Finex cast iron skillet vs Stargazer cast iron skillet

Name: Stargazer cast iron skillet
Brand: Stargazer

The Finex cast iron skillet and the Stargazer cast iron skillet, shown the same way from the same evidence rules. There is no verdict at the bottom. The axes below are separate measurements and the objections are listed in full for both.

Finex cast iron skillet

38 quoted claims about the Finex cast iron skillet from 6 voices.

Domain authority

6 recommenders, weighted by demonstrated expertise in cast iron skillets. Weighted by expertise in this category, never by audience size.

0.20

Independent consensus

6 independent voices across 6 sources. How many independent voices converge, unweighted.

0.27

Long-term ownership

1 dated ownership report, median 2 years. Volume and length of dated first-hand ownership reports.

0.07

Performance

13 performance claims. Claims about how well it does the job.

0.27

Value

no value claims yet. Claims about what it costs relative to what it does.

—

Repairability

1 repairability claim. Claims about whether it can be maintained or rebuilt.

0.00

Community breadth

all evidence from a single community so far. How many distinct communities converge, rather than one echo chamber.

0.00

Recency of evidence

most recent evidence from 2026. How recent the evidence is. Old evidence is not wrong, just older.

0.36

Objections raised

12 negative claims, mostly performance and ergonomics. Weight of negative claims. High is not bad: it is well-documented.

0.48

These are separate measurements, not components of a score. They are never added together, and there is no overall rating, because which of them matters depends on what you are buying the thing for. A dash means no evidence on that axis yet, not a low result.

4:01 supports BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

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. 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, 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

10:03 supports Kent Rollins Chef

but something that it did do was it bonded seasoning really well first trip but folks it always takes seasoning back to it it always holds it well and it always performs well

performance tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites seasoning durability

6:02 supports Kent Rollins Chef

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

4:31 supports BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

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

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

2:31 supports BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

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

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

7:02 supports Noah Klein Cooking YouTube

the the finex is taking the cake i mean look at that not really sticking that much so that is going to be a win for the finex on the stick test

performance tested it $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)

Cites non-stick surface

0:30 supports Noah Klein Cooking YouTube

this is the finex 12-inch obviously and it's got a really good looking handle

appearance tested it $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)

Cites appearance, handle

so overall appearance i got to give it to the 5x for the win it's just a better looking skillet i mean it just looks beautiful not that this is a bad looking skillet but when it's next to this bad boy it's like miss america next to miss county or you know

5:31 supports Kent Rollins Chef

look at this handle right off the bat I'm thinking a little different it is different but it's going to be cooler because it's got these coils and they're going to release some of that heat before it gets back to your finger

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

5:31 supports Kent Rollins Chef

this thing to me is what I call the perfect thing to make cornbread in or pie in but also it will do anything else at any of the rest of these Skillets

use-case fit tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites versatility

12:04 supports BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

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

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

8:02 supports Noah Klein Cooking YouTube

if you're just somebody that needs the best of the best then yeah go for the finex

recommendation tested it $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)

0:00 supports Woodwork Tattoo & Gallery

i gotta say opening the box i was so impressed with just how appealing it was and how heavy it was lifting and out like this is a legit murder weapon you could take down sand squash with it anyways uh you got to set this thing down nice and slow you can't be slamming it down it's got some grit to it but look at that…

appearance owns one FINEX 10" SKILLET: Best Birthday Present Ever

Cites appearance, handle, weight

11:33 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

I also noticed that it rusted on the bottom inside the engravings, which didn't happen with any of the other skillets.

durability tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites rust resistance (against)

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…

8:02 supports Noah Klein Cooking YouTube

so personally obviously i own both now but um i'm gonna stick with the finex because for what i use it for it tailors to my needs for for my youtube channel uh just makes the videos it brings a little better production quality

use-case fit uses it professionally $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)

Cites appearance

2:00 supports Noah Klein Cooking YouTube

so this is the 5x these are fairly heavy finex weighs in at seven pounds nine ounces

handling tested it $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)

Cites handle, weight

so that's actually you can hold it with your hand um it is fairly hot down here but again it's manageable with your hand

1:00 supports Woodwork Tattoo & Gallery

anyways like i said pan cleans up super easy this is after just some hot water in that cook and uh yeah it's gorgeous

performance owns one FINEX 10" SKILLET: Best Birthday Present Ever

Cites ease of cleaning

11:33 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

The handle is also very thick, round, and smooth, so the skillet can rotate in your hand when you're tilting it, especially with a towel or an oven mitt.

handling tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites handle (against)

11:03 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Heat retention was toward the lower end of the group and it warped slightly, but not enough to cause noticeable wobbling.

performance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

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

But when I heated it in a 400°ree oven to see how quickly the handle cooled, it was still too hot to touch after 15 minutes. And it wasn't any cooler than a regular cast iron handle.

