Gear guide
Best premium cast iron skillets: machined and enameled picks
Picked from Amazon listings, not hands-on tests. How we pick
Top picks at a glance
Compare all picks
Closest match for the job
Field 10.25 in Starter Set: 4.3 lb with care kit
Stated weight of 4.3 pounds, the lightest in this guide.
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Most for the money on paper
Staub 11-inch Traditional Skillet: matte enamel, raised sides
Textured black matte enamel interior is described as giving exceptional browning.
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Most complete listing
Field Company No.10: 11.6 in, 6 lb, made in USA
Listing states a 6 pound weight and a 9.75 inch flat cooking surface.
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A premium cast iron skillet costs several times more than a basic pre-seasoned pan, so it has to earn the difference. There are two ways it does. Machined bare iron from Field Company and Finex has a smooth cooking surface and, in Field's case, a lighter casting that is easier to lift one-handed. Enameled skillets from Le Creuset and Staub skip seasoning entirely and can handle acidic pan sauces, but they cannot be re-seasoned if the enamel wears. The facts worth comparing are surface type, true size, weight, oven limit and induction compatibility. Field is the only maker here that states weights, so the table shows Not stated for the rest. Bare iron listings here do not state an oven limit either. This guide compares seven skillets, ordered by how well each fits daily searing at home.
Compare the picks
- Field 10.25 in Starter Set: 4.3 lb with care kit
- Type
- Bare cast iron, machine polished
- Size
- 10.25 in, 2 in deep
- Weight
- 4.3 lb
- Oven-safe to
- Not stated
- Field Company No.10: 11.6 in, 6 lb, made in USA
- Type
- Bare cast iron, machine polished
- Size
- 11.6 in (9.75 in flat surface)
- Weight
- 6 lb
- Oven-safe to
- Not stated
Le Creuset Signature 10.25 in: enameled, 500°F- Type
- Enameled cast iron, black satin interior
- Size
- 10.25 in
- Weight
- Not stated
- Oven-safe to
- 500°F
Field Company No.12: 13.4 in, 8 lb, for 6-8 servings- Type
- Bare cast iron, machine polished
- Size
- 13.4 in (11.5 in flat surface)
- Weight
- 8 lb
- Oven-safe to
- Not stated
- Staub 11-inch Traditional Skillet: matte enamel, raised sides
- Type
- Enameled cast iron, black matte interior
- Size
- 11 in
- Weight
- Not stated
- Oven-safe to
- 500°F
FINEX 12-inch with Lid: polished surface, lid included- Type
- Bare cast iron, polished
- Size
- 12 in, lid included
- Weight
- Not stated
- Oven-safe to
- Not stated
Staub 12-inch Fry Pan: enameled, pouring spouts- Type
- Enameled cast iron
- Size
- 12 in
- Weight
- Not stated
- Oven-safe to
- 500°F
| Pick | Type | Size | Weight | Oven-safe to | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field 10.25 in Starter Set: 4.3 lb with care kit | Bare cast iron, machine polished | 10.25 in, 2 in deep | 4.3 lb | Not stated | - | Amazon |
| Field Company No.10: 11.6 in, 6 lb, made in USA | Bare cast iron, machine polished | 11.6 in (9.75 in flat surface) | 6 lb | Not stated | - | Amazon |
| Le Creuset Signature 10.25 in: enameled, 500°F | Enameled cast iron, black satin interior | 10.25 in | Not stated | 500°F | - | Amazon |
| Field Company No.12: 13.4 in, 8 lb, for 6-8 servings | Bare cast iron, machine polished | 13.4 in (11.5 in flat surface) | 8 lb | Not stated | - | Amazon |
| Staub 11-inch Traditional Skillet: matte enamel, raised sides | Enameled cast iron, black matte interior | 11 in | Not stated | 500°F | - | Amazon |
| FINEX 12-inch with Lid: polished surface, lid included | Bare cast iron, polished | 12 in, lid included | Not stated | Not stated | - | Amazon |
| Staub 12-inch Fry Pan: enameled, pouring spouts | Enameled cast iron | 12 in | Not stated | 500°F | - | Amazon |
Facts are taken from each Amazon listing. Prices are checked daily and shown with their date.
The picks in detail
Pick 1 · Field Company
Field 10.25 in Starter Set: 4.3 lb with care kit
See price on AmazonField's smaller skillet bundled with a natural fiber brush, chain mail scrubber and 2 ounce tin of seasoning oil. At 4.3 pounds it is the lightest skillet here with a stated weight.
What the listing offers
- Stated weight of 4.3 pounds, the lightest in this guide.
- Includes a brush, chain mail scrubber and seasoning oil for upkeep.
