Cast Iron Skillets, Top 6 Picks: Find the Perfect Frying Pan

Are you looking for a frying pan that’ll last a lifetime? Then you should seriously consider a cast iron skillet. Read our buying guide packed with information to help you decide if one of these things is right for you.

Cast Iron Skillets: Flexibility and Versatility in the Kitchen

Having a skillet at home is like owning a complete cookware set in the kitchen. Therefore, a lot of homemakers and cooking enthusiasts invest in a skillet, particularly the cast-iron skillet. If you haven’t owned a cast-iron skillet yet and you are planning to buy one, now is the perfect time to do so.

Below are the best cast iron skillets to help you find the best piece of cookware for your cooking needs and preference.

Our top-rated frying pans are based not just on their functions and features but on price, most of all. All our items here are very affordable. We believe that people need not spend much for their sumptuous meals every day.

Affordably Priced

The skillets we have in this list are all budget-friendly. And despite their low price, they are durably made. Indeed, these options are all inexpensive and yet they are here to last for so many decades. This is a far better value than a Teflon non-stick pan which often has to be replaced every year or two. Here, read on and pick the one that will make your cooking flexible and versatile.

Cast-Iron for Just About Everything

At our house, we use a cast-iron frying pan for just about everything. Breakfast is our speciality and we fry pancakes, eggs, bacon and potatoes in there. For lunch, it’s grilled cheese (love cheese? Consider making a cheese fondue with one of these fondue pots). Finally for dinner, we use the cast-iron pan to cook up any sort of meat, including steaks or a vegetable dish. Even sauces go in there, which will work if your pan is well-seasoned.

Trust us on this one: once you go cast iron, you’ll never go back to Teflon. Cast iron frying pans are on our favourite kitchen products. If you take care of them, they’ll last you a lifetime.

Related: How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet the Right Way

The Best Cast Iron Cookware: Top 6 Picks

We’ll get into the details about each of these popular cast iron frying pans, but here’s a sneak peak of our top picks:

• Pre Seasoned Skillet
• Calphalon Cast Iron Frying Pan
• Lodge Heat Enhanced Skillet
• Lodge Skillet
• Universal Housewares
• Camp Chef 14″  Cast Iron Skillet

#1: Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

We are ranking the Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet our No. 1 in our list because it is the most affordable in the list. It is also yet another kitchen item with a high rating on Amazon today.

Features that You’ll Love

This skillet is presently among the most frequently bought skillets because of its features and durability. More so, its large size is what makes this product a must-have for you. This is so perfect for you who love to prepare meals for your family or entertain your guests at home during special occasions.

Even when you’re a beginner cook or you don’t know how to cook, you’ll surely prefer this skillet. Its multi-cooking function is sure to bring you confidence in preparing the dishes minus your expertise.

Decades of Use

The good news is that, there are almost no returns because most buyers of this high-quality cast iron skillet are completely happy with their purchase. It is durable so this means decades of excellent cooking for all every homemakers.

Cleaning this affordable skillet is so easy, too. No soap is needed to care for this kitchen item. All it needs is gentle scrubbing with a brush and warm water.

Pre-Seasoned

It’s not that difficult to season a cast iron frying pan, but it does take some time and effort, especially at the beginning. It can be useful to buy one that is already pre-seasoned in order to cut out this step. It’s an ideal time-saver.

But, just be sure to not use soap to clean it. Then, dry it on the stove, add a drop of oil and rub it around to maintain the nice season on it. This will ensure that the food you’re cooking doesn’t stick.

Find Out More About It

You can get the Pre Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet on Amazon today. Click the button below to find out more about also to check for the best prices:

---

#2: Calphalon Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

The Calphalon Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is one of the most versatile and flexible piece of cookware available on Amazon today. Any cooking enthusiast or homemaker can prepare dishes in the kitchen without any expertise.

Perfect for Breakfasts at Home

If you have kids at home, they’ll surely to love hash browns and sunny-side-up eggs for breakfast. The father in the family is sure to enjoy pan-grilled chicken or fish for lunch or dinner.

Indeed, all of these dishes, and more, are so possible for you especially if your passion is to satisfy your housemates through sumptuous meals.

Outdoor Grilling, Cooking or Oven Baking

This inexpensive product is so perfect for the induction, electric or gas stove (see some of our top picks here: Best Induction Cooktops). Many people use it for outdoor grilling, oven baking and barbecuing over campfire. Certainly this pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet is worth one’s money.

The best thing about this cookware piece is its heat retention feature. You can simply throw in batches of dishes to cook without having to wait for the pan to heat every time a dish is cooked.

Very Affordable

Although cast iron cookware is a bit more expensive than a cheap frying pan, it’s actually very affordable when you consider that you can use it for decades or even a lifetime. Plus, it’s one of the best options for induction pans.

Where to Buy It?

See: Full Review of the Calphalon Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet.

You can easily purchase the Calphalon Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet today. Click the button below to check for the best prices and don’t forget to check and see if this product is eligible for free shipping:

---

#3: Lodge Heat Enhanced Cast Iron Fry Pan

The Lodge Heat Enhanced Cast Iron Skillet is considered a best-selling cookware on Amazon today. This is the reason we’re ranking it third on our list.

