Compare Frying Pans
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet 12 Inch scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
The ceramic coating is genuinely free of PTFE, PFAS, and Teflon — a real improvement over traditional nonstick. The trade-off is that ceramic coatings wear down with regular use over one to three years. When the nonstick performance fades, you are cooking on a degraded surface rather than the clean metal of a stainless or cast iron pan.
The cooking surface is pure iron with a natural seasoning — no synthetic coatings, no chemicals, nothing to chip or peel. Cast iron has been used safely for centuries and only gets better with use.
Rated to 550°F, this pan handles stovetop-to-oven transitions for finishing steaks, roasting vegetables, or making frittatas. That temperature ceiling covers everything a home oven can do.
This skillet goes from stovetop to oven to campfire without hesitation. At 500°F it handles everything from cornbread to broiled steaks — and cast iron itself can handle much higher temperatures.
The stainless steel handle is sturdy and well-designed, but it does warm up during longer stovetop sessions. Keep a potholder nearby for extended cooking.
The handle is solid cast iron — it will get hot during cooking, every time. Lodge includes a silicone handle holder, and you will want to use it. Keep it on the handle as a habit.
The heat distribution is solid in the center of the pan but less even around the edges and sidewalls. For eggs, pancakes, and everyday sauteing this is perfectly adequate. For serious searing where you need edge-to-edge even browning, a fully-clad pan will outperform it.
Once this skillet gets hot, it stays hot — which means a perfect sear on steaks and beautifully browned cornbread. It takes a few minutes longer to heat up than tri-ply stainless, but the payoff in heat retention is worth the wait.
Works on every cooktop type including induction — the stainless steel base plate makes it compatible regardless of the aluminum body.
Works on every heat source — gas, electric, induction, campfire, grill. If you take it camping or upgrade your kitchen, this pan goes everywhere.
At 2.7 pounds, this is one of the lightest pans in the category. Easy to lift, flip, and handle with one hand — great for everyday cooking tasks.
At nearly 8 pounds empty, this is a two-handed pan. Tossing vegetables or lifting it one-handed when full is not realistic for most people. If you have wrist or grip issues, consider a lighter option.
Hand wash only — the dishwasher will damage the ceramic coating and accelerate its degradation. The good news is that the nonstick surface makes cleanup quick: a soft sponge and warm water is usually all you need.
Hand wash with hot water and a brush, then dry immediately. A dishwasher would strip the seasoning and invite rust. It sounds like more work, but once you have the routine down it takes under a minute.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You specifically want PFAS-free nonstick convenience for eggs, pancakes, and delicate proteins that would stick to bare metal
Design and aesthetics matter to your kitchen and you appreciate Caraway's color options and magnetic storage system
You need a very lightweight pan under 3 pounds for easy one-handed cooking
You are comfortable replacing the pan every few years when the ceramic coating wears down
You want a PFAS-free cooking surface at the lowest possible price point and the weight does not bother you
You love searing steaks, baking cornbread, or making dishes that benefit from exceptional heat retention
You cook outdoors on campfires or grills and need a pan that handles any heat source
You want a pan that can genuinely be passed down to your children with proper care
The main thing to know
The ceramic nonstick coating degrades with regular use over one to three years — unlike stainless steel or cast iron which last a lifetime. When the nonstick fades, you are cooking on a worn surface.
At 7.7 pounds, this is a heavy pan that requires two-handed operation when loaded — and the integral cast iron handle gets dangerously hot during every use, requiring an oven mitt or the included silicone holder.
Skip this if you...
You want a pan that will last a decade or longer — stainless steel or cast iron will outperform any coated surface over time
Even heat distribution for serious searing is important to you — fully-clad construction outperforms disk-bottom significantly
You expected a nonstick pan to be dishwasher-safe — this one requires hand washing to protect the coating
You have wrist or grip limitations that make lifting an 8-pound pan impractical or unsafe
You need a pan that responds quickly to temperature changes for delicate sauces or eggs
You want zero-maintenance cleanup and the ability to toss the pan in the dishwasher after every use
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Frying Pans options at every price pointEvery Frying Pans in our database is scored using R3's deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Caraway and Lodge across 3 independent criteria: Safety (78%), Efficacy (16%), Usability (6%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Lodge Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet 12 Inch - it scored 7.9/10 overall in our scoring system. Safety is our top-weighted scoring pillar, followed by efficacy, and usability. Check which pillar matters most to your family and compare those specific scores.
R3 uses a deterministic scoring system - the same inputs always produce the same score. We evaluate each Frying Pans across Safety, Efficacy, Usability using independently verified data. No sponsored rankings. No paid placements. Every score is fully reproducible.
Not necessarily. The overall score reflects our weighted rubric, but your priorities may differ. If you care most about safety, compare the safety scores directly. If budget drives your decision, the prices tell a clearer story. The "right" pick is the one that matches what matters most to your family.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
