As a Cookware Editor, I Urge You to Make One Small Upgrade for Healthier Breakfasts This Year – Introducing the Mini Lancaster Cast Iron Skillet

This year, I’ve resolved to eat healthier breakfasts – protein-packed plates of baked eggs, sautéed greens, maybe a little smoked salmon. It’s the kind of routine Gwyneth Paltrow calls a 'boyfriend breakfast.'

This is how the Lancaster Cast Iron Skillet No. 4 (available at retailers like Amazon) ended up in my kitchen. I’ve tested all the major cast iron brands for the Homes & Gardens guide to best cast iron cookware, so I wanted to try this USA-made vintage design for comparison.

I tested the smallest skillet in the Lancaster range during the first week of January 2026. I found it perfectly sized for fried egg breakfasts and side dishes. It’s a small upgrade that makes breakfast time a joy. Free from forever chemicals, too, I now consider the brand some of the best non-toxic cookware you can buy.

Specifications

First Impressions & Design

The first thing you notice is how light it feels for cast iron. Lancaster’s thinner walls mean it heats quickly and evenly, which is ideal for breakfast cooking when you don’t want to wait around for too long.

The interior is pre-seasoned and polished to a smooth finish, which is great for just unboxing and cooking straight away. I immediately noticed the pour spouts, too; very practical if you plan to make sauces in the pan.

One thing to note is that the no.4 skillet is small. I think it's perfectly sized for one or two portions: think crispy fried eggs, sautéed spinach, or a small skillet frittata. If you want to feed a family or have bigger breakfasts/meal prep in mind, Lancaster Cast Iron produces skillets of all different sizes – you should choose a size 8 or above.

Cooking Performance

As a cookware editor, I know that in order to cook and eat well, it's essential to select the best cookware materials for your health. Personally, I reach for pans that are naturally non-toxic and safe to use on high heat without leaching chemicals.

I tested the Lancaster Cast Iron Pan on my induction stove, as well as in a high-heat oven for baked frittatas and cookies. Here are the notes from my test kitchen.

• Fried eggs: the skillet fits about two eggs comfortably. They cooked evenly with gently crisped edges, releasing nicely from the smooth, pre-seasoned surface with the help of my stainless steel spatula.
• Scrambled eggs: a portion for one worked well; the eggs bubbled evenly across the pan, demonstrating even heating. I used low heat to create a creamy, gently cooked dish.
• Frittata: This was my favorite breakfast of the week. I cooked a small frittata for two, with cheese, courgettes, and tomatoes. The veggies cooked evenly with golden edges, and the frittata was baked in the oven for just 10 minutes. The pan was easy to lift in and out of the oven; it was lightweight and comfortable to handle. There was a little sticky mess left in the pan after slicing, but it cleaned up well (more on that in the section below).
• Chicken sausages: proteins browned beautifully and evenly in the Lancaster Cast Iron Pan, though you can only fit a couple at a time in the no.4 model.
• Skillet cookie: Not a healthy breakfast, but I couldn't resist trying a cast-iron dessert. I used chickpea flour, and it baked with a crisp edge and tender centre. I was pleased with the skillet’s versatility, and I enjoyed the small dessert, but larger cookies would require a bigger pan.

Cleaning, Storage & Maintenance

This isn’t a 'wipe-and-you’re-done' pan – and I think it’s important to say that honestly. I got a little frittata stuck to the base (see above), and while it did clean up without too much effort, it wasn’t quite as seamless as some other premium pans I’ve tested.

Soapy warm water, gentle scraping with chain mail, and a quick re-season sorted it. I did notice that the sticking lessened and clean-up got easier throughout the week. That's how it works with cast-iron pans; they get better with use.

After cleaning, you need to carefully dry the pan to avoid rust (we have a guide on how to clean every type of cookware material, if you need more guidance). For storage, the small skillet fits into any drawer or cupboard. It also looks really charming hanging above the stove (there is a loop in the handle for this exact reason!)

How Does it Compare?

Compared to the Lodge Chef Collection Skillet review I wrote in November, the Lancaster Cast Iron Skillet is noticeably smoother and lighter. It feels more refined and responsive, especially for eggs. However, it is much more expensive. You can get a medium -sized Lodge skillet for under $30, but the mini Lancaster pan I tested costs over $100.

I also reviewed the Field Company skillet last year, which is Lancaster Cast Iron’s closest rival. In my opinion, they are pretty neck and neck – especially to the untrained eye. In my chef tests, the Field Company pan edged ahead on easy cleanup (there was practically zero mess left in the pan on the frittata test), but both pans shine in their smooth, vintage feel and the fact that they are crafted in the USA. If you can’t choose between the two brands, I’d probably just pick whichever is more affordable (look out for the sales).

Should You Buy It?

The Lancaster Cast Iron skillet is smooth, durable, lightweight, and thoughtfully made. It’s ideal if you cook a lot of healthy breakfasts, value non-toxic cookware, and want a small pan that heats fast and feels beautiful to use. If you want more versatility or you need to feed a crowd, I'd definitely size up.

How We Test Cookware

The best cookware has to tick all the boxes: versatility, manageable weight, safe materials, brilliant cooking performance, and, crucially, ease of cleaning.

You can read more details about the testing process behind how we test cookware at Homes & Gardens, including how long we test each piece for and specifically which recipes we trial.

Having trained at a professional cookery school and worked as a food writer and recipe editor for some of the world's leading recipe companies, from Mindful Chef to Deliciously Ella, I do have exacting standards.