Even, Fast Cooking

This product has a special heating feature that cooks food fast and perfectly. Additionally, the thick coating protects this cast iron skillet from the occurrence of rust. This means durability that you will enjoy this for so many years.

Extra Large Size

For such a low price, this cooker can perform in the kitchen as if there are more than one cast iron skillet are cooking. With its large size, you can cook more eggs, sausages or burgers at the same time.

This allows everyone in your family to enjoy meals without waiting for their turn to be served. What make this cast iron skillet a bestseller are its dual pouring lips that drain fat. Certainly, this is a cookware for health-conscious households.

Extremely Durable

Additionally, the thick coating protects this cast iron skillet from the occurrence of rust. This means an extremely durable pan that will last for years. If you care for it well, it will actually last a lifetime.

Reasonably Priced

For such a low price, this cooker can perform in the kitchen as if there are more than one cast iron skillet are cooking. With its large size, a homemaker can cook more eggs, sausages or burgers at the same time. Best of all, the flavours all melt together to make some delicious food! But, if you want something to cook French toast or pancakes, you may want to opt for an electric griddle instead.

Spout to Drain Fat

This allows everyone in the family to enjoy meals without waiting for his turn to be served. What make this cast iron frying pan a bestseller are its dual pouring lips that drain fat. Certainly, this is a cookware for serious cooks!

Key Features:

• Enhanced heating feature for rust prevention
• Comes with a lifetime warranty
• Made in the U.S.A
• Heats evenly
• 2 pouring lips for draining fat
• Ideal for slow cooking
• Retains heat well which makes it ideal for cooking, as well as serving
• An excellent source of iron for those with vegan diets
• Using soap is not recommended
• Make sure to not soak it in water

People that Like the Lodge Heat Enhanced Cast Iron Fry Pan are Saying:

—>Read More Customer Reviews on Amazon<—

“I didn’t mind paying the higher price for a pre-seasoned piece which is a bonus for a skillet of this size. It’s durable enough that it’ll last a lifetime. Just be sure to care for it carefully and don’t use things like soap on it. And, make sure you oil it after each use to keep it from sticking.”

“I love this skillet; great purchase at a great price! It arrived perfectly seasoned; no hassle to get it that way. This is big bonus because it can take a ton of work to get an unseasoned one ready for cooking.”

“I bought this pan specifically for making fritattas. The pan works great for that purpose. After cooking veggies and then pouring in the whisked eggs, I place the pan in the oven for 5 minutes. It does a nicer job than even the best non-stick frying pan.”

“I bought this specifically for making my homemade pizza. I just discovered that baking pizza in a cast iron skillet yields wonderful results, whether one preferred thick, or thin crust. My family uses it for a whole bunch of other things besides pizza too but that’s my family favourite.”

Lifetime Warranty

What’s best about this cast iron skillet is that, it comes with a lifetime warranty to keep you satisfied all the time. This is cooker with many different cooking functions. You can fry just about anything in style! And, since it is a cast iron cooker, this skillet guarantees even distribution of heat.

Easy to Clean and Care For

More so, the heat stays excellently for constantly fresh and best-quality meals. Lastly, it is so easy to maintain the Lodge Heat Enhanced Cast Iron Skillet. You can simply clean it by immediately towel-drying it, and applying a thin oil coating while it’s still warm.

Hassle Free Cooking

Cook anything you want anytime of the day, hassle-free with this excellent-performing cast iron skillet. If you’re a little bit intimidated by cast iron, don’t be. It’s super easy to use and has a ton of advantages over regular, non-stick skillets that seem to not last that long.

Shop Now

You can easily buy the Lodge Heat Enhanced Cast Iron Skillet today. Shipping is often free with Amazon Prime.

---

#4: Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet

Compared to the other Lodge skillets, this one’s larger in size so it can cook more food. Homemakers prefer this product because it is a perfect cooking companion for them especially during weekends and holidays.

Lodge is one of our favourite brands for cast iron cookware.

Extra Large Size

They can prepare meals for the family at an instant using just this large-sized skillet. Hosting get-together and parties is now made easier for many families because of the Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet.

Since the Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet has a high rating on Amazon, it can be said that it is a bestseller in cast-iron skillets. They can bake, braise, fry, broil, sauté or grill to perfection without any difficulty. Fried foods? No problem, even if you don’t have a deep-fryer.

You actually need not be an expert in cooking to use the Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet.

Easy to Handle

This kitchen item is so easy to use, handle and manage. It distributes heat evenly for excellent result in dish. And, whether your household has an oven, a stove or a griller, this skillet is surely a perfect fit.

Perfect Flavor

Have you ever had food cooked in a cast iron pan? Have you noticed that the flavor was extra-delicious? This is because the pan absorbs some of the flavours from previous dishes. This can make it a good plan to have one for sweet (pancakes, French toast, etc) and one for savoury.

Shop Now

You can easily purchase the Lodge Cast-Iron Skillet on Amazon today:

Lodge Cast Iron Cookware Review

---

#5: Universal Housewares Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

Next up is the Universal Housewares Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet. This product is designed for home cooking. It comes in a set of three skillets in small, medium and large sizes.

