Lodge 12" Cast Iron Skillet - Chef Collection - Perfect Sear - Ergonomic Handles - Superior Heat Retention - Cast Iron Cookware & Skillet

Excellent skillet! It is very heavy but I have been wanting one for ages. I have seasoned it three times even though it came preseasoned. It works beautifully! I also purchased the cover for the pan, again very heavy as well as a handle grip made out of silicone so when Iam cooking, I can hold the handle without worrying about burning myself. I use avocado oil to seal my pan and cover as it tolerates high heat. I recommend this product. If you want a cast iron pan, but do not like the weight of a 12” pan, then choose a small pan.

I ordered the Lodge 12" Cast Iron Skillet - Chef Collection because I was tired of looking at flea markets etc for something similar but overpriced. I wanted to buy an old one because of all the bad I've heard about the newer ones. Like the bottoms are to rough, not smooth like the old ones so food is more likely to stick, and the bottoms are warped, and the metal is not good and they don't distribute heat well and a whole host of other bad news about new cast iron.I ordered this one because there were a lot of good reviews on Amazon, and also from professional chefs that compare and review cookware, where this skillet got great reviews in comparisons against similar cookware at sometimes many times the price.Things I like are lower sides, great pour spouts that work without drips, short handle, extra handle/grip comes in handy for moving from stove top to oven with heavy roast in it, and overall lighter weight.The pan came somewhat seasoned and in great condition, just like I would expect. The bottom inside was a little grainy but I also expected that. The bottom was flat and sets perfect on my glass top range. The short handle makes it easy to pickup and control when moving around.I started off with some bacon, then fried a couple of eggs in the grease from that. I had the grease hot when I put the eggs in so the didn't have a chance to stick. I poured of the grease with excellent accuracy from one of the pour spouts. I wiped the pan out with paper towels and put it in the oven at 350 and shut it off after an hour and left it to cool. After that ground beef and, breakfast sausage, more fried eggs and things like that, using it every chance I got. I braised a roast and had a little char left on the bottom. After cooling some I poured in a little water and heated it a little on the burner the left to cool. A quick rinse and wipe out with a little soap on a dish cloth and it was the best it had been.I have been using it for about 6 weeks now, sometimes cooking things in it would normally do in the oven or on the grill just to keep the seasoning process moving. The bottom is now much smoother on the inside than it was in the beginning. Fried eggs over easy are no problem. Heat distribution is great, and it heats up quickly. It cooks hotter than other pans I have at the same setting on the burner. This is my favorite pan now and I won't be afraid to by new lodge pans in the future.

This is cast iron. It is heavy duty. Heats evenly and stays ripping hot. The size is perfect. The two handles are just right to steadily maneuver a hot skillet full of food. But it is cast iron, and I would not call it easy to use when compared to other lighter non-stick pans. But as long as you can follow all of the care instructions, it will last forever.

Excellent quality, easy to clean, lid fits well, and not as heavy as most the same size.

Perfect pan for the kitchen and camping. So big I can warm a large burrito-size tortilla in it. Will hold half a dozen chicken thighs. Sides are tall enough (but not too tall) to allow protein to simmer with vegetables and broth. I bought the red silicone handle separately and that was a good move. I recomend this pan highly.

My skillet is very good, with a few caveats. The shape is good. I like the more curved bottom to side transition. The factory seasoning is good. Minimal sticking from the beginning. The two issues I have are with bottom. The first is that it’s not flat. It bulges up slightly towards the center. The second is that it has more texture than I prefer. It hasn’t interfered with cooking yet, but it’s noisy enough to be annoying when I use my metal spatula. I’d buy it again if it wandered away, but not if it broke, though this seems extremely unlikely.

Great skillet. No worries about stick free cancer causing particles....I like the two handles, and the easy pour, built in.

Who doesn't love cast iron! If you don't already, this is a great first piece.