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Cast iron skillets are like a fine wine: they get better with age. These pieces of legacy cookware can do everything from sear steaks to bake upside down fruit cakes. The best cast iron is an investment — if not in price, then in maintenance and maneuvering the heavy pan.
To find the best cast iron skillets, I spoke with three chefs and tested nine pans by cooking steaks, cornbread, and sunny-side up eggs. The Field Cast Iron Skillet won the top spot and lives on my stovetop. It heats evenly and became seasoned in less than a week. For a budget-friendly option, the Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet is a steal and performed nearly as well as the best overall.
Our top picks for best cast iron skillets
Best overall: Field 10.25" Cast Iron Skillet – See at Amazon
The Field 10.25" Cast Iron Skillet is the ideal cast iron skillet to have in your kitchen; it sears as well as it bakes, and develops a smooth, nonstick surface after just a few uses.
Best budget: Lodge 10.25" Classic Cast Iron Skillet – See at Amazon
The affordable Lodge 10.25" Cast Iron Skillet excels in everything you expect cast iron to do, from retaining heat to providing a naturally nonstick surface.
Best enameled: Le Creuset 10" Signature Skillet – See at Amazon
The Le Creuset 10" Signature Skillet is a must-have for meat-eaters, searing steak to perfection quicker than any other pans we tested.
Best lightweight: GSI 10" Guidecast Fry Pan – See at GSI
Weighing less than four pounds, the GSI Guidecast Fry Pan has a remarkably lightweight body that retains heat and sears meat just as well as heavier cast iron pans.
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