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

You don't have to be careful with these pans. That's why I love them. I don't like to baby my pans. I don't like to make sure I'm using a certain spatula.

durability owns and uses it daily Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites scratch resistance, repairability

I have my pan here from home. This is little Eddie. Eddie and I have gotten in a lot of fights over the years, and we always make up.

8:03 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

The artisanal pans are a little less maintenance than the traditional pans and they just look beautiful.

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites appearance, maintenance

8:03 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

traditional pans while they're a few pounds heavier, they have better heat retention

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites heat retention

6:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

You want to wash and dry these pan thoroughly and lightly oil them each time after use to prevent rust and build up that non-stick surface.

durability tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites maintenance (against), rust resistance (against)

You also never wanna leave these pans soaking in the sink, so if you're that type of cook, maybe cast iron isn't for you.

5:02 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Finally, their colorful appearance is pretty enough to bring to the table for serving.

appearance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites appearance

4:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Acidic foods like tomatoes can strip the seasoning from traditional cast iron if simmered for too long in the pan.

use-case fit tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites acid resistance (against)

12:04 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

Consider a smaller eight inch. I love an eight-inch skillet. It's one of my favorite skillet sizes.

use-case fit owns and uses it daily Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites size and capacity

7:32 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

like cast iron, it rusts when it's bare. It requires seasoning or a process that bonds oil to the surface of the pan not only for protection, but also to start the pan on its journey to make it non-stick.

durability Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites dishwasher safe (against), rust resistance (against)

One thing you wanna note with carbon steel, you don't wanna put these pans in the dishwasher. The dishwasher will ruin the seasoning.

8:03 supports Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

if you want cast iron but would like a lighter pan look to enamel, they tend to be lighter than traditional

handling tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites weight

11:34 mixed Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

you can see this pan has a nice non-stick layer started on it that will build over time. But you can do things in the normal path of cooking that will damage that non-stick surface. Really acidic things, for example, like tomato sauce, or white wine, or lemon juice. They can strip that coating back a little bit. This…

durability tested it Are Carbon Steel Pans Really The Best? | Gear Heads

Cites acid resistance (against), seasoning durability (against), repairability

Seasoning is a process. It can take upwards of a year to fully season a pan, even if you use it frequently. And sometimes, the seasoning will look like you're taking one step forward and two steps back. It can look blotchy, and brown, and sad.

2:01 objects Hannah Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

they carry a rough texture left behind from the sand mold they were cast in

performance tested it Cast Iron vs Enameled Cast Iron: Which is Better? | Gear Heads

Cites surface finish (against)

0:30 notes Christopher Scott Buy It For Life Enthusiasts

and yes we still use our cast iron and carbon steel panss

ownership owns and uses it daily Our Journey From Hexclad to Stainless Steel

and yes we still use our cast iron and carbon steel panss

3:01 supports THE FOOD-DEE Professional Kitchens

these pans are built to last they will last your generation your kids generations you can pass them down to your great grandchildren and they'll still be around and still working great as long as you take care of them these things are meant to take a beating from my years of cooking we use cast iron pans and carbon…

durability owns and uses it daily Don’t Make this Mistake! Follow These Rules for Carbon Steel Cookware & Cast iron

Cites coating durability, durability, repairability

these pans are built to last they will last your generation your kids generations you can pass them down to your great grandchildren and they'll still be around and still working great as long as you take care of them these things are meant to take a beating from my years of cooking we use cast iron pans and carbon…

if you do for some reason scratch the coating off your pan and leave a big gouge in it don't worry it's not the end of the world all you need to do a little secret here all you need to do is cook with it that's it as you cook with it the oils are going to polymerize back to the pan and rebuild up that scratch piece…

your pan is rusted that's it it's over pans ruined throw it out get a new one no all you need to do is give it a good cleaning scrub all that rust off heat it up re-season your pan and continue cooking with it that's it hand recovered

6:01 supports Quality Collapse

Professional chefs do not use nonstick pans in restaurant kitchens. They use carbon steel. It is lighter than cast iron, but just as durable.

recommendation relaying someone else The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites durability, weight

2:30 supports Quality Collapse

We have seen cast iron skillets from 1920 that are still being used daily.

durability relaying someone else The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites durability

We have seen carbon steel pans from the 1950s that are still in professional kitchens today.

