Is The Lodge 12-Inch Skillet The Best Size For Your Everyday Pan?

Suppose you are looking for a skillet for yourself or your family. You need to look at two things. One is the maker, and two, what size pan do you need? If you want a trusted manufacturer, look to Lodge Manufacturing, which makes excellent pans at affordable prices. Now, you need to choose the best size for your needs. It would be ideal to take careful consideration when selecting a cast iron pan because the weight difference between sizes can be conceivable.

In this article, you can find out if the Lodge 12-inch skillet is your best choice.

You will also have two choices: enameled and seasoned cast iron. Choosing between the two is difficult because each coating type has pros and cons. However, I recommend a standard seasoned pan with better value for money and a smaller learning curve.

Table Of Contents

• Deciding between a pre-seasoned skillet and an enameled skillet.
• Information on the Lodge 12-inch skillet.
• Information specs on the 12-inch skillet cover.
• Why would you buy a Lodge skillet?
• Should you buy the Lodge 12-inch skillet?
• Is Lodge cast iron any good?
• Who do I recommend, and who do I think should not buy one?
• Conclusion

Is The Lodge 12-Inch Skillet The Best Size For Daily Use?

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet vs. Cast Iron Enameled Skillet.

	Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet	Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
Nonstick Cooking Surface	Semi nonstick	Prone to sticking
Oven Safe	Yes	Yes
Dishwasher Safe	No	Yes
Easy-To-Clean By Hand	Moderate	Variable between brands
Maintenance-Free	No Requires seasoning	Yes Does not need to be seasoned
Longevity	Extremely high	High
Can React To Acidic Foods	Yes	No
Increases Iron In Cooked Food	Yes	No
Value For Money	Excellent	Variable between brands

A Regular Cast Iron Skillet Is Easy-To-Use.

Both types of cast iron have their advantages and disadvantages. However, if I had to choose one, it would be regular cast iron. It’s usually a lot cheaper, and I think it’s easier to use if you are new to cast iron cooking.

Are you interested in learning more about the pros and cons of cooking with cast iron? Then, check out this great article by clicking the link.

And if you are still unsure which type of cast iron is right for you. Then check out this article on the site to learn more about bare cast-iron vs. enameled cast-iron.

But if you are looking for a traditional pan, the Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet is a great choice. There are very few negative reviews on the skillet. And this could be why so many bloggers recommend it. You can read the reviews on Amazon for yourself. But first, you might want to see the technicals of the skillet below. 

Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet Information.

	Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet Available on Amazon, click to see current prices. (Affiliate link)
Place Of Manufacture	The U.S.A.
Material	100% cast iron
Weight	Approximately 7.6lbs or 3.4kgs
Product Dimensions	18in x 12.6in x 2.2in or 45.7cm x 32cm x 5.6cm
Cooking Surface	Approximately 9.125in or 23cm
The Kind Of Oil Used To Season The Skillet.	Soybean oil

Lid Specifications For The Lodge 12-inch Cast Iron Skillet.

	Cast Iron Lid For The 12-Inch Lodge Skillet compatible with these models L10SK3, L10DSK3, L10DO3, L10CF3 and L10DOL3 Available on Amazon click, to see current prices. (Affiliate link)
Place Of Manufacture	The U.S.A.
Material	100% cast iron
Weight	5.11 pounds or 2.1kgs
Product Dimensions	12.6in x 12.1in x 1.9in or 32cm x 30.7cm x 4.8cm
The Kind Of Oil Used To Season The Cover.	Soybean oil

Why Would You Buy A Lodge Skillet?

• It’s the last big foundry that makes cast-iron cookware in America.
• The Lodge family is involved in running the company.
• In tough economic times, Lodge has supported its loyal employees. 
• Lodge continues to manufacture many of its products in America.
• Lodge Manufacturing supports local community events.

Should You Buy A Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet?

	Is The Larger Pan better Than the Smaller Options?
It’s A Great-Sized Skillet.	You can cook a small amount of food in a big pan, but you can’t cook a lot of food in a small pan. The extra cooking surface allows you to cook for more people and offers more meal options. For example, use your skillet to roast a tasty chicken.
High Quality Cast Iron	Many brands outsource manufacturing to overseas-based companies. However, Lodge continues to manufacture their pre-seasoned cast iron cookware in America. The company also has over 100 years of expertise in manufacturing cast iron skillets. Lodge Manufacturing has strict quality control to prevent inferior products from leaving their foundry.
The Skillet Is Pre-Seasoned	When you buy a Lodge skillet, it comes pre-seasoned and ready to use straight out of the box. Just rinse your skillet with warm water, and you’re ready to start cooking. Although some experienced cast-iron users like to season their skillets. I think the factory seasoning is good enough for 95 percent of owners.

Are The Lodge Cast Iron Skillets Any Good?

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Will Get More Nonstick With Frequent Usage.

