Compare Cast Iron Pans
Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) 9.3/10 and the Lancaster Cast Iron No.8 Skillet (10.5 Inch) 6.3/10 on the same cast iron pans scoring system, weighing safety, efficacy, and usability. The Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) comes out ahead, led by its safety score (10.0/10 vs 5.4/10).
The most important dimensions, side by side.
See which one actually scores higher — and why
Free account unlocks full safety scores, spec-by-spec breakdown, and the R3 verdict on Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) vs Lancaster Cast Iron No.8 Skillet (10.5 Inch).
Unlock the full Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) vs Lancaster Cast Iron No.8 Skillet (10.5 Inch) breakdown
Free account unlocks all safety scores, complete spec comparison, scoring rationale, and the R3 verdict on which one to buy.
Everything you need to make the call - who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
You want XRF-verified lead-free status from an artisan brand with a premium polished finish
You prefer grapeseed oil seasoning over soybean oil — a meaningful difference for soy-sensitive families
You're willing to pay a premium for the widest cooking surface (9 inches) in the verified-safe group
You want the widest flat cooking surface in this size class at 9.25 inches
You cook for a family and want a large pan that still stays light at 4.5 pounds
You value a helper handle for moving a heavy hot pan safely
You need soy-free grapeseed seasoning for a soy-allergic household
The main thing to know
At 6.7 lbs, the Smithey is the heaviest pan in the verified-safe group — two-handed transfer from stovetop to oven is recommended. This is the main usability trade-off vs Lodge Blacklock at the same overall score.
Lancaster is plain bare cast iron with no leaded components, but it has not been independently lead-tested and has no published California chemical disclosure page. That is a transparency gap rather than a safety finding, and it is the main reason this pan does not score higher.
Skip this if you...
Weight is a concern — 6.7 lbs is the heaviest in the verified-safe group; Lodge Blacklock achieves the same overall score at 4.23 lbs
You are budget-constrained — Lodge L8SK3 at around $30 earns the same maximum safety score for a fraction of the price
The pan is currently unavailable on Amazon — verify retail availability before purchasing
You will only buy a pan that has published independent lead testing
You prefer a brand with a longer independent safety track record like Lodge or Smithey
You want the lowest price in the category, since Lancaster sits at the premium end at $175
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Cast Iron Pans options at every price pointEvery Cast Iron 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 Smithey and Lancaster Cast Iron across 3 independent criteria: Safety (73%), Efficacy (16%), Usability (11%). No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers - no sponsored content, no filler.
I'd start with Smithey Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) - it scored 9.3/10 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 Cast Iron 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 how we weight those three pillars, 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.
