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.
Cites durability, weight (against)
Lodge cast iron skillet vs Stargazer cast iron skillet
The Lodge 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.
Lodge cast iron skillet
100 quoted claims about the Lodge cast iron skillet from 15 voices.
Domain authority
16 recommenders, weighted by demonstrated expertise in cast iron skillets. Weighted by expertise in this category, never by audience size.
Independent consensus
16 independent voices across 23 sources. How many independent voices converge, unweighted.
Long-term ownership
2 dated ownership reports, median 3 years. Volume and length of dated first-hand ownership reports.
Performance
70 performance claims. Claims about how well it does the job.
Value
16 claims about price relative to what it does. Claims about what it costs relative to what it does.
Repairability
2 repairability claims. Claims about whether it can be maintained or rebuilt.
Community breadth
2 distinct communities. How many distinct communities converge, rather than one echo chamber.
Recency of evidence
most recent evidence from 2026. How recent the evidence is. Old evidence is not wrong, just older.
Objections raised
31 negative claims, mostly ergonomics and performance. How much complaint is on the record. A high figure means the drawbacks have been stated and quoted, not that the thing is worse.
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. An axis that says no evidence means nobody has spoken about it, not that the answer is low.
This means that of these three, the traditional mass produced lodge model is the most durable. It's basically indestructible
Cites durability
It is heavy, it is indestructible, it's versatile.
Cites durability, seasoning durability
And it becomes more and more naturally non-stick over time.
Now, our favorite among the traditional pans is still the Lodge Classic cast iron skillet, 12-in size.
this cooks perfectly fine. Like needs nothing. It is rough. Yeah, it is.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
bad is in the pan. It's probably the cook is you.
Despite the lighter construction, it actually had the best heat retention of all 12 skillets.
Cites heat retention, price
On the lower end, Victoria and Lodge Chef Collection are my two top picks.
Few products in the world last forever, perform really well, and cost under $30.
Cites durability, price
But if you’re just looking for a quality, high-performing American-made skillet for the best price, Lodge is an excellent choice.
Cites country of manufacture, price
Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links so I’ll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
So, should you buy a Lodge cast iron skillet? Based on my testing, it’s one of the best options on the market. And considering the price, it’s hard to find a better value.
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.
The oil poured into the bowl without spilling, but it still dripped down the sides a bit.
Cites base and rim, heat retention, non-stick surface
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.
To test these claims, I preheated the Lodge skillet for a few minutes, greased the surface with oil and butter, and dropped in an egg. As you can see, it moves freely and does not stick to the surface. I've cooked dozens of eggs in this skillet, and have never had any issues with sticking.
I’ve used Lodge cast iron skillets for several years and they cook exactly how you expect cast iron to cook. They heat up slowly, but once preheated, they stay hot and maintain a consistent temperature.
The New York Times, Food and Wine, and Serious Eats all say that Lodge is the best cast iron skillet you can buy.
Cites reputation
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.
the thing that got me about the black lock probably the number one most sought after item had to be the triple season so you're thinking well all the cast iron comes seasoned all the cast iron does this how much important is a triple season and i'm here to tell you it ain't i'm not saying this pan's a dud and i'm not…
Cites price (against), seasoning durability (against), weight (against)
so that was a selling point as well and i still didn't feel like it hit the uh it didn't hit the mark the way i the way i liked it when you fill this thing up with potatoes and um chicken or pizza or whatever you're never going to know the one pound difference and that's about what it is
so basically is the 40 difference is it worth it is this paying worth it in the price range of 60 to 80 is this plan worth it no you heard me i'm not an affiliate with lodge although i do love large products that's my personal opinion if i had to do it all over again i would have saved the money and either maybe maybe…
you'd probably be better off just to buy two pans a 10 inch and a 12 inch save the extra money buy the extra pan and only use one of the pans for uh anything that has to do with frying you know like a deep frying um uh skillet frying or something like that and the other one you know you just vary the difference but…
Both are made in the USA, but Lodge is significantly cheaper and has a rougher surface that holds onto seasoning well.
Cites country of manufacture, price
But if you’re looking for the best value, Lodge is the clear winner.
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.
Cites price
so let's talk about Lodge and folks accessibility is number one because you see it everywhere and it's in stock all the time you ain't gonna have to wait and they have so many different pieces of Lodge cast iron that you can buy whether it's a skillet a griddle a dutch oven they have you covered on all of it
Cites availability, versatility
now of all the Skillets here the one that probably disappoints me the most in seasoning the way it comes to you or the way you buy it out of the store is Lodge with that rough finish on it
Cites seasoning durability (against), surface finish (against)
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…
Cites price
This is our favorite by lodge and it is a terrific pan.
