Lodge 10.25-Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet

Full review

Why it made the list

This is the benchmark cast iron skillet. It has 4.6 stars from 87,490 ratings on Amazon, the highest rating count of any pan we cover, and it was listed at $22.91 on 2026-10-08. The page also showed $99.99 for a different variant, so make sure the 10.25-inch pre-seasoned one is the version in your cart.

What you get

• A 10.25-inch cast iron skillet in black
• A pre-seasoned surface that the maker says is ready to use and gets a better nonstick finish with every use
• A heavy-duty body with a teardrop handle
• Use on the stovetop, in the oven, on a grill or at a campfire, and on induction cooktops
• Made in the USA by Lodge, which has been making cast iron since 1896, according to the listing
• The title says PFAS-free, which is the maker's claim

What buyers say

Amazon's review summary says customers find it the perfect size (about 1,323 positive and 290 negative mentions) for cooking and baking. They like the heat distribution, the fast heating and the pre-seasoned surface, and they use it for burgers and searing steaks. Ease of cleaning has about 1,000 mentions.

The drawbacks are specific. Rust resistance is flagged as a negative theme with 678 mentions, and several buyers report rust after the first use. Nonstick performance is mixed. Some say nothing sticks, while others report food sticking even with oil. That fits how cast iron generally behaves, because the surface improves as it is used and cared for.

How to use it well

These are general cast iron habits. After washing, dry the pan completely right away, then rub on a very thin layer of cooking oil. Store it somewhere dry. If you see rust, scrub it off, dry the pan and re-oil it. Preheat the pan before adding food and use enough fat while the seasoning builds. Use a pot holder, because the handle gets hot.

Our score

7.8 out of 10. We start at 8.0 and add 0.3 because it is one of our anchor picks and has a long-term Prudent Reviews video. There is no ratings bonus, because 4.6 stars is under our 4.7 line. We deduct 0.5 because rust is a clear negative theme in the review summary.

Bottom line

For about $23, this is among the best-proven pans you can buy. Plan to dry and oil it, and expect the nonstick to develop with use instead of arriving perfect.