And because the coil isn't removable, grease and moisture can collect underneath it around the cast iron shaft, and it's difficult to clean and dry.

10:32 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

The shape is mostly just for looks, but it actually works well for pouring. Instead of dedicated pour spouts, the corners give you multiple places to pour from, and in my test, they performed great with no spilling.

performance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites base and rim, handle, heat resistance, non-stick surface

The smooth cooking surface also performed well in the egg test, although I wish the inner walls were smooth.

In my stove top handle test, it performed well and stayed cooler than most of the skillets.

10:32 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

The FINEX is made in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, and it's easily the most distinctive looking skillet in the group. It has an octagonal shape, a smooth cooking surface with rougher inner walls, and a stainless steel coil wrapped around the handle.

appearance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites appearance

10:33 objects Kent Rollins Chef

we have arranged these from lightest to heaviest first Marquette field Lodge Stargazer and finance

handling tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites weight (against)

9:33 objects Kent Rollins Chef

next is finex to me when it came it was smooth but maybe not as smooth as the Marquette nor the Stargazer

performance tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites surface finish (against)

8:02 objects BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

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 (against)

8:06 supports Luis J. Cookware Reviewer

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

handling owns and uses it daily Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet

Cites handle, weight

not only that but the the way the handle is positioned as well it does help you lift up the pan it gives you a leverage in order for you to lift it up and not have such a hard time

3:04 objects Luis J. Cookware Reviewer

the only issue that I have is that for some reason now I don't know if this is all the number tens if the number tens experience this or if it's just mine but mine tends to warp from time the time and it'll you know develop a concave obviously going downward so then it starts to spin and then it's not every single…

durability owns and uses it daily Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet

Cites rust resistance (against), warp resistance (against)

so if you actually soak your pan and that's what was going on in the beginning with me I would soak my pans scrub them and use soap sometimes not always but sometimes and I would you know rinse them with hot water and and then that I couldn't dry the shaft for the handle and that would stay moist or or something of…

3:01 objects Noah Klein Cooking YouTube

inside dimensions we have looks like 10 inches on the lodge and nine and a half on the finex so cooking surface wise the lodge wins the cooking surface game because it's a bigger cooking surface than the 12 inch

performance tested it $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)

Cites size and capacity (against)

1:00 supports Woodwork Tattoo & Gallery

i didn't need an oven mitt or anything for the pan until the very end when the handle started heating up a little bit so that handle goes a long way

handling owns one FINEX 10" SKILLET: Best Birthday Present Ever

Cites handle

11:34 supports BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

if you really prioritize design maybe you go with the finex

use-case fit tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge

Cites appearance

4:31 objects BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

now the actual coil piece it starts a little bit back from the pan you'll see you've got this little cast iron nub here and so when you're gripping the part that is cool it does make the pan feel a little bit heavier just because the leverage is back

handling tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge

Cites weight (against)

3:31 notes BBQ and Bottles Cooking YouTube was given the product

the weight of the finax was 7.7 pounds the smithy came in heaviest at 8.6 the field and company was the lightest at 5.6 pounds and the lodge was the second heaviest at 8.1 pounds

handling tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet - Review of Finex, Smithey, FieldCo and Lodge

Cites weight

you compare it to the finex you compare it to the smithy you really notice that you're holding a heavy cast iron pan

2:34 objects Luis J. Cookware Reviewer

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

performance owns and uses it daily Cast Iron Wednesday: 2 Year Review of the Finex No. 10 Skillet

Cites acid resistance (against)

7:32 notes Noah Klein Cooking YouTube

they both cooked about the same they both heated up about the same they both have about the same weight

performance tested it $300 Cast Iron Skillet vs $20 (Finex vs Lodge)

Cites heating speed

11:03 mixed Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Heat retention was toward the lower end of the group and it warped slightly, but not enough to cause noticeable wobbling.

durability tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites warp resistance

10:32 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

although I wish the inner walls were smooth. it would give it a much cleaner look.

appearance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites appearance (against)

Stargazer cast iron skillet

53 quoted claims about the Stargazer cast iron skillet from 5 voices.

Domain authority

5 recommenders, weighted by demonstrated expertise in cast iron skillets. Weighted by expertise in this category, never by audience size.

0.21

Independent consensus

5 independent voices across 7 sources. How many independent voices converge, unweighted.

0.23

Long-term ownership

2 dated ownership reports, median 12 months. Volume and length of dated first-hand ownership reports.

0.08

Performance

16 performance claims. Claims about how well it does the job.

0.24

Value

5 claims about price relative to what it does. Claims about what it costs relative to what it does.

0.31

Repairability

no repairability claims yet. Claims about whether it can be maintained or rebuilt.

—

Community breadth

2 distinct communities. How many distinct communities converge, rather than one echo chamber.

