The cast-iron cookware will serve you for a lifetime. So, finding the correct sized skillet for your use is essential. Cast iron skillets are workhorses, and every kitchen must have these affordable, high-quality skillets that come with a natural nonstick coating. There are different Cast iron skillets sizes on the market, and due to this wide range of sizes, you can use them for cooking various foodstuffs such as sautéing, frying, and baking.
This read is all about different sizes of cast iron skillets, and you can find the right size of cast iron skillet according to your needs.
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Cast Iron Skillet Sizes to make Cooking Easy
Mostly, for home uses, there are three significant sizes that you can consider. Determining which is the perfect size for you mainly depends on how many family members and what you want to cook in the skillet.
For instance, a large piece of steak needs more space than chicken wings. Similarly, if you need the one just to flip or toss pancakes or vegetables while frying them, then the large size cast iron skillet might not be suitable.
Being said that, the most common sizes of cast iron skillet for home uses are as follows:
8 inches Cast iron skillets
For most people, this is the smallest size for home needs. However, if you have a small family or a family of two, this small will work flawlessly. However, to cook large food items, this skillet size might not be enough.
This is a personal-sized pan, which you can use to cook or fry eggs for breakfast or to sauté a few vegetables for the main course. These small cast iron skillets are light-weight, simple to use, and effortless to store.
Normally, you will not find cast iron skillets smaller than 8 inches. On the other hand, if somehow you manage to find any, it will be useless, and you can’t cook in it.
10 inches Cast iron skillets
Probably it is the most used size of cast iron skillets. Ten inches is referred to as a standard size for cast iron pan that offers enough cooking surface than the small 8 inches skillet. This is a versatile size of the skillet that you can use in your kitchen, and it is perfect for searing one or two large pieces of steaks and vegetables together.
Moreover, this skillet size is the best for a family of four. The skillet is light-weight and simple to use as compared to the large size carbon skillets. Lastly, it is practical and the most used size for home purposes.
12 inches Cast Iron Skillets
The next most used size of cast iron pan is 12 inches. It can be useful for large families. In fact, for most homes, we will highly recommend using both 10 inches and 12 inches skillets. In this way, you can cook almost all the items in your kitchen.
A 12 inches cast iron pan offers plenty of space for around 5 to 6 people. Lastly, the unit is ideal for cooking large pieces of steaks and chicken breasts and vegetables together.
Which cast Iron Skillet Sizes is perfect for you?
Here, we will advise you to go for a 12-inch skillet. This will come handy if you use your skillet or you cook a lot of food for your family. If you cook a meal for four or more people on a regular basis, a 12-inch skillet is a right size. If you have a small family and you don’t use a skillet that often, then go for a 10 inches pan. For newly married, an 8-inch pan is a perfect size.
In some cases, you will find cast iron skillets, which are larger than 12 inches, but these sizes are not so common. Skillets that are larger than the 12 inches are suitable for commercial users where food is cooked for groups or batches. These extra-large size cast iron skillets can be heavy for normal users. Similarly, you might face storage issues with these skillets.
Our Verdict
Cast iron skillets are available in various shapes and sizes. The most common and popular are 10 and 12-inch skillet for home cooking. So, we will recommend you to have both so that you can cook whatever you want.
Read more: 10 Best Cast Iron Skillets
Lodge cast Iron Skillet Sizes
The original Lodge cast iron skillet is a flagship brand. The skillets by Lodge are identical to the pans made a century ago. There are various sizes of Lodge cast iron skillets. This pre-seasoned pan comes in sizes between 3.5 inches to 15 inches.
Some commonly used sizes of Lodge cast-iron skillets are as follow:
Lodge 10.5″ Cast Iron Grill Pan
This 10.5-inch skillet by Lodge is ideal for cooking breakfasts. The skillet features cast grooves and attractive grill marks that make draining of oil-free of mess. The cast-iron skillet by Lodge features a teardrop handle. The size is adequate, not too large, and neither too small. You can carry this medium-sized cast iron skillet in a backpack or roof rack.
Lodge Cast Iron Dual Handle Pan of 10.25”, 12”, and 17 inches
The skillet comes in 10.25”, 12”, and 17” sizes, and it is the most popular cast iron skillet of Lodge. As it is available in several sizes, it is suitable for large and small families. The unit is rugged and safe to use on both gas and electric stovetops. The perfect size of the unit allows you to use it on burning fires during a bonfire. Despite of its size, the skillet is easy to handle and carry. Hence it is a favorite of backpackers and campers.
Lodge Cast Iron Cook-It-All 14 inch skillet
As the name states, Lodges Cook-It-All features a 6.8-quart grill and a 14” skillet grill into one handy cast iron cookware. This extra-large cast iron cookware offers great versatility, and you can cook various food items at the same time.
Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
This 12-inch cast iron pan by Lodge is enough for 4 to 5 people. With this large 12 inches cast iron skillet, you will get hot and cold cooking spots along with plenty of space to cook various food items together. This large-sized cast iron skillet can accommodate two large steaks, whole chicken sears, and chicken wings. However, according to some users, it is too heavy, and if you like to toss fried vegetables with one hand, this is not for you.
Learn more: How to Clean Cast Iron Skillet
Final words
Investing in a kitchen tool like cast iron skillet is worthy of your money. This durable and robust piece of cookware can be used to cook almost everything. In this modern era of quick-cooking, cast iron skillets have become necessary, but it will only work when you have the correct size. Of course, there are other vital factors as well, but size should be your top-most priority when buying a cast-iron skillet.
After getting a cast-iron skillet of the correct size, look out for other things such as seasoning. By doing so, your skillet will last for decades or even for a lifetime.
Ensure to bookmark this read for future reference!
Related: Best oil to Season Cast Iron
