Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet

Bottom Line

The Lodge Logic 12-Inch Skillet is a cast-iron skillet that offers good performance at a reasonable price. The pan comes preseasoned to keep food from sticking. Yet it allows for searing, something many nonstick pans can't do. Like any cast-iron pan, the Lodge Logic is heavy and requires special effort to maintain -- but with proper care, it can last for years.

Performance

Excels at a variety of cooking tasks. In tests at a foodie magazine, this Lodge Logic skillet completed every cooking task with flying colors, from making scrambled eggs without sticking to searing a steak with a beautifully browned crust. Owners at Amazon.com and Walmart.com also praise this pan's versatility. "If I could only have one pan to prepare meals with, it would be this skillet. You can cook literally anything with it," declares one owner at Walmart.com.

However, a couple of users warn that there is a bit of a learning curve for those not familiar with cooking on cast iron. This heavy pan takes longer to heat and holds its heat longer than most skillets, so it may take some practice to adjust cooking times. However, once it does come to temperature, users say, it heats more evenly and steadily than any other cookware. Owners also say that as long as the pan is kept properly seasoned (as described below), food will not stick to the surface. We read several reviews saying that this pan is better than Teflon for cooking delicate foods like crepes. Upon first use, food may stick a bit to the middle of the pan. However, it will gradually become better seasoned with use.

Ease Of Use

Very large and very heavy. Testers at a cooking magazine found that this 12-inch pan provides plenty of room for searing steaks and pan-frying chicken. At roughly 6 pounds, however, it is quite heavy to lift, especially since the handle is a bit small. There is a helper handle on the opposite side to make the pan easier to lift, but as one Amazon.com reviewer points out, this doesn't help when you're trying to hold the pan in one hand while spooning something out with the other.

The skillet's weight can also make cleanup a bit difficult. Aside from that problem, though, reviewers say this pan isn't too difficult to clean by hand (cast iron should never be put in the dishwasher). Professional testers warn that the very first time they washed the pan after making scrambled eggs, it took lots of scrubbing, but after that, cleanup was easy. However, users do stress that cast iron needs to be treated differently from other types of cookware. It's preferable to use as little soap as possible, and it's important to dry the pan thoroughly. One owner at Walmart.com suggests towel drying and then setting the pan back on the stove over very low heat for a few minutes to dry thoroughly. Lightly oiling the inside of the pan after each use will help it stay well seasoned.

Appearance

An old-fashioned design. The Lodge Logic skillet looks much like something that might come out of your grandmother's attic. Moreover, unlike many types of cookware, this cast-iron pan actually improves with age, according to users. With continued use, it develops a glossy interior finish that many owners compare to black glass. We read multiple reviews from users who say they leave the skillet on the stove all the time -- although that may be partly because its weight makes it a hassle to store.

Durability

Not only looks like an antique, it lasts like one, too. Several owners say that after years of use (and proper care), their pans are as good as new. However, we did see some reports from owners that their skillets cracked quite suddenly during cooking -- often on the very first use. This is a serious problem, since Lodge products have no written warranty. The Lodge website says the company "stands behind" its products and pledges to deal with problems, but one owner says, "An email to customer service at Lodge resulted in zero response." On the other hand, given that the Lodge skillet only costs about $20, it's not a serious financial risk. Only a small percentage of customers report problems with cracking, and if it does happen, it will likely happen early on.