And since there are three different cookers in different sizes to have, you are given the freedom to choose the quantity of meals to prepare.

Variety of Sizes

For solo eating, the smallest skillet is the best to use. And when all members of your family are present, the large pan is the most appropriate.  Aside from the fact that cast iron is a durable material, all skillets in this set deliver even heat, not to mention retaining it for more dishes to cook.

At our house, we have only one large cast-iron frying pan and we find that it works well for almost all our needs. However, we usually rock the one-pan wonder for almost all meals. If you’re more of a few different dishes type of cook, then you’ll find this set very useful.

Very Affordably Priced Cast Iron Skillets

The Universal Housewares Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is probably among the most affordable cast-iron skillets ever offered on Amazon today.

If you are to compare the cost, you will find that this amount is equivalent to just one piece of a cast-iron skillet. Definitely, this cookware set brings out the creativity in your home-style cooking.

Shop Now

See: Full Review of the Universal Housewares Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet.

You can easily buy the Universal Housewares Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet on Amazon today. Click the button below to find the best prices and deals that may include free shipping:

#6: Camp Chef 14″ Seasoned Cast Iron Frying Pan

Here at Kitchen Gadget Reviews, we love to recommend Camp Chef products. They are reasonably priced, high in quality and are backed up by some great customer support.

As far as cast iron cookware goes, the Camp Chef 14 inch skillet is one of the best options available today. Keep on reading for just a few of the reason why we like using this thing so much.

Easy to Use Cast Iron Skillets

There are a number of smart  design features that make this frying pan a dream to use. Two of our favourites include the deep sides and comfort grip handle. This means that food won’t spill over the edges and that you can carry it without wanting to drop it!

Pre-Seasoned

This frying pan from Camp Chef is ready to use, straight out of the box. This is a super handy feature, but of course, be sure to maintain the seasoning on it after use.

Pour Spouts

We love cast iron skillets with pour spouts on them. This makes them a nice choice for things like pan frying. This one has two that are designed well and are easy to use.

Get your Camp Chef Frying Pan Today

If you want to pick up this top-quality cast iron frying pan that’s perfect for just any of your cooking needs, click the button below to find the lowest prices on it online:

Why Consider Using Cast Iron Cookware?

There are a number of reasons why you might consider using it, over the alternatives. Here are a few of the most popular reasons.

Durability of Cast Iron Skillets

Cast iron pans that are well cared for (seasoned regularly) can last a lifetime. Try that with your average Teflon skillet that seems to last only a year or two before it starts chipping!

Taste and Flavor

If you want some delicious seared meat, but don’t have a BBQ, then get your your cast iron frying pan. Heat it up well with some oil, and put your seasoned steak (salt, pepper, and other spices) into the pan. Cook on one side until the desired cooking level, flip and do it again.

Just be sure to not touch it too soon, or you’ll lose that nice, crusty sear.

Put it Into the Oven

One of the huge advantages is that you can sear, or brown things in your pan, and then put the whole thing into the oven to finish it. This saves on both hassle and dishes. Heck, you could even serve out of the frying pan and it’ll keep stuff warm for a long time. We do it all the time at our house, even when guests come over.

Trace Amounts of Iron in Food

Cast iron cookware leaches out trace amounts of iron into your food. Is it healthy? Sure is, especially if you’re a vegan and don’t get much iron in your diet from food sources.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Cast Iron Skillet

There are a number of things that you should keep in mind when choosing the best cast iron skillet for your needs. HEre are some of the most important ones.

Coated vs. Uncoated

There are two different kinds of cast iron cookware: coated/enamelled, or uncoated. The coated ones don’t require seasoning and can be washed with soap. However, it can crack or chip and this means that your skillet won’t last a lifetime. You also shouldn’t use them in extreme heat or over an open flame.

However, the uncoated ones are extremely durable and can last basically forever. You do you have to season them between uses and be careful not to use soap on them. This will make them non-stick. Some other added benefits are that iron seeps into your food from these pans, and that you can get the flavours from previous foods you’ve cooked.

Construction

We generally prefer handles that are made with the same material as the cooking surface because it’s far more durable than the alternatives, wood or stainless steel. You also can’t use wooden handles, for example over a campfire.

Lids, or No Lids

Some skillets come with a lid which makes them more versatile, as something like a Dutch Oven when camping. You can also use them for keeping food very warm before serving.

Cast Iron Skillet Size and Weight

These kinds of pans are very heavy when compared to ones made from Teflon for example. If you’re worried about this, use two hands to handle it (one on the handle, and one under the pan, use oven mitts for both hands though).

Or, you may want to opt for a smaller sized pan.

Thicker pans are more durable, hold more heat and generally cook more evenly. However, they do take slightly longer to heat up and are obviously heavier.

Have your Say about the Best Cast Iron Cookware

What’s your top pick for the Best Cast Iron Frying Pan? Is it one of the options from this list or do you have your eye on another brand? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

And don’t forget to share this on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. It’ll help other foodies, like yourself find this useful resource.

Last update on 2021-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API