2:00 supports Quality Collapse

The oil bakes into the pores of the iron, creating a natural nonstick surface that does not leach chemicals into your food.

performance relaying someone else The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites heat control, heating speed, non-stick surface, safety

The difference is responsiveness. Carbon steel heats up fast and cools down fast, giving you precise temperature control.

2:31 supports Autodidactically Yours Food Writer

put it back in the oven for about 10 more minutes you're gonna have the crispiest crust you've ever had from a homemade pizza

use-case fit owns and uses it daily Black Carbon Steel Pan in JUST 6 MONTHS (3 EASY STEPS)

Cites heat retention

21:45 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

to prove how phenomenal these kind of pans are and that they can so easily be used by anybody to get rid of Teflon in your kitchen nobody needs it

use-case fit tested it DEEP DIVE! Testing the New Matfer Carbon Steel Induction Ready Pans

Cites ergonomics

2:00 objects Quality Collapse

Critics will say it is heavy. They will say it requires maintenance. They are right.

handling relaying someone else The Only 5 Cookware Brands That Still Last (The "Buy It For Life" List)

Cites maintenance (against), weight (against)

2:31 objects Autodidactically Yours Food Writer

now this is obvious for anyone who's done any research on using a carbon steel pan you obviously do not want to put tomatoes or vinegar in the pan right

durability owns and uses it daily Black Carbon Steel Pan in JUST 6 MONTHS (3 EASY STEPS)

Cites acid resistance (against), seasoning durability (against)

another weird one raw spinach i did some research on it afterwards and apparently there is a acidic element in spin it raw spinach that strips the seasoning from the pan when you cook it in there

9:05 objects Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

induction and carbon steel can be a bit problematic as most people have found out that have spinning pans or have seen a video where pans spin induction plates can be a problem I have already kind of proven that once in a video lots of people do complain about their pants becoming Spinners

performance tested it DEEP DIVE! Testing the New Matfer Carbon Steel Induction Ready Pans

Cites induction compatible (against), warp resistance (against)

okay so clean and cool cool zero spinning so that is great that cheap what I think is kind of crappy induction cooktop I have been able to make spinners out of other carbon steel with that cooktop um it does make spinners these guys didn't that's a tremendous result so super stoked

6:01 objects THE FOOD-DEE Professional Kitchens

it is very important you don't soak your carbon steel pans to remove stuck on food they may be well coated but water will get to the metal and rush your pans if you leave it there so don't do that

durability Don’t Make this Mistake! Follow These Rules for Carbon Steel Cookware & Cast iron

Cites coating durability (against), rust resistance (against)

don't use a scouring pad when cleaning your carbon steel it will take off the seasoning if you scrub too hard

1:00 objects THE FOOD-DEE Professional Kitchens

everyone assumes that carbon steel or cast iron pan is super nonstick it's just not the facts are you if you're coming from teflon to a carbon steel pan you're going to want to make sure you give it a good seasoning and set your expectations it's not going to be super nonstick

performance Don’t Make this Mistake! Follow These Rules for Carbon Steel Cookware & Cast iron

Cites non-stick surface (against)

everyone assumes that carbon steel or cast iron pan is super nonstick it's just not the facts are you if you're coming from teflon to a carbon steel pan you're going to want to make sure you give it a good seasoning and set your expectations it's not going to be super nonstick

6:32 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Enameled cast iron is essentially the same as traditional cast iron, but it's coated in a thin layer of hardened glass. This enamel acts as a permanent barrier that prevents rust and eliminates the need for seasoning.

durability tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites maintenance, rust resistance

7:38 objects Uncle Scott Beginners

put it on a burner 30 45 seconds evaporate that remaining moisture off of there so you don't get any rust

durability Five Carbon Steel Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Cites rust resistance (against)

5:32 mixed Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

If you have a condition where your body stores too much iron, cast iron is not the best choice. But for most people—especially those who are iron deficient—this is actually a benefit.

use-case fit tested it Best Non-Toxic Cookware? I Tested All-Clad, Made In, Le Creuset & More

Cites safety