Best cast iron cookware: cast iron pans, skillets, Dutch ovens and more

Working with the best cast iron cookware can feel daunting at first.  How do I season it? How do I clean it? It's so heavy! But anyone who has cooked with cast iron, immediately notices its unparalleled heat retention, natural, non-stick properties that only get better with use, and ability to sear and brown your meats to a Michelin-star quality perfection.

For the last decade or so, cast iron's popularity has been surging as people rediscover the benefits of cooking with cast iron that other cookware just can't provide. Cast iron is free of any chemically produced coatings, can add iron to your food, and is considered more sustainable and eco-friendly. It also helps meats achieve a perfect browning or sear and breads and other baked goods develop a coveted golden outer crust. Perhaps of most interest, when maintained correctly, it could be the last cast iron skillet you ever buy, giving debate to new versus old cast iron. 

We've even noticed a cult following surrounding cooking and collecting heirloom quality cast iron. Now, if you can't get your hands on vintage cast iron, the following cast iron cookware pieces from skillets to Dutch ovens will bring your recipes to new heights. Alongside the best non-stick frying pans, consider your kitchen officially well-stocked for all your cooking endeavors. 

Best cast iron cookware 

The classic Dutch Oven is the hallmark of any Le Creuset enthusiast's collection, pleasing home chefs and professionals alike as one of the most versatile pieces you can own, as you move from stovetop to oven to serving at the table. 

The 5.5-quart size is one of Le Creuset's most popular sizes, and can comfortably feed 4-6,  followed by the 6 3/4 Qt. 

A Dutch oven is essential for everything from slow cooking stews to roasting chicken with Le Creuset's signature design offers even heat distribution and solid heat retention. The heavy-duty lid helps seal in heat and moisture. 

Each Dutch oven is sand-cast, polished and finished by hand, then sprayed with two coats of enamel and fired twice.

These stylish, durable Dutch ovens offer the reliable results of enameled cast iron while doubling as a fun and festive serving dishes. Perfect for slow cooking everything from soups and sauces to chili and chowder. With a wide range of sizes and vibrant colors, you’re sure to find just the right one–whether you’re making dinner for two or serving a holiday feast.

Heavy-duty lids create a solid seal to retain heat and moisture and integrated cast iron handles ensure easy transport.

Have you met The Dutchess, the internet's new Dutch Oven darling from DTC company Great Jones? If you aren't oohing over the matte emerald green above, we're sure you'll fall in love with any of the seven other colors named after food from the new bubblegum Taffy to an on-trend Mustard. 

Colors and aesthetics aside (we love the adorable copper knob), let's talk about how this thing bakes. The roomy 6 3/4-qt. oven has an oval shape for ample space for browning and searing, while the signature gray interior is light enough to see butter brown but dark enough to hide stains. Plus, it was insanely easy to wipe clean.  The handles are surprisingly roomy and easy enough to lift from the oven to the table, while the top fits nice and snug to help retain my dish's moisture. It's also dishwasher safe, which is rare for cast iron. We haven't dared to try that just yet, but if you're in a rush, it's a convenient feature. 

Now, we do have to note that during transit, the handle crumbled, an issue which the customer experience team hadn't really seen before (freak accident, perhaps). They were swift to replace the unit and make things right, so we could get to baking bread and roasting chicken. 

For a kitchen workhorse that can handle a range of recipes, the Staub All-Day pan (also known as the Staub Cast Iron Braiser with Glass Lid) multi-purposes as a skillet, sauté pan, roaster, gratin, casserole, and baker, and like, any cast iron product, goes from cooktop to oven to table with ease.  The design is a heritage design from the vault, created in partnership with chefs. It features curved vintage  “ear” handles for a secure, comfortable grip

The 3.5 qt. the vessel has a deep rim for cooking up casseroles and stews but is also just as handy excellent for braising and searing and a wide, flat base for maximum food contact. The All-Day pan features Staub's signature dark interior enamel that is slightly textured for better browning and requires no seasoning to maintain. A tight-fitting domed glass lid retains moisture and lets you monitor food as you cook. 

It's really the perfect in-between for a Dutch Oven and a skillet, making it ideal for those who want to do more with fewer supplies. The only negative response we've seen is that some found it too big to store easily, and well, at 11 lb., this pan is heavy. 

When it comes to pre-seasoned cast iron cookware, Lodge is a household name that proves you don't have to spend a fortune or compromise on quality. Whether you're a newbie to cooking with cast iron or know how to season your cookware like a pro, Lodge appeals to cooks of all backgrounds and skill levels.

