The Seasoned Pan

Best Cast Iron Skillets Under $100

A hundred dollars buys three different things in cast iron, and you cannot have all of them: a lid, a layer of enamel, or a second and third pan. Which fork to take, and the pan that makes the decision easy.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

The Lodge Cast Iron Covered Deep Skillet (12" / 5 qt) is the best single cast iron pan under $100, because it is the only pick here that genuinely does two jobs: a 12-inch searing pan and, with its cast iron lid on, a five-quart braiser deep enough to fry in. It is for a household of four or more that would rather own one capable pan than three narrow ones. The budget pick is the 10.25-inch Lodge Classicat under a quarter of the price — the cheapest pan here that does the main job properly, and still the right answer for a lot of people reading this.

What makes this band different from the under-$50 list is not that the pans get better. They do not. It is that a hundred dollars forks three ways and you have to pick one:

A lid — roughly $70 for a 12-inch pan that also braises. Enamel— roughly $53 for a pan with no seasoning routine at all. More pans— roughly $65 for three Lodge sizes at once, which is the option most people under-rate and the one we would take for a first kitchen. You cannot have two of the three inside the ceiling, and no pan at this price cooks better than the $23 one at the bottom of the table.

Every pick carried a live price under $100 at our last price check, November 7, 2026; the stamp beneath each buy button tells you when its number was read. We own none of these pans and have run no tests on them, which this page explains in full.

How this is funded:we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

Quick picks

Ranked on materials, size, finish and buyer fit. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We have not hands-on tested these pans — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forPrice
1
Lodge Cast Iron Covered Deep Skillet (12" / 5 qt)

Lodge Cast Iron Covered Deep Skillet (12" / 5 qt)

The same idea in the size most households actually cook in: a 12-inch pan, five quarts, with a cast iron lid. This is the one to buy for frying chicken, braising eight thighs at once or cooking for four or more, and it is the only covered skillet here with enough depth and surface to do both jobs without crowding. It is also the heaviest thing on this page by a wide margin.

Best overall under $100
$69.90 · View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Lodge 3-Skillet Set (8, 10.25 & 12 in)

Lodge 3-Skillet Set (8, 10.25 & 12 in)

The three skillet sizes almost everyone ends up wanting — 8-inch for eggs, 10.25-inch for everyday, 12-inch for a full batch — bundled at a real discount over buying them one at a time. If you only cook in skillets, this is the smarter set than a mixed kit with pieces you won't use.

Best value: three pans
$64.90 · View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron Skillet with Lid (12")

Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron Skillet with Lid (12")

The only pick that ships with a cast iron lid, which turns a 12-inch skillet into a shallow braiser: self-basting ridges under the lid, a helper handle, pouring lips and a matte black interior, at a mid-range price. The trade is the lowest oven rating on this page at 450°F, hand-wash only by Tramontina's instruction, and a pan-plus-lid weight that Amazon's spec table puts above 15 pounds.

Best enamelled under $100
$52.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Cuisinel Cast Iron Skillet with Lid (12")

Cuisinel Cast Iron Skillet with Lid (12")

A starter bundle more than a single pan: a 12-inch skillet plus a lid, a silicone handle cover, and a pan scraper. The extras are exactly what a first-time cast iron cook keeps reaching for.

Best starter kit
$59.99 · View on Amazon

Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Victoria 13-inch Cast Iron Skillet

Victoria 13-inch Cast Iron Skillet

The value skillet with a proper long handle: pre-seasoned with flaxseed oil, cast in Colombia, and a real step up in comfort from Lodge's shorter grip — for only a little more than the cheapest pans.

Best long handle
$34.99 · View on Amazon

$39.9913% off

Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet (10.25")

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet (10.25")

The default cast iron skillet, and the right first pan for almost everyone: American-made, pre-seasoned, oven-and-campfire proof, and a fraction of the price of the boutique brands. Buy this before you spend more.

Budget pick
$23.38 · View on Amazon

$24.906% off

Price as of November 7, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best overall under $100

Lodge Cast Iron Covered Deep Skillet (12" / 5 qt)

The same idea in the size most households actually cook in: a 12-inch pan, five quarts, with a cast iron lid. This is the one to buy for frying chicken, braising eight thighs at once or cooking for four or more, and it is the only covered skillet here with enough depth and surface to do both jobs without crowding. It is also the heaviest thing on this page by a wide margin.

Who it’s for:four or more people, fried chicken, and anyone who wants to brown then braise without changing pans. Lodge publishes 18.26 x 12.13 x 5.96 in and 14.49 lb with the lid; the uncovered version of the same pan publishes 9.28 lb, so the lid is about 5.2 lb of that. Lodge’s own buttermilk fried chicken recipe is written for a 12-inch cast iron deep skillet with the oil at 350°F, which is exactly what this capacity exists for. It is also the heaviest thing on this page by a wide margin, and that is the reason not to buy it.