The best part is that you can get a Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet that will last a lifetime for under $30.
Cites durability, price
Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links, so I'll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
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.
could cook French omelets with minimal fat straight out of the box?
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface
The results were impressive. I made perfect dumplings
dumplings are perfect. No sticking at all.
frozen dumplings in this cheese grater, that means that everyone can.
The main complaint about lodge cast iron pans is always the same.
Cites surface finish (against), heat control (against), non-stick surface (against)
So rough that some people say it makes them impossible to cook on.
Out of the box is so rough that I can literally grate cheese on it.
I cooked two eggs and the pan was clearly too hot.
I had to abort the mission and start again.
If you want a really nice cast iron skillet, check out the Smithey Ironware number 12 for $200, or for the best buy, check out the Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet for just $43.
Cites price
it was smooth and stick resistant and well seasoned, and it's $43
Cites price
Actually, by the end of the testing, even though it was a little rougher at the beginning, it was smooth and stick resistant and well seasoned, and it's $43.
Cites surface finish, non-stick surface, seasoning durability
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.
Cites price
The Lodge Chef Collection is lighter, easier to maneuver, and had the best heat retention in my test.
Cites heat retention, weight
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.
Cites build quality, price
A brand like Lodge, which is still made in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, sells a 12-in skillet for $25.
Cites price
Despite the company’s long history and the fact that every skillet is made in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, Lodge is one of the most affordable cast iron brands you can buy. The 12-inch Classic skillet is currently listed for around $30 on Lodge’s website. The 12-inch Chef collection skillet is listed for around $50.…
Cites price
Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links so I’ll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
the handle is supposed to be uh ergonomic is that a good word ergonomic i thought you get your hand a little bit better and it's supposed to stay cooler but with them doing that i think creates a bad spot in the handle
Cites handle (against)
the bad thing about the so-called extended handle and the cooler handle is you're only getting about that that much handle i'm a man with big hands so you can imagine that when i grab it my hand is creeping up along this v and the v does get hot so not until like this part of it does it get cooler
i i just can't get over the fact that as a the hands of a normal man don't even fit it correctly and i don't know why in the engineer process we ever went this route to where when you grab a hold of it your hand is way up here and it forces your hand down you guys can see that right there that anytime it's wide and it…
Lodge Classic and Smithey performed similarly in every induction test. Both heated slowly, as expected for cast iron, but neither warped.
Two judgements rest on this sentence:
- supports durability Tested it cites warp resistance
- notes performance Tested it cites heating speed (against)
In the cast iron category, I tested three skillets that performed the best in my previous testing: Field Company, Lodge Classic, and Smithey.
Cites noise, seasoning durability, surface finish
Their bottoms stayed completely flat before and after heating, and neither pan made any buzzing or clicking sounds.
if you're somebody who just wants a really nice cast iron skillet that can cook and get the job done you can go with the lodge save yourself 280 bucks
Cites price
It comes pre-seasoned so it's ready to use right out of the box.
Cites coating, safety, versatility
Yeah, this is great if you're trying to get away from the forever chemicals that are in traditional Teflon non-stick pans.
At about $33, this is a real bargain.
Cites price
But this thing cooks if you know how to do it.
compare that to my 90 years old grease wool. Yeah, massive difference.
Cites surface finish (against)
The biggest issue for me is the handle. It gets very wide where it connects to the skillet, then it narrows toward the end, and the edges feel sharp and dig into your hands.
Cites handle (against)
It heated more evenly than most of the skillets with only a 32° difference between the center and the edge after 2 minutes.
Cites even heating, heat retention
It also stayed completely flat after I heated it on a powerful induction cooktop at 425° F for 2 minutes, which was not the case with some of the others.
Cites warp resistance
Because of the thick construction, it heated slower than the thinner skillets, but it retained heat well.
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.
The skillets with the rougher surface, the Calphalon, and the two Lodges hold their seasoning well.
Cites seasoning durability
The egg in the Lodge Classic didn’t stick at all.
