Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet with Silicone Handle Holder, 12 Inches

Why it's worth it

This is the 12-inch pan most people should start with. It sears as well as skillets costing several times more, it's sold nearly everywhere, and it comes with a silicone handle sleeve so you don't burn yourself on day one.

The Lodge does the one thing cast iron is for, and does it as well as anything here. Its walls are thick, so it stores a lot of heat. Put a cold ribeye in it and the pan holds its temperature instead of stalling out. Owner feedback comes back to searing again and again — steaks, burgers, smash-fried anything. That thermal mass is the whole point, and Lodge gives you more of it per dollar than any other pan on this list.

It also happens to be the most forgiving pan to own. You can rust it, scrub it back with steel wool, re-season it, and carry on. You can take it camping and set it directly in coals. It's induction-safe, oven-safe to 500°F, and it works on gas, electric, and glass-top. If you've never cooked in cast iron, this is the pan to make your mistakes in.

From our review of 5 cast iron skillets, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +The Lodge does the one thing cast iron is for, and does it as well as anything here
• +It also happens to be the most forgiving pan to own
• +The surface is the catch, and it's worth being clear about
• +Lodge includes a red silicone handle holder in the box, which is more useful than it sounds

What to know

• –It's heavy — about 7.5 pounds empty, and noticeably more with food in it
• –There's no helper handle on the standard 12-inch model
• –You'll need to keep up with it