Outsider Reviews: 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillets

Two cast iron skillets go head-to-head in the Outsider test kitchen: Lodge Chef 12-Inch Skillet vs. Smithey Ironware No. 12 Skillet.

[BornIn]

Lodge's website says their standard 12" is 7.9 pounds. You got the "Chef Collection" Lodge 12" skillet, which they say is 6.55 pounds. It's important to make that distinction.

[Dylandesuu]

One factor for me, which is why I went with the Smithey 12 inch, was because the beauty of it makes me WANT to use it. So many kitchen tools we buy, we end up not using or use sparingly because deep down we don't love what we're using. The Smithey changed that for me; I actually get up wanting to cook in cast iron every day because of how much I love the look of it. The price of a tool is worth it when you love using it, rather than leaving it hanging on the wall because you don't love it.

[luisj.castironcooking]

The Lodge in your head to head is a chef skillet and the Smithey is not. Smithey does offer chef skillets as well. A similar comparison would have been better with a similar skillet. Either way great video and great info.

[StellaWaldvogel]

Watching you cook those pancakes, it looked like the Smithey heats a lot more evenly. Lodge is a great pan for the price and it does the job, but the best I've used are Butter Pat and the old Griswolds. Butter Pat heats the most evenly out of all, Consumer Reports tested that.
Good video. I hope you revisit these pans when the seasoning is built up and do another.

[TroutSniffa]

That looks like a 12 inch lodge chef collection skillet. The traditional lodge 12 inch is even more like the smithy. Straight walls. Straight handle. And the straight walls make the cooking surface a tiny bit bigger. It’s minuscule but you get the point. Good video!

[dbkfrogkaty]

Hey man that's fine video review! I'm with you bro. I have the Lodge 12" Chef Collection skillet. As a matter of fact, I also have the 8" and 10" Chef Collection skillets as well. I've had them for years and they are all well seasoned and well used. One thing I would mention is if you cook a nice thick steak in the 12" skillet and like to spoon butter (with garlic) over your steak as it cooks, the curved sides make it so much easier!

[gwdriver]

It can be a little challenging to build up the seasoning on the Smithey but worth it. All of that metal makes it an excellent choice for searing a steak and finishing it in the oven.

[johnagen]

That was a great video! When I think of cast iron it just has to be lodge! Lodge is a historic american icon! Love lodge!!!! However if lodge was never a thing my second choice would be smithey! Great video!

[MBDronePhoto]

I am impressed you can hold the beast up with one hand for the thumbnail...lol Love my Smithey. The 6 inch is great for small one meal baking needs. The griddle is perfect for grill cheese as well.

[wreckingopossum]

My Lodge 12" skillet was $24.90 at Walmart and I bought a braising lid for $24.99 at Academy.
The skillet from Smithey Ironware looks pretty but I cannot see a performance difference here that would make me spend $140 for the 12" chef skillet or $160 for the 12" one in this video (Prices taken from Smithey Ironware website on Thursday, March 31st, 2022)

[harwood]

The Smithey’s extra 1 1/2 lbs is more thermal mass, is more temperature stable! The Smithey has a heat ring, Lodge doesn’t! The Smithey is head and shoulders better when you need a cast iron pan, having said that, the Lodge is clearly the better “value” and by a long shot! 😭

[jimmill]

They have shown in some test that heat distributes better in smithey your pancakes really showed that it also took longer to cool down because it holds heat longer aso lot of reviews also people have stated that smithey cleaned up easier I just wonder if you cooked 30 days with smithey and lodge and then retested if you would see difference they say onces you finally get smooth service seasoned well it really makes the difference

[coreykelly]

I still would go for smithey only because it’s smoother than the Lodge cast iron

[SMFG]

Side question: what brand of breakfast sausage patty is that? I'm always looking. Thanks. Great video and review, too.

[timkerwin]

I agree with your assesment. If the Smithey was $100 I would choose it

[Denverscorpio]

That $200 pan brand won't be around as long as lodge. Lodge has been around since the 1800's. $200 ? I'd rather buy a vintage Griswold. 👍🏻 great review.

[joshuarosen]

From your video it looks like the Smithey has a ridge on the bottom. That makes it a non starter for smooth top stoves, it is fine for gas but not for smooth tops.

[bradtowne]

Why would you compare the Lodge skillet that is not the equivalent?

[rstumbaugh]

LOL…I love Lodge, have quite a bit of it. I also have a few pieces of the other USA made companies, and if I’m paying $200……ITS NOT ONLY GETTING HUNG ON THE WALL, THAT BABY GETTING USED!!!!🤣🤣🤣

[richardday]

We got it, you like hanging skillet's on the wall..