Cites heat retention, non-stick surface
Lodge is a great brand inexpensive pans well-made
Cites build quality, price
After 5 minutes, the water in the Lodge Classic skillet was 124°F, water in the Lodge Chef Collection skillet was 120°F, Stargazer was 119°F, and Calphalon was 118°F. After 10 minutes, Lodge Classic was 102°F, Lodge Chef Collection was 100°F, Stargazer was 101°F, and Calphalon was 100°F.
Cites heating speed, heat retention
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.
In first place was the Lodge Classic skillet. In just two minutes, the water heated from 55°F to 167°F. In second place was Stargazer with a water temperature of 158°F. The Lodge Chef Collection came in third place at 151°F. And the Calphalon skillet came in last place at 143°F.
The superior heat retention you get with Lodge, and other cast iron skillets in general, makes them ideal for searing meats like steak, burgers, salmon, and shrimp.
Cites even heating, heat retention, non-stick surface
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.
It’s also ideal for baking pizza and bread.
One of my favorite things to cook in these skillets is cornbread. It cooks evenly and the bottom develops a crispy golden brown crust.
Another benefit, which I mentioned earlier, is that food doesn’t stick. Because of the well-seasoned surface, you can cook eggs, pancakes, fish, and other delicate foods without worry. As long as you grease the surface, these foods won’t stick.
As far as seasoning goes, there's some truth to Lodge's claims. Lodge skillets come pre-seasoned with a durable, even coating that adheres well to the surface. In my experience, the seasoning on a Lodge skillet lasts longer, and you'll only need to re-season it once or twice a year to maintain it.
Cites seasoning durability
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.
If you like Lodge but the Classic collection is too heavy, the Chef Collection has thinner construction and weighs only 6.3 pounds.
Cites handle (against), weight (against)
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.
Since the handle is cast as one piece with the skillet's body, it gets extremely hot. You need to use an oven mitt or the red silicone handle holder that comes with the skillet to protect your hand.
but it's also the heaviest of the three options at eight pounds
Cites weight (against)
so we're going to start off right here with Lodge and we're going from cheapest to highest start gazer field finex and Marquette
Cites price
I think folks we should have a pretty close runner-up if not a tie on just classic design what you think of when you think of cast iron skillet and that would be launch
Cites appearance
one thing I've always thought about Lodge and some of their old stuff wasn't as bad this way this corner is pretty Sharp now if I was going to use this every every day I know what had happened to it I'd take a grinder to it
Cites safety (against), surface finish (against)
it's good to hang a skillet if you've got something on the wall like that but look here two poor spouts
that is Lodge now Lodge has been in business in South Pittsburg Tennessee forever and ever they have this handle that I really like
Cites handle
But if you're looking for a classic cast iron skillet with thick walls that retains heat incredibly well and gives you that perfect sear on meat, you're better off with a brand like Smithy or Lodge.
Cites heat retention, searing and crust
now what you'd also expect is that the heavier panes would retain their heat better and that's exactly what happened if we look at the field in the finance they both lost between 180 to 185 degrees fahrenheit over a 15 minute period while the lodge in the smithy only lost 80 to 75 degrees fahrenheit
Cites heat retention
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
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…
wow that was a great steak as well no complaints and really there wasn't that much of a difference he's still got that rich butteriness the rosemary the garlic beautiful beautiful steak
Cites searing and crust
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
Cites size and capacity
the lodge the handle is just your basic cast iron handle it's kind of small it doesn't have a really good feel to it
Cites handle (against)
and then the the lodge was not manageable obviously
You can use it on the stove or in the oven, or even outside on the grill.
We also bake in it. We make cornbread. We make pies.
You can roast a chicken in it.
You can use it to make cast iron pan pizza. We have this amazing recipe for that.
So this replaces any non-stick pans you had.
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.
Cites build quality, country of manufacture
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.
Three judgements rest on this sentence:
- use-case fit Tested it
- performance Tested it cites heat retention
- durability Tested it cites build quality, durability, seasoning durability
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.
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.
I can't talk about great quality, low-cost cookware without talking about Lodge.
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.
Lodge makes great cast iron pants they're made in America you can get them really cheap new
Two judgements rest on this sentence:
- performance cites country of manufacture
- value cites price
maybe rough pan are more technical you really need to dial in fine-tune your
Cites surface finish (against)
why so many people go all in and grind these pants completely
Cites surface finish (against), maintenance (against)
And both of these winners are made in the U.S.
Cites country of manufacture
It also retained heat very well and stayed stable during the warp test with no noticeable change.