Cooking in bare cast iron will slowly build seasoning on the skillet. Seasoning is polymerizing oil onto the pan to form a protective layer that stops the pan from rusting. But also, it has semi-nostick properties. Seasoning also makes that lustrous black color that we all love.

The better the seasoning, the more nonstick your pan will become. So, to build seasoning, you want to ensure you’re not stripping the seasoning layer when you clean. So try to avoid harsh scrubbing with steel wool or the abrasive side of a sponge.

Lodge Makes Some Nifty Cleaning Products To Help You Clean Your Pan.

Many scrubbing brushes will do. But at least you know this one is designed with cast-iron cookware in mind. For new cast iron users, one of the biggest hesitations of an iron skillet is knowing how to clean it to pan. 

Lodge Bush (Amazon Affiliate link)	Lodge Scrapers (Amazon Affiliate link)
Many scrubbing brushes will do. But at least you know this one is designed with cast-iron cookware in mind. For new cast iron users, one of the biggest hesitations of an iron skillet is knowing how to clean it to pan.	And it would help if you had a helpful cleaning tool to clean your Lodge skillet without scratching the cooking surface. It’s also great for lifting stubborn food without damaging the seasoning and reducing the need to soak your pan in wate

Lodge Manufacturing Makes Great Useable Pans And Skillets At A Reasonable Price.

Lodge skillets are very affordable compared to high-quality French enameled finishes. If you are considering your first piece of cast iron, Lodge offers fantastic value. And with the proper care, your Lodge skillet will last a long time. Many antique Lodge pans are over one hundred years old. And they are skillet useable today.

Add Iron To Your Diet By Cooking With A Lodge Skillet.

Bare or pre-season cast iron, such as the Lodge 12-inch skillet, can increase iron in your daily intake. When cooking, a little iron from the pan goes into your food. So, using an iron pan may be a good way for vegetarians and vegans to increase iron in their diet. 

How much iron can you get from cast iron cookware? Click to learn more.

Lodge Pre-Seasoned Skillets Can Take The Geat.

Seasoned cast iron can withstand very high temperatures. And a cast iron pan is often recommended if you want a perfect sear on a piece of steak. 

It goes from stove-top to oven, and the Lodge 12-inch skillet has a helper handle to pick up the pan from both ends.

Cast Iron Skillets Like Those Made By Lodge Are Perfect For Various Cooking Methods.

For outdoor enthusiasts or people who live off-grid, Lodge produces high-quality pieces of cast iron that can take direct heat: campfires, outdoor grills, wood-burning ranges, and the usual cooking methods, including ceramic and induction cooking, are compatible with cast iron. 

Lodge Manufacturing cast iron is not too heavy but thick enough not to warp under most cooking circumstances. If you want to read more about the benefits of cast iron, click the link.

I Own And Use The Lodge 10.25 skillet. But I Think The Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet Is The Better Size For Most People. 

The Lodge 12-inch skillet is the most versatile size in the range. It’s a little weighty but not too overwhelming. The cooking surface is large enough to handle most jobs in the kitchen. 

My Lodge is a 10.25-inch skillet perfect to handle cooking for myself. However, an extra two inches adds more flexibility when cooking for more than two. 

For couples, I would still recommend the 12-inch skillet. Frying fish, for example, an extra two inches may be big enough for an extra fish fillet, so you can avoid cooking a second batch.

Is The Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet Right For You?

Perfect For Families	The Lodge 12-inch cast iron skillet is the best size pan for families. The Lodge 10.25-inch skillet is not big enough if you cook for more than two people at a time. And any skillets over 12 inches can be too unwieldy.
Ideal For Couples	This pan is ideal for those living together with a partner. Or those who occasionally cook for more than two people.
Must Have For Entertainers	Choose the long 12-inch skillet as your pan of choice if you like cooking for a crowd or having family gatherings. For you, keeping an extra burner free is just as important as the size of the pan.
Not Suitable For Those Of Distinguished age	I’ll be honest: the pan weighs a lot. And it could be heavy if you do not have strong wrists. However, there is another option available with many benefits of cast iron. And that’s carbon steel.

The Lodge 12-Inch Skillet Is A Good-Looking Pan That Will Last Many Years.

Cast iron owners often pass down their family skillet from generation to generation. Some Lodge pieces still in use are well over a hundred years of age. And I would not be surprised if new pans last even longer since they would be less prone to warping and bowing than the older, thinner pieces.

Finally, the 12-inch Lodge cast iron skillet is a great buy and versatile size. I find the 10.25-inch Lodge skillet I own a perfect size for myself. 

However, I recommend the 12-inch over the 10.25-inch skillet for families and couples. You can cook a small portion of food in a big pan. But it’s hard to cook much food in a small pan.

References

• https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-cast-iron-skillet/
• https://www.lodgecastiron.com/discover/cleaning-and-care/cast-iron/all-about-seasoning
• https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/03/q-a-what-is-pre-seasoned-cookware/index.htm