ConsFirst / Cast-iron skillets

Lancaster Cast Iron

Lancaster No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet, 10.5 Inch: the downsides first

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#5 of 8
$$$Bare cast ironScore 3.9/5
6%
of Amazon ratings are 1–2 stars
(checked 2026-10-10)Small sample (120 ratings).

Serious Eats' best lightweight skillet: just over 4 lb, slick out of the box and great cornbread. Good Housekeeping was less impressed, with weaker egg results and smoke when searing, and at about $175 it is a splurge.

Top complaints

  • Expensive

    Serious Eats lists it at about $175. Amazon's summary says some owners find it very expensive.

    Source: Serious Eats, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Mixed results with eggs and seasoning

    Good Housekeeping says it didn't do as well in its egg test and smoked in its steak test. Amazon's summary says seasoning gets mixed feedback, with one owner reporting flaking seasoning in food.

    Source: Good Housekeeping, Amazon.com product page (Customers say)
  • Wobbles on glass tops

    Serious Eats says it wobbled a little when heated on a glass-top stove because it is thin.

    Source: Serious Eats

What owners love

Good for
  • The lightest 10-inch pan
  • A smooth surface that darkens with use
  • Baking and everyday cooking

Scores (tap for why)

What experts say

  • Serious Eats: Best lightweight (August 2026): a joy to use, slick and light, with months of long-term use. Wobbles slightly on glass tops.
  • Good Housekeeping: Others tested: great even browning in cornbread and light, but weaker in the egg test and smoked during the steak test.
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

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