The Lodge cast iron pans are unfussy and durably made, with the non-stick improving with use. They arrive pre-seasoned, though you are responsible for their upkeep. They're great for everyday use from searing steaks to frying eggs. It's even deep enough for frying. 

Those accustomed to smooth, vintage cast iron may be taken back by Lodge's rough, textured finish. The textured surface is a byproduct of today's manufacturing standards that dropped the polishing process in exchange for a more affordable process. Advocates of the rough surface however claim that it helps seasoning oils adhere better to improve its non-stick properties. 

It does have a slightly shorter handle than we're used to, but the helper handle makes carrying easy, as does the addition of the silicone handle holder to prevent accidentally burning yourself. 

Inspired by a vintage Wagner pan, two brothers set out to understand the secrets to amazing cast iron, which led to the founding of Field Company and a cast iron skillet that molds a nostalgia for vintage heirloom-quality pieces with modern engineering. 

The #8, Field Company's original and most popular size, is a 10 1/4" fry pan that weighs just 4.5 lbs. Comparatively, a pan of a similar size from say Lodge or Le Creuset will weigh over 5 pounds. A smooth machined polish during manufacturing helps reduce the weight of the cast iron, increases the fineness of the form, and provides a smooth cooking surface. It also arrives ready to go and fully seasoned with two coats of grapeseed oil seasoning. 

This particular size handled dishes with ease from searing steaks then transferring them directly to the oven to whipping up a portion of hash browns with just the right amount of crisp. Clean-up wasn't too tough either, and it will only get easier over time since cast iron builds up its non-stick over time with use. 

Another reason to love Field Company? Field Company also remelts scrap iron for future pours, with each pan featuring recycled iron. 

Bring that outdoor flavor indoors for grilling up burgers and chicken filets with ease. Staub's Pure Grill Pan features high grilling ridges result in perfect grill marks and allow fat to drain for healthier cooking, while the enameled cast iron surface creates excellent heat retention and doesn't require any extra seasoning. It's also pretty nifty for grilling veggies and making toasty paninis. 

Handles on both sides enable you to get a firm grip on what you're cooking while the round 10.5" size fits comfortably on burners and is large enough to cook pizzas and grill. Plus, the grill pan stores easily due to its almost flat design.

Almost everyone we know loves their Staub grill pan and how well it prepared their meals, but the biggest downfall, is almost unavoidable... those ridges make it a little bit more involved to clean.  

For all your baking and roasting needs, Chasseur's Au Gratin Dish is oven safe up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit and delivers the perfect top layer of crisp crust and a thoroughly, even heated dish cooked to perfection. Like the rest of the historical brand, it's constructed with a double layer of enamel cast iron, black on the edges to protect from corrosion, with a glossy finish on the inside. 

Because cast iron retains heat so well, baking with cast iron for everything from casseroles to dinner rolls, and even sweet treats will make sure your recipe is evenly cooked throughout, while the slick enameled surface keeps food from sticking, and is easier to wipe clean. Plus, since it can move so easily from oven to stove, you're open to a new realm of possibilities.

For some households, a wok is just as essential as a skillet or a pot for killer stir frys, deep-frying, or fresh veggie steams and sautes. So, why not go the cast-iron route? 

Lodge's roomy 14" wok from its Pro Logic line uses large handles with a flat base for easier handling, but with a deep design to minimize splatters and to easily mix ingredients. It can hold up to .68 qt. Like Lodge skillets, it comes pre-seasoned out of the box, offers excellent heat retention, and is safe on induction cooktops and the oven.  It can be on the heavier side to maneuver, and some reviewers comment that they wish it came with a lid.  

Sauces made lovingly from scratch deserve an equally beloved saucepan for you to craft your magic. The Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Saucepan is available in two sizes ( 1.75 qt. and 2.25 qt.) and its extensive color options. 

The high, sloped sides will reduce opportunity or spills onto your cooktop, and the tight-fitting lid is handy for locking in moisture and heat. Whether you're simmering the perfect pasta sauce, reducing a broth, or putting together a gravy, choose a cast-iron saucepan for its versatility and even heating.

While acidic foods like tomatoes and wine tend to react poorly with cast iron after prolonged exposure and can leach the metal food taste into your food, you're safe to make marinara and wine-based sauces to your heart's content with Le Creuset's saucepan. The enamel coating protects against acidic properties, but still brings out the very best qualities of cooking liquids in cast iron.  Though, at over six pounds, a full saucepan could be heavy to lift over for pouring.