Cites warp resistance
The Lodge Chef Collection has the same rough cooking surface as the Lodge Classic, but the walls are a quarter inch shorter and more sloped, which makes it easier to slide a spatula under food near the edges. The handle is also slightly longer, the walls are thinner, and it's almost 2 lb lighter.
Cites base and rim, handle, weight
At 5 mm thick and 8.1 lb, it's the thickest and heaviest skillet in the group.
Cites handle (against), heat resistance (against), weight (against)
It's a little too short, and when I boiled water in each skillet for 10 minutes to compare handle temperatures, it was too warm to grab with a bare hand.
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.
Cites surface finish (against), non-stick surface, seasoning durability, weight (against)
rough texture of them and then they just package it as
Cites surface finish (against)
Dozens of brands are making skillets with longer handles, flared rims, and smoother cooking surfaces, but the reality is that those differences are minor. The actual results in the kitchen are nearly identical, and in some cases, Lodge performs better.
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.
The Stargazer skillet boiled the water fastest at 2 minutes and 2 seconds. The Lodge Chef Collection skillet came in second place at 2 minutes and 43 seconds. In third place was Calphalon at 2 minutes and 48 seconds. And in last place, the Lodge Classic skillet took 3 minutes and 1 second to boil the water.
Cites heat conduction (against)
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.
Chef Collection skillets have shallower, sloped walls that make it easier to slide a spatula under food, especially when it's close to the edge of the skillet.
Cites shape and form, weight
Prudent Reviews earns commission on this. Stated in the source: “Those are affiliate links so I’ll earn a commission if you click and buy, but at no extra cost to you.” Kept and labelled rather than dropped: a paid endorsement is still evidence, and you should be the one to decide what it is worth.
the reason why i upgraded from the 10 to the 12 inch was because the family was getting bigger you know you can fit two comfortable chicken breasts in there this you can fit three comfortable chicken breasts in there you guys seen my daughters on the youtube so for me it was more about more surface area
Cites size and capacity
but as you can see on my 10 inch when you hold it it firmly fits in your hand okay like it feels good and solid
Cites handle
what happens is it heats up extremely fast but also cools down extremely fast if you know anything about cast iron then you know that's one of the benefits of retaining the heat so it might not be the world's greatest conductor of heat but it's got to be one of the world's greatest retainers of heat
Cites heating speed, heat retention (against)
i do think that the cast iron is uh is lighter weight
Cites handle, shape and form, weight
the handle itself does stay cool i will give them credit because you got the air gap here which allows the heat to miss before it gets to here
now some people say that the walls are rounder which is more chef friendly to me once you get the bigger surface the bigger flat surface that creates more of a friendly way to dig in to flip to do your omelets and stuff like that
we did a review you guys would check that link on the blacklock griddle i unboxed it we set it down and it just wasn't necessarily what i was looking for now that has nothing to do with black lock lodge itself it was just the griddle for what i wanted to use it for did not work out
You will need to use a little bit of fat in these pans to get that non-stick ability.
Cites non-stick surface (against)
and neither of these two skillets do so the field the lodge no lids there this is the number 10 field cast iron the number eight does have a lid option but the number 10 doesn't
Cites lid (against)
i don't notice a ton of difference between these three all of them have nice rounded edges so that when you're holding the pan your handle isn't actually digging into your hand that much so i don't notice much of a difference across these skillets but the finex is really a standout in this category
Cites handle, shape and form
you'll see both the smithy and the lodge have pour spouts built right into the sides so you can pour anything out either side whether that's something that you're cooking in the pan that you need to pour out or whether that's the residual grease from a cook so that's really handy
now if you're handy and you're up to it some people will actually take angle grinders or sanders to their lodge cast iron pans and just grind that down themselves now of course that's going to work through the pre-seasoning that lodge puts on these pans at the factory but that's absolutely an option and you just go…
Cites repairability
You know the downside here is it can be a little heavy.
Cites weight (against)
aside from cooking uh pork here you could also steer fry using the pan easy peasy it would it's easier for you
Cites versatility
so I I really got a good deal the regular price is $54 so it's a good price already for for a for a iron cast metal or or an iron cast um um Skillet
Cites price
Fortunately, that shape didn't get any worse during the warp test.
Cites warp resistance
I also noticed that the bottom was slightly concave, which explains why the outer part of the cooking surface heated slightly faster than the center and why the pancakes browned a little more evenly than most of the others.
Cites even heating
Stargazer cast iron skillet
63 quoted claims about the Stargazer 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.
