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The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet has been around for decades and it's earned its place as one of the most popular skillets on the market. It's versatile, durable, and inexpensive—there are lots of reasons why it's a kitchen favorite. But does this skillet perform well enough to earn our top spot? And if not, what about other cast iron options? Keep reading for more details.
The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is a versatile and tough kitchen workhorse.
A cast iron skillet is the perfect choice for any cook who wants to get more out of their cooking.
Cast iron skillets are great for searing meat, making paninis or quesadillas, frying chicken or fish, and even baking cornbread or cakes (you can place a cake batter in it and then transfer directly to an oven). It's also great for keeping food warm on top of the stovetop—and it'll be ready when you are.
The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet comes pre-seasoned so you can use it right away without needing to season first. To keep your skillet in good condition, wash with hot water only; avoid using soap on cast iron cookware as this may strip away some of its natural protective oils that prevent rusting over time (this process is known as "seasoning").
We test dozens of skillets on the stovetop and in the oven, looking for quality, value and performance.
To find the best cast iron skillet, we test dozens of skillets on the stovetop and in the oven, looking for quality, value and performance. We also evaluate how each one stacks up to its competitors.
We cook bacon, eggs and pancakes while evaluating how well each skillet distributes heat across its surface. We dry-roast coffee beans or nuts to see if they burn or scorch at all—a common problem with low-quality skillets that have been improperly seasoned before shipping out to customers.
We carefully consider the weight and feel of a skillet before placing it on our scale—this gives us an idea of just how much heft you can expect from your new kitchen tool. We also scrutinize each product’s construction for signs of poor workmanship or manufacturing defects that could lead to future issues down the road (like chipping).
The basic skillet's lack of helper handle and handle size makes it less convenient to use than competitors.
While the cast iron is great for searing, browning and frying, it’s a little harder to use than other skillets. The handle is smaller than other skillets and doesn’t have an integrated helper handle. While this design isn't ideal for all kitchens, we liked that it made the pan easier to grab from a drawer or oven rack with one hand when making dinner by myself. We also found that this skillet was heavier than some of its competitors but didn't seem too heavy once we had it in our hands.
The handle on this skillet isn't removable so if you want to store it in your cabinet without taking up much space, you'll need to store your Lodge pan vertically like on a wall rack or in an upright position on its side (you can see these options here). The main issue with storing this pan vertically rather than horizontally is having enough room in between each layer of pans--you may need to remove some items from your shelf first if they're touching each other before placing your new cast iron skillet at the very top of your stack!
It's hard to find a better pan without spending much more money.
If you're looking for a cast iron skillet that won't break the bank, you can't go wrong with this Lodge pre-seasoned skillet. It has a good weight, comes at an excellent value, and is easily cleaned up after use. It's versatile enough to use in any kitchen as both a frying pan and baking dish.
This pan is great for cooking chicken or fish—but it also works well for cookies! Because the heat is evenly distributed across its surface area, there are no hot spots where your food gets burnt or sticks to the pan.
The Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is a great skillet that has been popular with professional and home cooks for decades.
With its large cooking surface, this cast iron skillet is ideal for cooking everything from pancakes to steak. It heats up evenly so you can get the perfect sear on your meats, and it retains heat well so you can take your time making sure they're done just the way you like them.
The long handles on the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet are comfortable to hold and make it easy to move around on the stovetop or in the oven. The underside of this pan has been pre-seasoned at the factory which means it won't rust even if you don't season it yourself before using it for the first time! A cool feature about this skillet is that it comes with instructions showing how much oil should be added during each use so you'll always know how much seasoning goes into your food without having to guess how much seasoning is needed each time."
Conclusion
At the end of the day, we think the Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is a great choice for most home cooks. It’s affordable and durable enough for everyday use, but it also has a few features that make it more convenient than its competitors. If you don’t mind spending a little more money on your skillet, though—or if you have very specific needs—we recommend looking at other options too.