0.26

Recency of evidence

most recent evidence from 2026. How recent the evidence is. Old evidence is not wrong, just older.

0.36

Objections raised

15 negative claims, mostly durability and ergonomics. Weight of negative claims. High is not bad: it is well-documented.

0.48

4:32 supports I Heart RVing was given the product

let's take a look at the harom meter also called The Homer at certain Swanky steakhouses that cook their RI eyes in at least a full stick ofat butter it's showing 4.9 Stars oh that's a great rating

recommendation tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

I Heart RVing was given the product. Stated in the source: “thanks to Stargazer for sending the 12-in skillet to put through a Year's worth of incredible cooking while building this review” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.

13:03 supports Kent Rollins Chef

I think the thing that stands out to me about the Stargazer sure it's it's a great design but also really is their customer relations that they build with people in their customer service

reliability tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites warranty

we get so many emails from people say oh they were so nice to talk to they were so nice to visit with and folks that makes a lot of difference

2:31 supports Kent Rollins Chef

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

5:03 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

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…

3:32 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

the field handle is too hot to touch comfortably like i can grab it for a sec where the stargazer handle is great i can use it

handling 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

0:00 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

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

0:36 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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.

1:00 supports I Heart RVing was given the product

the Stargazer 12-in Skillet is crafted to be incredibly nonstick in real world scenarios by which I mean eggs and some veggies that's proven to be true so much so that eggs have been sliding away from me when I try to flip them in other Skillets I've had to do that scrape but don't break the yolk deal to try to get an…

performance tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Cites build quality, even heating, non-stick surface, surface finish

how about sautéing spinach onions and mushrooms the onions and mushrooms Glide across the surface like a figure skater not awkwardly some would say dangerously like me on figure skates but a real figure skater

if you look at the bottom of the skillet the surface is completely flat there's no heat ring like some Skillets have it's just perfectly flat that means it gets truly even heat across the entire Pan

for surface finishing the products are shipped to Stargazer HQ in Allentown Pennsylvania where Craftsman use hand tools that's right they do it by hand to grind and smooth the surface the two-step surface finish makes for the incredibly smooth microtextured surface that Stargazer is famous for

5:01 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

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.

8:33 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Stargazer and its flared rims are the clear winner in this category.

performance tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites base and rim

8:02 supports Kent Rollins Chef

when this Skillet come to me and I pull it out of the box it was a bronze color really pretty had a nice slick glossy finish to it already

appearance tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites appearance, surface finish

3:01 supports Kent Rollins Chef

one other thing that I really liked about it from the start when I first seen it was the depth that it had I think this thing right here you could put a lot of gravy in there folks and that'd be some fine dining

performance tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites seasoning durability, shape and form, size and capacity

you can pour out of it without it running down the side of your Skillet all the time

it accepted seasoning fairly well in the beginning it did

so all in all the skillet performed well and it's seasoned well

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

2:37 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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?

Cites price (against)

but you pay a premium for it

0:36 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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?

Cites even heating, heat retention

0:06 supports Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer earns commission on this

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?

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.

5:02 supports I Heart RVing was given the product

the size and weight are intentional design elements that make for great convenient cooking

use-case fit tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Cites weight

the Stargazer 12-in Skillet takes camp cooking from something you have to do to something you look forward to doing whether it's breakfast on a cool morning by a lake or a gourmet steak dinner by a campfire

2:01 supports I Heart RVing was given the product

the handle is not only comfortable it dissipates heat really well the two-prong connector to the pan makes for a lot of open air around what on other Skillets is a thick connection that transfers heat to the handle the curv shape is not only comfortable for holding it gives more surface area to dissipate heat in the…

handling tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Cites handle, heat resistance, shape and form

the beveled Rim instead of having a specific spout for pouring you can use whatever angle is most comfortable for the task at hand and pour easily without creating a mess

0:00 supports I Heart RVing was given the product

it's expensive after a year of putting the thing through all sorts of camp cooking I can tell you it is so worth it

value tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Owned 12 months

Cites price

14:04 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

Field, Stargazer, and Lancaster are all good skillets, but they're expensive and have enough drawbacks that I wouldn't recommend them over Smithey or Made In.

recommendation tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites price (against)

8:02 objects Kent Rollins Chef

you got to be really careful I think when you're having a skillet that is that slick that you don't try to over season all at one time and then you end up with some of this gumminess

durability tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites maintenance (against)

8:04 supports Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

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

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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?

Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)

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it's not the most comfortable to hold

handling tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?

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.

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It's an heirloom quality piece

durability tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?

Cites durability

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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?

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

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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?

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

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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?

