1
Victoria 10 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Owners reach for this skillet because it's genuinely cheap, often around $20, yet handles better than a Lodge thanks to a longer curved handle that gives real leverage, a noticeably smoother cooking surface, and bigger pour spouts. Many use it daily and find food releases well once it's seasoned. The main gripe is the factory seasoning, which a few people weren't happy with out of the box, but a quick re-season before first use clears that up.
98%
41
2
Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Owners treat it as the everyday daily-driver pan, holding up to years of heavy use at a price that's hard to beat.
90%
30
3
Stargazer 10.5 Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Owners overwhelmingly love the Stargazer for its machined-smooth, nearly nonstick cooking surface and its long handle that stays cooler and gives good leverage. Many call it an heirloom-grade pan they plan to keep for life, and it runs a touch lighter than rivals like Lodge and Field with a rim that pours cleanly. The main gripes are that the slick surface can make seasoning tricky to establish and, despite the weight savings, it's still a substantial pan.
82%
56
4
Field Company No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet
Owners are consistently positive about this skillet, with several saying you can't go wrong with Field and describing their pans as fantastic. Its thinness draws specific praise for heating up quickly, which owners appreciate for fast morning breakfasts. Field is frequently mentioned in the same breath as Smithey and Stargazer, with owners suggesting they'd likely be happy with any of them.
80%
5
5
Lodge Chef Collection 12 Inch Skillet
Owners reach for the Lodge Chef Collection 12-inch as a lighter, easier-handling take on classic cast iron, and the flared sloped sides win repeated praise for eggs, omelettes, and flipping. Most treat it as a reliable everyday pan that seasons well and cooks like cast iron should. A few received units with rough or sharp edges and surface flaws, and the thinner build holds less heat than the heavier traditional skillet.
79%
24
6
Lodge Blacklock 12 Inch Skillet
Most owners land firmly in the 'love it' camp, praising the Blacklock's lighter feel compared to a classic Lodge, its steady progression to a genuinely nonstick surface with regular seasoning and use, and its ability to sear steaks and chops at high heat while lasting for decades. Several owners also rate it as better value than premium brands like Field, Stargazer, or Smithey. A meaningful minority pushes back hard, though, singling out the redesigned handle as uncomfortable, sharp-edged, or even at risk of snapping, and complaining that the factory triple-seasoning flakes off within the first few cooks, sometimes leaving food sticking despite proper care. A smaller group also questions whether the higher price over a standard Lodge is worth it given the thinner, lighter build, and some still find the pan heavier than expected to handle day to day.
76%
122
