Compare Cast Iron Pans
Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) scores higher on safety - here's why.
R3 scored the Stargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet 7.8/10 and the Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch) 9.3/10 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 7.7/10).
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 Stargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet vs Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 Inch).
Unlock the full Stargazer 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet vs Smithey No.10 Cast Iron Skillet (10 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 a smooth, factory-machined surface that makes releasing eggs and delicate foods easier right out of the box.
Lighter weight matters — at 6.5 lbs, Stargazer is more than two pounds lighter than the standard Lodge 12-inch skillet.
Your family has a soy allergy and you need a pre-seasoned pan that uses a non-soy, non-GMO oil.
You want a lifetime-warranted pan and are willing to pay a premium over basic cast iron.
You want independent lead-safety confirmation on your cookware before cooking for children.
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
The main thing to know
Stargazer delivers a meaningfully better cooking experience than Lodge thanks to its CNC-machined smooth surface, lighter weight, and helper handle — all backed by a lifetime warranty and independent lead-safety confirmation. The one gap is a missing California chemical transparency page, which is a documentation issue rather than a safety concern since iron cookware contains no problematic chemicals.
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.
Skip this if you...
You need California AB 1200 chemical disclosure documentation before purchasing cookware.
Budget is a primary concern — Lodge offers comparable performance at a fraction of the price.
You need the ultimate smooth-surface premium and are willing to pay more for Solidteknics or similar.
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
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 Stargazer and Smithey 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.
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