ConsFirst / Cast-iron skillets

Field Company

Field Company No.8 Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 Inch: the downsides first

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#3 of 8
$$$Bare cast ironScore 4.0/5
11%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample (376 ratings); the histogram is shared across Field Company skillet sizes.

A smooth, light, US-made skillet that Serious Eats and Good Housekeeping both recommend, with easy release and easy handling. At about $165 it costs six times a Lodge, and Wirecutter found it no better in practice.

Top complaints

  • Expensive

    Serious Eats calls it pricey at about $165. Wirecutter enjoyed the #10 but found its $215 price hard to justify. Amazon owners are divided on whether it is worth the money.

    Source: Serious Eats, Wirecutter, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Wobbles on glass tops; no spouts

    Serious Eats says, being light, it is prone to spinning and wobbling when heated empty on a glass-top stove. Good Housekeeping lists the lack of pour spouts as its con.

    Source: Serious Eats, Good Housekeeping
  • Blotchy seasoning, some sticking

    Wirecutter saw blotchy stains after searing steak and says it is shallower than its picks. Amazon's summary says some owners report food sticking.

    Source: Wirecutter, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)

What owners love

Good for
  • The lightest full-size skillet
  • A smooth, vintage-style surface
  • Cooks with wrist or strength concerns

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • Serious Eats: Splurge-worthy pick (August 2026): smooth surface released everything and it is easy to pour, but it is pricey and wobbles empty on glass tops.
  • Good Housekeeping: Best lightweight (June 2025): solid scores in all tests, comfortable handle, easy to clean; no pour spouts.
  • Wirecutter (NYT): Competition (#10 size): lightest tested, smooth and evenly heating, but blotchy stains and a $215 price that is hard to justify.
Check price on AmazonWe don't list prices — they change daily. Paid link.

If that catch is a deal-breaker

Highly ranked cast-iron skillets whose biggest complaint is something else.

#1 in cast-iron skilletsLodge Chef Collection 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

Wirecutter's top pick: lighter than the classic Lodge, with a comfortable angled handle, easy pouring and even searing for about $40. Its shallow, curved sides are worse for frying or braising and make the 10-inch size feel cramped.

Its catch: shallow for frying and braising#2 in cast-iron skilletsVictoria 10-Inch Cast Iron Skillet (Pre-Seasoned)

A Colombian-made Lodge alternative that matched the Lodge in Wirecutter's tests and won budget or value awards at Serious Eats and Good Housekeeping. It is heavy, smokes on first use, and Wirecutter found its long handle makes it feel heavier than it is.

Its catch: heavy, and the long handle shifts the balance#4 in cast-iron skilletsLodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 10.25 Inch

The default cast-iron pick: Serious Eats and Good Housekeeping both name it best overall for a deep sear, good release and a price around $25. It is heavier than the newer lightweight pans, smokes and smells on its first heatings, and Amazon owners are split on sticking, with several reporting rust early on.

Its catch: food sticking; seasoning uneven at first

Head-to-head

See all 8 cast-iron skillets ranked →