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

5:02 objects I Heart RVing was given the product

why not a full five first the way this thing is heavy second the size of the handle both of these are perfectly fine when you're cooking in the backyard or kitchen but we're rving and camping and it's not easy to transport it's too big to fit in my Camp kitchen box and after a full day of activities it's just heavy

use-case fit tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Cites portability (against), weight (against)

2:31 supports I Heart RVing was given the product

the Engravings are something to behold as well the design is so upscale powerful and modern but calls back to a deep history of forging iron

appearance tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Cites appearance

looking here on the underside of the helper handle you can see the born on date when each Skillet was cast that's a special touch so grandkids and great grandkids can know exactly how far back their legacy cookware goes and know what day to have a sweet birthday celebration for the skillet

5:31 mixed Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

The deep groove gives your hand something to grip, so the skillet doesn't twist when you're holding it with a towel or oven mitt. But the edges dig into your hand, so despite being long and secure, it's not a very comfortable handle.

handling tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites handle

5:31 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

In my warp test, it started completely flat, but after heating, the center bowed outward slightly, which resulted in a minor wobble.

durability tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites warp resistance (against)

5:31 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

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.

performance tested it I Tested Every Cast Iron Skillet, These Are the Best & Worst

Cites even heating (against)

1:30 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

However, the edges can dig into your hand, so it's not the most comfortable handle.

handling tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites handle (against)

12:03 supports Kent Rollins Chef

now I know the folks at Stargazer still give a military discount

value tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites price

3:31 objects Kent Rollins Chef

there's no pour spouts here I mean it is a beveled Edge

performance tested it Don't Buy a Cast Iron Skillet Without Watching This! Which Cast Iron Brand is Right for You?

Cites shape and form (against)

6:33 objects Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

it is a heavier pan though so that's the downside you got a heavier pan in the hand i probably wouldn't do that as much i find in the number eight in the field i work that pan picking it up all the time

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

Cites weight (against)

6:37 objects BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer

all right well right out of the box we've got a little uh little sticking

performance tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet

Cites non-stick surface (against)

I have received some pans from some other companies like uh like blue Skillet and Blanc creatives that the egg has just right out of the pan or right out of the box just floated freely so clearly we're going to need a little seasoning little extra seasoning to get this to uh to form

3:32 supports BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer

but you know if you're sticking it in a smaller oven I can see why you would want the short handle

use-case fit tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet

Cites handle, shape and form

so if you're if you're uh you know spooning uh some sauce on a on some meat the spoon is the exact this is just your typical this is my spoon typical spoon it's the exact diameter of the corner of the pan it is it is exact you'll get every drop

0:01 supports BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer

this was a Kickstarter pretty neat guy who um you know he'll tell you in his video he just wasn't satisfied with uh what was available on the market so he decided to make his own pan and I think that's pretty amazing

mention relaying someone else Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet

Cites reputation

4:02 supports I Heart RVing was given the product

the Stargazer is like that kid on the team that's better than everyone else but instead of being arrogant they help the other kids step up their game and together they might just win the championship

best in class tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

7:02 objects Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

The three with the smoother surfaces, especially Smithey and Stargazer, tend to get blotchy, and their seasoning fades, especially when cooking on high heat.

durability tested it Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon

Cites seasoning durability (against)

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Currently, Stargazer only offers three products: a 10.5-inch skillet, a 12-inch skillet, and a 13.5-inch braiser. Although these are the most common pieces, most cast iron brands have a lot more sizes and options. For example, Lodge offers nine different skillet sizes.

use-case fit tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?

Cites availability (against)

8:34 notes Cook Culture Cookware Reviewer

the stargazer is going home with me i'm going to use him extensively for the next few weeks and then we're going to be back here for our next test

ownership wants one Field cast iron skillet vs Stargazer - How do I choose?

i get to use the field and the stargazer and they have both have a place in my kitchen

3:32 objects BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer

could be a little longer I guess

handling tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet

Cites handle (against)

3:32 mixed BobbyGfl Cookware Reviewer

it's got a little character something or other going on right there there which uh you know my money is on that is a defect uh but I don't think I mind gives it a little character but it is some kind of little hole right there

reliability tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Skillet

Cites appearance, build quality (against)

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I've been testing the Stargazer cast iron skillet for several months and in this video I'm going to tell you the good, the bad, and everything in between.

ownership tested it Stargazer Cast Iron Review: Is This $145 Skillet Better Than a $30 Lodge?

6:03 notes I Heart RVing was given the product

thanks to Stargazer for sending the 12-in skillet to put through a Year's worth of incredible cooking while building this review

ownership tested it I♥RVing Gear Review: Stargazer 12” Cast Iron Skillet

Owned 12 months

9:03 notes Prudent Reviews Cookware Reviewer

I’ve been using Lodge, Calphalon, and Stargazer for years, and Field and Smithey for several months, and all 6 skillets perform really well.

ownership owns and uses it daily Best Cast Iron Skillet? I Tested Lodge, Smithey, Field, Stargazer, & Calphalon