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Our Editors' Favorite Cast Iron Skillets - The Best of the Best
This kitchen tool is an absolute necessity.
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If you're looking for one kitchen pan that can do it all, then a cast iron skillet is your new best friend. From making fried eggs with the crispiest edges on the stovetop, to baking fresh focaccia bread in the oven, and even homemade deep-dish pizza on the grill, cast iron cookware can go just about anywhere in your kitchen.
That's not our favorite part of cast iron cookware, though. Cast iron actually gets better with age. Unlike other cookware that develops wear and tear over the years, cast iron not only withstands the test of time—it ages beautifully. The longer you use your it, the better seasoning it develops, creating a natural non-stick film so your food slides right out of the pan.
Forget what you've heard about these beauties being high maintenance. The number one rule with cast iron: don't use soap. Grab some kosher salt and a brush with some warm water and scrub any leftover residue right out and that's it. The porous surface of the cast iron soaks in all the oil and creates that beautiful seasoning. Just be sure your pan is completely dry before storing—usually a few minutes on a high-heat stovetop will do the trick—to avoid rusting.
Have we convinced you that you absolutely need a cast-iron skillet now? We thought so. Without further ado, we've rounded up all of our favorite cast iron cookware, from the inexpensive starter pieces to decades-old vintage skillets with plenty of life left to give. We even threw in our top Dutch oven and griddle recommendations, too. What are you waiting for? Go find your new favorite kitchen tool!
Victoria 12-Inch Skillet
If you only buy one cast-iron pan in your life, it should be a 12 inch skillet, which is big enough to handle large dishes without being overwhelming. Victoria Pans, based in Columbia, are high quality, very reasonably priced, and all their pans come with a very durable flax-oil seasoning, so they work great right out of the box.
Country Living Basic Skillet
Country Living Basic Skillet
Yes, it's true, this is our pan (available at the Country Living Store on Amazon), but we also think the Country Living Skillet is one of the best deals on the market.
At just over $26, you can get a solid 10-inch pan with silicone handle sleeve, pre-seasoned and ready to go.
It'll only get better as you cook with it, and it's guaranteed for a lifetime (at least!) of searing, baking, frying, and more. Plus, as a Country Living fan, you get to help support a brand you love!
Vintage Cast Iron
Believe it or not, some of the best cast iron you can get is used. There's a couple reasons for that. First: Cast iron's seasoning gets better with repeated use. And second: There were a few manufacturers—no longer around—that made very light, easy to hold pans, using techniques that would be too expensive to reproduce today. You can find them at antique stores if you're lucky, or online. Look for either Griswold or Wagner, two of the most highly-regarded makers.
Field Company No. 8 Skillet
If you're looking for a useable pan that also functions as a kitchen showpiece, then look no further than The Field Company. The U.S. company has been making pans in Wisconsin and Indiana since 2016. They're not only beautiful, but they're well balanced, decently seasoned, and fun to cook with.
Le Creuset Shallow Fry Pan
Le Creuset Shallow Fry Pan
Cast iron skillets can be your go-to for most oven and stovetop cooking, but they have one big drawback: The seasoning doesn't handle acidic ingredients like tomatoes or vinegary sauces well. To handle those, we recommend investing in an enameled pan. Le Creuset is known for sturdy, long-lasting enameled cookware, and their pans are about as beautiful as they are durable.
Lodge Double Dutch Oven
Dutch ovens have gotten a reputation recently for their ability to turn out high-quality homemade bread. But they're handy for all kinds of cooking, from soups and stews to pot roasts, and more. Lodge's versatile Double Dutch Oven (see what they did there?) is extra-genius: The lid flips over to become a two-handled pan capable of roasting a chicken or making pancakes. Genius!
Great Jones The Dutchess
Great Jones The Dutchess
If you're whipping up a big pot of Coq au Vin for a fancy dinner party, you may want the pot to be as presentable as the stew inside it. While Le Creuset is a classic choice, we just love the distinctive look and gorgeous colors of Great Jones. This pot, called "The Dutchess" (get it?) comes in mustard, blueberry, Earl Grey, and more.
Challenger Bread Pan
Designed by bakers, for bakers, this cast iron bread pan is super easy to load and can bâtards, boules, demi-baguettes, and other loaves of almost any size. Added bonus, the bottom of the pan can also be used to roast a chicken and veggies.
Lodge Cast Iron Cornstick Pan
Don't just settle for just wedges when it comes to serving cornbread. Spoon batter into the slots of this kitschy cornbread pan and wow your guests with cornbread shaped like cute ears of corn.
For a perfectly golden brown biscuit reach for the Lodge cast iron biscuit pan. It makes seven perfectly shaped biscuits and even work over a camp fire.
Lodge Griddle
Whether you're looking for a smooth, flat surface for pancakes or grilled cheese sammies, or to get great grill-style sear marks on a steak or some veggies, this large, reversible pan is the ideal tool. It's large enough to cover two burners on your range, so you've got plenty of space to cook, and it will absorb and hold heat as only cast-iron can.
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