- Made in the USA and works on all cooktops including induction.
Limits to know
- 10.25 inch top diameter is small for searing for a family.
- Oven limit is not stated in the listing.
Pick 2 · Field Company
Field Company No.10: 11.6 in, 6 lb, made in USA
See price on AmazonA machine-polished cast iron skillet that is lighter than many at 6 pounds. Holds heat for searing on a gas burner and works on grills too.
What the listing offers
- Listing states a 6 pound weight and a 9.75 inch flat cooking surface.
- Pre-seasoned with three coats of grapeseed oil and machine-polished smooth.
- Made in the USA and listed as working on all cooktops and grills.
Limits to know
- Cast iron heats slowly and unevenly at first; give it time to preheat on gas.
- Oven limit is not stated on the listing.
Pick 3 · Le Creuset
Le Creuset Signature 10.25 in: enameled, 500°F
See price on AmazonAn enameled skillet that needs no seasoning and is dishwasher safe. The black satin interior enamel develops a patina over time, per the listing, and it is rated to 500°F in the oven.
What the listing offers
- No seasoning needed and the listing states it is dishwasher safe.
- Works on all cooktops and is oven-safe to 500°F.
- Listing claims the lightest weight cast iron by quart on the market.
Limits to know
- Smaller 10.25 inch size limits how much you can sear at once.
- Listing claims light weight but gives no actual weight figure.
Pick 4 · Field Company
Field Company No.12: 13.4 in, 8 lb, for 6-8 servings
See price on AmazonField's extra-large skillet with an 11.5 inch flat cooking surface, a 19.5 inch total length and a stated 8 pound weight. For big families and roasting a whole chicken in one pan.
What the listing offers
- 11.5 inch flat cooking surface is the largest stated in this guide.
- Listing gives an 8 pound weight, so you know the load before buying.
- Made in the USA and pre-seasoned with organic grapeseed oil.
Limits to know
- At 19.5 inches long it is a two-hand pan that may crowd small ovens.
- Oven limit is not stated in the listing.
Pick 5 · STAUB
Staub 11-inch Traditional Skillet: matte enamel, raised sides
See price on AmazonThe lowest priced pick here. An 11 inch enameled skillet with a textured black matte interior for browning, raised sides against splatter and pouring spouts.
What the listing offers
- Textured black matte enamel interior is described as giving exceptional browning.
- Raised sides help prevent splatter and spills, per the listing.
- Lowest price in this guide, with a 500°F oven rating in the title.
Limits to know
- The listing does not state induction compatibility.
- No weight or country of manufacture given in this listing.
Pick 6 · FINEX
FINEX 12-inch with Lid: polished surface, lid included
See price on AmazonA heavy, polished cast iron skillet with a lid included. Thick walls store heat for searing and the lid adds braising and steaming.
What the listing offers
- Thick base and walls are described as giving even heat distribution.
- Comes with a lid for steaming, braising and simmering.
- Pre-seasoned with organic flaxseed oil and polished smooth, per the listing.
Limits to know
- Weight and oven limit are not stated on the listing.
- Costs more than the Field Company skillet, mostly for the lid and design.
Pick 7 · STAUB
Staub 12-inch Fry Pan: enameled, pouring spouts
See price on AmazonAn enameled cast iron skillet made in France with pouring spouts. Cast iron heat retention for gas without the upkeep of bare iron.
What the listing offers
- Listing states oven safe up to 500°F and a smooth enamel bottom for all stovetops.
- Pouring spouts make it easier to drain fat after searing.
- Made in France, per the listing, with an enameled finish that needs no seasoning.
Limits to know
- Weight and care instructions are not stated on the listing.
- Enamel surface does not build seasoning the way bare cast iron does.
Read before you buy
- What is a carbon steel pan and is it goodWhat carbon steel cookware is made of, how it compares with cast iron and stainless in weight and heat, and the cooking a carbon steel pan suits best.
- How to restore a rusty cast iron Dutch ovenHow to remove rust from a bare cast iron Dutch oven, reseason it so it lasts, and deal with rust on the exposed rim of an enameled pot.
- How to season a carbon steel panHow to season a carbon steel pan: remove the factory coating, apply very thin oil layers, and build seasoning on the stovetop or in the oven. Reseasoning tips too.
- How to preheat each type of panHow long to preheat a pan and at what heat: clad stainless, cast iron, carbon steel, nonstick and Dutch ovens, plus the water drop test and common mistakes.
- How to cook with and care for a carbon steel panHow to cook with a carbon steel pan: the best first dishes, foods to avoid early on, how to clean it after use, and how to keep rust and sticking away.
More gear: Carbon steel and cast iron
Braise & Sear chooses every product independently from what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission from the links above. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.