Lodge 15-Inch Cast-Iron Skillet (Model L14SK3) – Tried-and-True Review
- PFAS-FREE & NON-TOXIC COOKWARE: Lodge cast iron skillets are safe for cooking, free from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE. Crafted in America, the naturally seasoned surface improves with use for easy-release cooking on any cooktop, oven, grill, or open flame.
- SEASONED COOKWARE FOR EASY COOKING: Lodge pre-seasons every pan with 100% natural vegetable oil, giving it a non-stick finish without synthetic chemicals. The more you use your skillet, the better the seasoning becomes for effortless cooking.
- RUST? DON’T PANIC! IT’S NOT BROKEN: If you notice a spot that looks like rust upon arrival, it’s just oil that hasn’t fully carbonized. If rust appears, simply clean with steel wool, dry, and re-season with vegetable oil.
Few kitchen tools inspire lifelong loyalty like a good piece of cast iron—and Lodge’s 15-inch skillet is a literal heavyweight champion. Factory-preseasoned in Tennessee since 1896, this pan sears, bakes, roasts, and even grills with indestructible ease. After six months of weeknight steaks, sourdough pizzas, and campfire cobblers, here’s why it should be the last skillet you ever buy.
Key Specs
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Diameter (rim-to-rim) | 15 in (12 ½-in cooking surface) |
| Depth | 2 ¼ in |
| Weight | 9.8 lb |
| Material | Single-pour cast iron, USA-made |
| Factory seasoning | 100 % non-GMO vegetable oil |
The pour spouts on both sides and a wide, easy-grab helper handle make maneuvering the nearly 10-pound pan surprisingly manageable.
Seasoning & Maintenance
- Out-of-box: Matte black, lightly oiled; ready for bacon test without extra prep.
- Ongoing care: Rinse hot, scrub with chainmail, dry on low burner, wipe ½ tsp neutral oil—done in under two minutes.
- Patina after 20 uses: Deep satin sheen; fried eggs slide free with a butter pat.
- PFAS-FREE & NON-TOXIC COOKWARE: Lodge cast iron skillets are safe for cooking, free from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE. Crafted in America, the naturally seasoned surface improves with use for easy-release cooking on any cooktop, oven, grill, or open flame.
- SEASONED COOKWARE FOR EASY COOKING: Lodge pre-seasons every pan with 100% natural vegetable oil, giving it a non-stick finish without synthetic chemicals. The more you use your skillet, the better the seasoning becomes for effortless cooking.
- RUST? DON’T PANIC! IT’S NOT BROKEN: If you notice a spot that looks like rust upon arrival, it’s just oil that hasn’t fully carbonized. If rust appears, simply clean with steel wool, dry, and re-season with vegetable oil.
Cooking Performance
| Dish | Temp / Method | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Rib-eye steak (1 ¼ in) | 3-min sear per side, finish 400 °F oven | Restaurant-level crust, even medium-rare center |
| Smash burgers (4 patties) | 475 °F stovetop | Uniform Maillard, no cool spots |
| 3-min sear per side, finish in a 400°F oven | 500 °F oven, 12 min | Charred leopard spots, airy crumb |
| Peach cobbler (campfire) | Coal-top + bottom, 40 min | Bubbling edges, evenly baked biscuit topping |
Radiant heat retention is off the charts—surface temp dropped just 18 °F after a cold-steak placement, recovering within 45 seconds.
Versatility Highlights
- Stovetop to 500°F oven to backyard firepit without warping.
- Works on induction, gas, electric, and glass-ceramic (lift, don’t slide, on glass).
- Doubles as a baking steel for sourdough boules—simply invert on the oven rack.
Real-World Praise
With a 4.8 / 5 rating from 18,000+ Amazon cooks, owners celebrate its “heirloom build” and “flawless heat for steak nights.” Outdoors magazines list it among the top campfire tools for 2025, noting its unbeatable durability.
Pros & One Small Caveat
| Pros | Note |
|---|---|
| USA-poured, lifetime-tough cast iron | At 9.8 lb, it’s hefty—store on a lower rack |
| Factory seasoned & ready to cook | |
| Outstanding heat retention & evenness | |
| Spacious 15-in size fits four steaks or a family-size frittata | |
| Dual pour spouts + helper handle for safer lifts |
- PFAS-FREE & NON-TOXIC COOKWARE: Lodge cast iron skillets are safe for cooking, free from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE. Crafted in America, the naturally seasoned surface improves with use for easy-release cooking on any cooktop, oven, grill, or open flame.
- SEASONED COOKWARE FOR EASY COOKING: Lodge pre-seasons every pan with 100% natural vegetable oil, giving it a non-stick finish without synthetic chemicals. The more you use your skillet, the better the seasoning becomes for effortless cooking.
- RUST? DON’T PANIC! IT’S NOT BROKEN: If you notice a spot that looks like rust upon arrival, it’s just oil that hasn’t fully carbonized. If rust appears, simply clean with steel wool, dry, and re-season with vegetable oil.
Verdict
If you want a single pan that sears like cast-iron lore promises, slides effortlessly from stovetop to campfire, and will outlast every non-stick you’ll ever buy, the Lodge 15-Inch Skillet is your forever friend. Give it a quick oil rub after each wash, and it will pay you back with decades—if not generations—of flawless cooking.
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