Best Cast Iron Skillets in 2024 for Your Kitchen

You'll need one of the greatest cast iron skillets in your kitchen if you enjoy the flavor of meals that have been seared. Despite the convenience of air fryers, instant pots, or microwaves, the basic cast iron skillet remains a classic kitchen appliance.

But what qualities should you consider before choosing one or two ? We've chosen the best models to fit every lifestyle, culinary requirement, and price range this year.

1. Staub Cast Iron 11-inch Traditional Skillet - Best Overall

Product’s Specifications

• Size: 11 inches

• Weight: 6 pounds

• Spouts: Yes

• Pre-seasoned: N/A

Product’s Highlights

The Staub 11-inch Cast Iron Traditional Skillet comes in various gorgeous colors like dark blue, cherry, graphite gray, and so on. The enamel coating on this skillet offers a lustrous ceramic appearance. It never has to be seasoned because it is resistant to chips and cracks.

This cast iron skillet did a good job scrambling eggs, although it left some residue. It was simple to roast peppers as well, and after a few minutes, they were crisp and browned. The steak held its taste while browning perfectly after searing in the skillet.

 The Staub Skillet is comfortable to hold in hand thanks to its lightweight. Compared to several of the large, hefty cast iron skillets on the list, it was considerably simpler to grip. You can easily clean this cookware in the dishwasher or soak it in soapy water to get rid of tough stains.

Pros

• Lightweight

• Various color

• Perfect for searing steak

Cons

• Cook unevenly when used in the oven

2. Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Iron Handle Skillet

Product’s Specifications

• Size: 10.25 inches

• Weight: 6.3 pounds

• Spouts: Yes

• Pre-seasoned: N/A

Product’s Highlights

If you enjoy the company's Dutch ovens, we think the Le Creuset Enameled Signature Cast Iron Skillet is the greatest choice for cast iron skillet. The skillet requires no seasoning because the interior is constructed of black satin enamel, which doesn't require much maintenance. Additionally, even though this skillet is heavier than the others we tried, it is still easy to move about with this skillet, and the handle is comfortable to grip. Additionally, it has spouts that simplify draining the oil when searing is complete.

This skillet worked well in all of our tests. It distributed heat evenly and heated up rapidly. The skillet is oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pros

• Various colors

• Sears well

• Comfortable grip

• Easy to clean

Cons

• Heavy

3. Lodge Cast Iron Skillet with Silicone Handle Holder

Product’s Specifications

• Size: 12 inches

• Weight: 7.5 pounds

• Spouts: N/A

• Pre-seasoned: Yes

Product’s Highlights

The Lodge 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet is packed with so many wonderful qualities. For starters, it's one of the least priced choices on our list while still being manufactured to the high standards you might want.

The skillet has a helpful red silicone handle and is pre-seasoned with 100% organic vegetable oil. Despite being one of the heaviest skillets we examined, it was quite simple to move about.

If you're in a rush, the skillet's rapid heating is helpful, but you still need to pay attention to it.

Pros

• Good value

• Maneuver easily

• Great for baking pizzas

Cons

• Heavy

4. Utopia Kitchen 12.5 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast-iron Skillet

Product’s Specifications

• Size: 12.5 inches

• Weight: 7.63 pounds

• Spouts: Yes

• Pre-seasoned: Yes

Product’s Highlights

If you are searching for a budget option, the Utopia Kitchen 12.5 inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is a way to go. The skillet heated up rapidly during testing. We can scramble eggs, albeit we did have some leftover residue to clean up. 

The heat distribution is not nearly as excellent as some of the other cast iron skillets on our list, so the steak browned unevenly. However, the pizza came out beautifully, with a wonderful golden brown crust and tasty cheese and other toppings.

Pros

• Great price offer

• Ideal for cooking eggs

• Has spouts

Cons

• Difficult to clean

• Uneven heat distribution

5. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Deep Skillet

Product’s Specifications

• Size: 5 Quart

• Weight: 14.4 Pounds

• Spouts: N/A

• Pre-seasoned: Yes

Product’s Highlights

If you're craving fried chicken or homemade potato chips, consider this multifunctional option from Lodge. It's deep enough to hold bubbling oil safely and includes a lid to retain moisture. 

The entire pan gets heat fast because of its excellent construction. Remember that this is a heavy-duty pan, so moving it might be difficult, especially while it's hot. 

This deep cast skillet is also safe to use over an open campfire, on in the oven, or even on the grill. 

Pros

• Deep sides 

• A tight-fitting lid 

• Safe to use over a campfire

Cons

• Heavy

See also:

• Best electric pressure cookers
• Best portable blenders
• Best vitamix blenders
• Best blenders for smoothies

1. Why is cast iron still in use?

Cast-iron cookware retains and conducts heat equally as effectively as some of the most costly kitchenware, making it a simple, affordable option to improve the standard of your meals without incurring a high additional cost.

2. How can you know whether a cast iron skillet is of excellent quality?

And you can tell the difference right away. With a qualified cast iron skillet, eggs will glide around on a well-seasoned one like they would in a nonstick pan. Despite being pre-seasoned in most cases, modern cast iron usually only has one or two coats of seasoning.

3. Does a cast iron skillet have disadvantages?

• Cast iron skillets are heavier than other cookware.

• Not good for cooking with acidic foods and boiling water. 

• Require being seasoned. 

But all the disadvantages can be solved if you use a deep cast iron skillet like Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Deep Skillet.

We hope that our reviews and buying guides can help you select the best cast iron skillets. Our top choices for this product line is from reputed brands, such as Lodge, cuisinel, LEGEND COOKWARE, Utopia Kitchen, Amazon Basics, Mercer Culinary, Backcountry Iron since they are made with great-quality materials and offer good performance. So don't hesitate to pick any from them.