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- Best cast-iron skillet Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet *Est. $25
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Best cast-iron skillet
- Preseasoned
- Heats evenly
- Nonstick when properly maintained
- Oven-safe
- Durable
- Heavy
- Requires special cleaning routine
- Handles become hot
- May crack
- Our Analysis
Unlike some cast-iron cookware, the Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet comes already seasoned (coated with oil that is baked onto the surface), so it is ready for immediate use. The heavy weight can make the pan difficult to maneuver for everyday tasks, but its nonstick surface heats evenly enough to cook delicate foods, such as crpes or fish fillets. The handles are also cast iron and will become hot, but the skillet is oven-safe. Like all cast-iron skillets, this pan shouldn't be washed with soap and must be carefully dried after each use. With proper care, this pan could last a lifetime -- although we did read a few reports from users about pans that cracked suddenly during normal use. If you want a skillet that requires less maintenance and you are willing to spend a little more for a traditional nonstick coating, reviews point to the Calphalon Contemporary Nonstick Omelette Pan Set (*Est. $50).
Editors at Cook's Illustrated magazine subject two Lodge skillets, along with six other cast-iron skillets, to rigorous testing in a fully equipped professional kitchen. The New York Times also includes two Lodge skillets in its review, which runs several types of skillets through cooking tests to evaluate whether food sticks and how easy cleanup is. Food & Wine magazine recommends three cast-iron skillets, including one by Lodge, but without disclosing its testing methodology. Owners at Amazon.com and Cooking.com also weigh in with their opinions on this skillet.
| Lodge Logic L10SK3 12-Inch Pre-Seasoned Skillet | |
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Our Sources
1. Cook's Illustrated MagazineDetails/Subscribe
The editors of Cook's Illustrated test eight cast-iron skillets, including the Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet. They cook eggs, cornbread and chicken in each pan as well as evaluate each for ease of use, weight and handle design. With most skillets, foods sticks on the first use, but the surface improves dramatically as they become seasoned.
Review: Cast-Iron Skillets, Editors of Cook's Illustrated magazine, Sept. 2007
Since it predates the emergence of new Teflon-alternative coatings, this interesting article isn't as helpful as it could be. Marian Burros evaluates eight skillets and gives the easy-cleaning Le Creuset skillet the top rating, but Lodge Logic seasoned and unseasoned cast-iron skillets are "a very close second."
Review: In Search of a Pan That Lets Cooks Forget about Teflon, Marian Burros, June 7, 2006
3. Food & Wine MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Food & Wine magazine editor Kristin Donnelly evaluates cast-iron, nonstick and stainless-steel skillets to find the best in each category. The testing methodology isn't detailed, however. For cast iron, the Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet is one of three recommended.
Review: Testing Skillets to Find the Best, Kristin Donnelly, Nov. 2008
4. Amazon.com
More than 700 reviews of the Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet have been posted at Amazon.com, and it earns an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Owners are very enthusiastic about the pan's even heating and easy cleanup, although several complain that it arrived cracked or cracked during use.
Review: Lodge Mfg. L14SK3 With Assist Handle, Contributors to Amazon.com
5. Cooking.com
About 75 owners give the Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet an overall rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. They agree it heats evenly and browns food nicely. Owners like that food doesn't stick and they don't have to worry about a nonstick coating flaking off.
Review: Skillet (12-in,), Seasoned by Lodge, Contributors to Cooking.com
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