Our Cookbook! Cook It in Cast Iron:
Buy our winning traditional cast-iron skillet:
Buy our winning enameled cast-iron skillet:
Buy our “best buy” enameled cast-iron skillet:
Full equipment review and results chart:
Cheap and tough, a cast-iron skillet is a kitchen workhorse, but the upkeep makes some cooks balk. Could enameled cast-iron pans, which need no special care, top the classic?
We tested 10 12-inch cast-iron skillets (4 traditional cast iron, 5 enameled cast iron) to find the best one:
Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillet, 12″
Calphalon 12-in. Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
Camp Chef 12″ Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
T-fal Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet, 12″
Le Creuset Signature 11 3/4″ Iron Handle Skillet
Mario Batali by Dansk 12″ Open Sauté Pan
Lodge Enamel Coated Cast Iron Skillet, 11″
Rachael Ray Cast Iron 12-inch Open Skillet with Helper Handle
Staub Cast Iron 12″ Fry Pan
Tramontina Gourmet Enameled Cast Iron 12 in Skillet with Lid
Don’t miss our video on how to season and clean a cast-iron pan:
ABOUT US: Located in Boston’s Seaport District in the historic Innovation and Design Building, America’s Test Kitchen features 15,000 square feet of kitchen space including multiple photography and video studios. It is the home of Cook’s Illustrated magazine and Cook’s Country magazine and is the workday destination for more than 60 test cooks, editors, and cookware specialists. Our mission is to test recipes over and over again until we understand how and why they work and until we arrive at the best version.
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More than 1.3 million home cooks rely on Cook’s Illustrated and Cook’s Country magazines to provide trusted recipes that work, honest ratings of equipment and supermarket ingredients, and kitchen tips.