Cast iron cookware brings a sense of history and authenticity into the kitchen. Its heavy feel and black earthiness is so charming that cooks are embracing it in record numbers.
But its value is far from just nostalgic. Despite a century of innovation, cast iron remains the original forever cookware. It’s nearly indestructible and its surfaces are renewable and improve with use.
Unlike coated pans, cast iron skillets won't be damaged by metal utensils. They have no potentially harmful chemical coating and with seasoning, become naturally nonstick.
Product | Details | Rating |
|---|---|---|
OUR #1 RATED  Lodge 10-1/4-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet | 5 out of 5 | |
 Utopia Kitchen Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet | 5 out of 5 | |
 Cuisinel Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet | 4.5 out of 5 | |
 Lodge Cast Iron Skillet | 4 out of 5 | |
 Simple Chef Cast Iron Skillet | 4 out of 5 |
Simple cleaning with hot water and quick brush of light oil between uses is all it takes to keep cast iron in top condition.
Cast iron skillets are a cooking pleasure. They're well-suited to all cook-tops and can handle the high heat that will warp aluminum and steel. With no plastic handles or knobs, they can sear flavor into meat on the stove-top then slip right into the oven with ease.
But not all cast iron is created equal. So, I’ve done the homework for you and compiled this top 10 best cast iron skillets money can buy in 2021. Let’s find one with the features that are right for you.
Amsha Kitchen Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron skillets come unseasoned or pre-seasoned. Unseasoned pans need a light brush of oil and an hour in the oven before use. Pre-seasoned pans have a coating of oil baked on and are ready for initial use right out of the box.
This Amsha set features 8- and 12.5-inch pre-seasoned pans with popular features including pour spouts on each side for draining liquids, holes in the main handles for hanging and a helper handle on the larger skillet for stability.
The main handles are flat and a little short, making it tougher to grab them with the heavy potholders needed for protection from the hot handles, but for two good quality entry-level pans, this set is a steal.
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Calphalon Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Calphalon knows cookware and this skillet is no exception. It’s big on convenience features and makes a great choice for beginners.
At less than $30, it has features not often found in value-priced skillets. It’s fully pre-seasoned and has excellent nonstick qualities right out of the box. The main handle is larger than most in this price range and is slightly curved, making it easier to handle with a bulky potholder.
I particularly like the large, solid helper handle. Cast iron works well on any indoor or outdoor surface including induction and glass topped ranges, but it’s heavy and a dropped skillet could crack a glass cooktop, making this a valuable safety feature.
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King Kooker Pre-seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
King Kooker is a popular economy brand among outdoor cooking enthusiasts. It performs well and has the most popular features including pre-seasoning, pour spouts on each side and a small, but functional helper handle.
This is a good quality skillet with the superior heat distribution qualities all cast iron skillets have, but the base of the pan is stamped with a King Kooker logo that isn’t flush against the surface. While that won’t affect its performance on a grill or outdoor fire pit, it could scratch some indoor cooktops if it’s not handled carefully.
At around $25, this budget-friendly skillet does the job, but I would dedicate it for camping and barbeques.
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AmazonBasics Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
This skillet by Amazon is a winner for among deep 12-inch skillets. Its exterior depth is nearly an inch higher than most standard skillets, making it excellent for braising large cuts of meats and making popular one-skillet dinners.
The main handle is oversized, slightly curved and easy to grab and the extra-large helper handle is a welcomed addition for stability — this pan is heavy!
The dual spouts are well-defined for easy pouring and the pre-seasoning gets high marks for little initial smoking, but users note that more seasoning is needed to make the surface fully nonstick.
For less than $30, this skillet is a superb choice for large families or weightlifters and is backed by a 1-year warranty.
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Bruntmor Pre-Seasoned 2-In-1 Cast Iron
This Bruntmor set gives you a Dutch oven with a cover that serves as a skillet for under $40.