Independent consensus
6 independent voices across 8 sources. How many independent voices converge, unweighted.
Long-term ownership
3 dated ownership reports, median 12 months. Volume and length of dated first-hand ownership reports.
Performance
28 performance claims. Claims about how well it does the job.
Value
5 claims about price relative to what it does. Claims about what it costs relative to what it does.
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.
Recency of evidence
most recent evidence from 2026. How recent the evidence is. Old evidence is not wrong, just older.
Objections raised
17 negative claims, mostly durability and performance. How much complaint is on the record. A high figure means the drawbacks have been stated and quoted, not that the thing is worse.
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. An axis that says no evidence means nobody has spoken about it, not that the answer is low.
I'll tell you what I love both of them
so these are both great pans I'm proud to open both of them operate highly recommend both of them
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
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.
make up your mind which one you want because both of them will be a family heirloom
Cites durability
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
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
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…
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Overall, it cooks as well or better than any cast iron I've tested.
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.
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…
Cites build quality, even heating, non-stick surface, surface finish
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.
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
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.
Cites base and rim, heating speed, non-stick surface
The flared rim also poured cleanly.
Stargazer and its flared rims are the clear winner in this category.
Cites base and rim
I do like this long long handle on the stargazer it stays a lot cooler and it's easier for me to grab
Cites handle, heat resistance
we got done cooking there got both pans warm and they look freaking pretty awesome
Cites appearance, surface finish
they're both super smooth finishings inside
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
Cites appearance, surface finish
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
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
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
Cites weight
so we've got Stargazer made in USA
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.
Cites price (against)
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.
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.
Cites even heating, heat retention
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.
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.
Cites ease of cleaning, even heating, heat retention, induction compatible, non-stick surface, searing and crust, surface finish
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.
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.
the size and weight are intentional design elements that make for great convenient cooking
Cites weight
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.
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
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…
Cites handle, heat resistance, shape and form
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.
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
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
Cites price
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.
Owned 12 months
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.
Cites price (against)
I think they're just as good as the old Wagner that we used to do the gravy
it's not sticking sighs stargazer either
Cites ease of cleaning, non-stick surface
there's the stargazer I got a wet paper towel you got usually it cleans up it's pretty slippery do this carefully pretty much just wipe it out
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
Cites maintenance (against)
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
Cites surface finish
something that sets Stargazer apart is uh the cool touch handle
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
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.
Cites maintenance (against), seasoning durability (against)
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.
it's not the most comfortable to hold
Cites storage and stacking (against), handle (against)
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.
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
Cites durability
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.
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…
Cites build quality, country of manufacture, price
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.
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.
Cites appearance
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.
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.
Cites ergonomics, handle, heat resistance, shape and form
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.
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
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
Cites portability (against), weight (against)
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.
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
Cites appearance
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.
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
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.
Cites handle
In my warp test, it started completely flat, but after heating, the center bowed outward slightly, which resulted in a minor wobble.
Cites warp resistance (against)
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.
Cites even heating (against)
However, the edges can dig into your hand, so it's not the most comfortable handle.
Cites handle (against)
now I know the folks at Stargazer still give a military discount
Cites price
there's no pour spouts here I mean it is a beveled Edge
Cites shape and form (against)
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
Cites weight (against)
all right well right out of the box we've got a little uh little sticking
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
but you know if you're sticking it in a smaller oven I can see why you would want the short handle
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
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
Cites reputation
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
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.
The three with the smoother surfaces, especially Smithey and Stargazer, tend to get blotchy, and their seasoning fades, especially when cooking on high heat.
Cites seasoning durability (against)
you still see it still has kind of a brownish color and compared to the field
Cites seasoning durability (against)
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.
Cites availability (against)
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.
this is only a few months of seasoning and maybe about six months of use and I think it won't like seized it really an oven once
Cites seasoning durability
Owned 6 months
this this feel company did just a little bit better on eggs a day just because this is about a year seasoning this is only a few months of seasoning and maybe about six months of use
Cites non-stick surface (against)
I say that's pretty equal
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
i get to use the field and the stargazer and they have both have a place in my kitchen
could be a little longer I guess
Cites handle (against)
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
Cites appearance, build quality (against)
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.
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.
thanks to Stargazer for sending the 12-in skillet to put through a Year's worth of incredible cooking while building this review
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.
Owned 12 months
I’ve been using Lodge, Calphalon, and Stargazer for years, and Field and Smithey for several months, and all 6 skillets perform really well.