The Best Cast Iron Skillets

A cast iron skillet might be the best value in your kitchen. It sears steaks better than almost anything, goes from stovetop to oven without a second thought, bakes cornbread and cobbler, and — with a little care — lasts for literal generations. A well-seasoned one is also naturally nonstick.

The good news is that the best ones are surprisingly cheap. Here are five we’d buy, from the affordable workhorse most people should own to a lightweight premium upgrade.

How we picked

We leaned on extensive testing from America’s Test Kitchen, Wirecutter, and others, favoring skillets that sear and release food well, heat evenly, and offer good handles and pour spouts. The 12-inch size is the most versatile. Lodge dominates the category — and for good reason — so our list reflects that, with a value alternative included.

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Best overall

1. Lodge Chef Collection 12-Inch Skillet

Best for: most cooks who want the best-performing Lodge without going premium.

The Chef Collection is Lodge’s lighter, smoother skillet, and it’s the top pick of nearly every major test kitchen. It’s about 15% lighter than the classic Lodge, has a smoother cooking surface, improved handles, and sears and releases food beautifully. It outperforms pans costing several times more, making it the sweet spot of the whole category.

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Best value

2. Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron 12-Inch Skillet

Best for: getting genuine, lifetime-quality cast iron for the least money.

The classic Lodge 12-inch is the one that’s been in American kitchens for over a century, and it delivers nearly the same performance as pricier pans for around $30. It arrives pre-seasoned, and the more you cook with it, the smoother and more nonstick it gets. Unbeatable value with a lifetime of use ahead of it.

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Best everyday size

3. Lodge Classic 10.25-Inch Skillet

Best for: everyday cooking for one or two — eggs, a steak, a batch of cornbread.

The 10.25-inch is the most popular cast iron size for a reason: it’s big enough for a couple of eggs, a steak, or a personal skillet cookie, but light and maneuverable enough for daily use. If a 12-inch feels like too much pan, this is the one to reach for constantly.

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Best budget (alternative brand)

4. Utopia Kitchen 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Best for: the lowest price on a solid, pre-seasoned skillet.

If you want to spend as little as possible, Utopia Kitchen’s 12-inch delivers the cast iron essentials — good heat retention, pre-seasoned and ready to use — at a rock-bottom price. It’s a great way to try cast iron or outfit a first kitchen without much outlay.

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Best lightweight / premium

5. Lodge Blacklock 12-Inch Skillet

Best for: cooks who want cast iron performance in a lighter, smoother pan.

Cast iron’s one downside is weight. Lodge’s Blacklock line is triple-seasoned, noticeably smoother, and roughly a third lighter than the classic — much easier to lift, pour, and maneuver while keeping the searing power. It’s the premium pick for anyone who finds standard cast iron too heavy.

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What to look for

Size. A 12-inch is the versatile all-rounder for searing and baking; a 10.25-inch is easier to handle for everyday one- or two-person cooking. Bigger pans are heavier.

Weight & surface. Standard cast iron is heavy with a slightly pebbly surface that smooths with use. Lighter, pre-smoothed pans (Chef Collection, Blacklock) are easier to handle and release food sooner.

Pre-seasoned. Nearly all modern skillets come pre-seasoned and ready to use. The seasoning — and the nonstick surface — improves the more you cook.

Care. Rinse with hot water (skip lots of soap), dry thoroughly, and wipe with a thin layer of oil. Don’t soak it or run it through the dishwasher, and it’ll last for generations.

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The bottom line

For most people, the Lodge Chef Collection 12-inch is the best all-rounder — the top pick that performs above its price. Save with the classic Lodge 12-inch, go 10.25-inch for everyday cooking, choose Utopia to spend the least, or the Blacklock for a lighter, smoother premium pan.

Check the current price before you buy.