Fully pre-seasoned and nonstick, both pieces have convenience features including holes for hanging and large helper handles. But neither pan has a spout for pouring which is a drawback for frequent frying or foods that demand careful pouring.
The Dutch oven is small at 3 quarts and the skillet is too shallow to be practical for most uses. So, while the price is right, this set is limited overall due to its size. It wouldn’t be my choice for everyday use, but I’d make a place for it on the shelf as a great accessory.
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Simple Chef Cast Iron Skillet
This set will equip you 6-, 8-, and 10-inch pans and for less than $35, it makes a good starter or gift set.
The pans are simply made and have hanging holes and dual pour spouts, but the lack of helper handles is a drawback. And while the choice of diameter is good, the pans are relatively shallow at about 1.5 inches, making them best suited for jobs like searing meat or frying eggs.
Most users have good things to say about how this set performs, but some note quality control issues with the cast iron resulting in rough areas that could scratch surfaces and be a problem for achieving a nonstick interior.
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Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
Lodge has been making quality cast iron cookware in America for over a century and they’ve come up with a new twist — a skillet with a removable silicone sleeve for the handle that resists heat up to 400 degrees.
This pan is exceptionally well-constructed with dual pour spouts and a sturdy helper handle, but the silicone sleeve is the star and well worth the few dollars more this skillet costs. It’s easy to put on and remove, is oven-safe and greatly improves handling and overall safety.
Users gush over its generous pre-seasoning, superior heat distribution, and balanced weight. It comes with a lifetime warranty but it’s unlikely you’ll need it!
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Cuisinel Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
This 2-piece set offers both 10- and 12-inch skillets that users have described as an “excellent value.”
Both pans come pre-seasoned and are appointed with dual pour spouts, handle holes, helper handles and silicone handle sleeves that are oven safe to 450 degrees and with a depth of 2.5 inches, they can handle any type of dish. The sides on these pans, however, have heavy slopes making the bottom dimension smaller than noted.
These are solid performers overall, but the manufacturer’s seasoning doesn’t rate as high as others for being nonstick. Still, with regular seasoning, two large skillets with a 1-year warranty for less than $38 is hard to beat.
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Utopia Kitchen Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Another solid entry on the list, this 12.5-inch Utopia skillet comes with dual pour spouts, handle holes, and a silicone handle sleeve for under $30.
It’s fully pre-seasoned and has adequate depth for most uses, but some users have reported its naturally nonstick quality is compromised by a rough finish that indicates an issue with quality control. My other concern with this pan is the thin pour spouts that may result in messy pours.
For the price, it’s a solid competitor and comes with the most popular features, but they’re not particularly fine-tuned and don’t do the wonder of cast iron the justice it deserves.
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Lodge 10-1/4-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet
If you’re looking for a roomy, but lighter weight iron skillet, this 10 ¼-inch pre-seasoned model made in America by Lodge can’t be beaten.
It’s nothing fancy and doesn’t come with a silicone sleeve handle, but the refinement of the features is intuitive and the interior surface is nicely refined, making it one of the best models for doing what cast-iron does best — cook amazing food.
For as little as $15, this skillet is nicely balanced, feels great in your hand, and will quickly become your favorite. It’s covered by a lifetime warranty and if you’re new to cast iron, check out the Lodge website for use and care videos and helpful tips.
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Which Cast Iron Skillet Should You Buy?
Any cast iron skillet on this list will improve the quality of your food and give you decades of service, but a few stand out.
The Cuisinel Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet set offers two large pans for less than $40 and can't be beaten for initial value.
But if you're looking for the best cooking experience or want a lighter, more refined pan for daily use, I highly recommend the Lodge 10-1/4-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet. It’s inexpensive, but well-crafted and feels like it was made for your hand.
Try it today and it will be your new favorite tomorrow!
Lauren Gamble is an author, mompreneur, co-founder of Naturally Made Essentials. She is on a mission to help thousands of women across the world achieve a healthy, happy lifestyle through teaching natural health practices.