Strengths

  • Five quarts and a 12-inch footprint: enough oil depth to shallow-fry and enough floor to brown a full batch first
  • Cast iron lid included, with Lodge's whole heat-source list — stovetop, induction, oven, grill, campfire
  • Made in the USA with the Made Right warranty, at a fraction of enameled-pot money for the same capacity

Trade-offs

  • 14.49 lb with the lid by Lodge's own figure; full of food and fat it is a stovetop-to-oven pan, not a pan you carry far
  • 18.26 in long with the handle, which will not turn freely in a compact or apartment oven
  • Amazon titles it 5 Quart and publishes no diameter; Lodge's 12-inch figure comes from its own page for part L10CF3
TypeBare cast iron
Size12 in / 5 qt (with lid)
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inUSA
Best forFrying and braising for four or more in a single covered pan

The details. Lodge's own page for part L10CF3 publishes 18.26 in long x 12.13 in wide x 5.96 in high and 14.49 lb, with the same feature list as the smaller size: includes cast iron lid, seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, made in the USA without PFAS, compatible with any stovetop (including induction), oven, grill or campfire, hand wash, dry, oil, Made Right warranty, $79.95 list. The uncovered 12-inch deep skillet (part L10DSK3) publishes 9.28 lb, so the lid accounts for roughly 5.2 lb of that total. Lodge's own buttermilk fried chicken recipe is written for a 12-inch cast iron deep skillet with the oil at 350°F, which is what this capacity is for.

Specs read from the product listing, on October 1, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2Best value: three pans

Lodge 3-Skillet Set (8, 10.25 & 12 in)

The three skillet sizes almost everyone ends up wanting — 8-inch for eggs, 10.25-inch for everyday, 12-inch for a full batch — bundled at a real discount over buying them one at a time. If you only cook in skillets, this is the smarter set than a mixed kit with pieces you won't use.

Who it’s for:a kitchen starting from nothing. Eight inches for eggs, 10.25 for everyday, 12 for a full batch — the three sizes almost everyone ends up wanting, bundled below the cost of buying them separately. Lodge publishes 3.44, 5.66 and 7.69 lb for those sizes, so you also get a light pan for the days you do not want to lift the big one. This is the fork we would take with a hundred dollars and no cast iron at all.

Strengths

  • The three most-used sizes in one box, at a lower price than buying them separately
  • American-made and pre-seasoned across all three pans
  • No filler pieces — every pan earns its place on the stove

Trade-offs

  • All skillets, so no griddle or dutch oven if you wanted the variety
  • Three pans of iron is a lot of weight and storage at once
TypeBare cast iron
Size8 / 10.25 / 12 in
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inUSA
Best forCooks who want a full range of skillet sizes and nothing else

The details. Lodge lists an 8-inch, 10.25-inch and 12-inch pre-seasoned skillet set, PFAS-free and seasoned with natural vegetable oil. Standard bare cast iron care applies to each pan.

Specs read from the product listing, on August 7, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#3Best enamelled under $100

Tramontina Bestow Enameled Cast Iron Skillet with Lid (12")

The only pick that ships with a cast iron lid, which turns a 12-inch skillet into a shallow braiser: self-basting ridges under the lid, a helper handle, pouring lips and a matte black interior, at a mid-range price. The trade is the lowest oven rating on this page at 450°F, hand-wash only by Tramontina's instruction, and a pan-plus-lid weight that Amazon's spec table puts above 15 pounds.

Who it’s for: cooks who want a 12-inch pan that doubles as a shallow braiser and never want to season anything. Tramontina publishes a matte black porcelain-enamel interior, self-basting condensation ridges under the lid, a cast stainless knob, pouring lips and a helper handle. Three real limits, stated: oven-safe to 450°F, the lowest ceiling on this page; hand-wash only by Tramontina’s own instruction, despite enamel usually being the dishwasher-friendly option; and Amazon’s table puts the boxed pan and lid above 15 lb.

Strengths

  • Cast iron lid with self-basting condensation ridges and a cast stainless steel knob — the only lidded pick here
  • Matte black porcelain-enamel interior, pouring lips and a helper handle; 12 inches feeds four
  • Sold by Amazon itself and in stock on the day we checked, in several colors

Trade-offs

  • Oven-safe to 450°F, the lowest rating on this page, and Tramontina says hand-wash only
  • Amazon's spec table gives 15.26 lb for pan and lid together; Tramontina publishes no weight or dimensions at all
  • Made in China, and Tramontina's own site showed the Cobalt version sold out when we visited
TypeEnameled cast iron
Size12 in (with lid)
SeasoningNone needed (enameled)
Induction-safeYes
Made inChina
Best forA 12-inch enameled skillet that doubles as a braiser

The details. Tramontina's own page for the covered Bestow skillet states heavy-gauge cast iron, a matte black porcelain-enamel interior, self-basting condensation ridges on the lid, a cast stainless steel knob, pouring lips, a helper handle, gas, electric and ceramic-glass cooktops, oven-safe to 450°F, hand-wash only, and made in China; it publishes no weight, dimensions or warranty. Amazon's listing for the Latte version (part 80131/082DS) adds induction to the cooktop list, calls the alloy HT150 cast iron, and gives 15.26 lb and 14.75 x 9.63 x 7.25 in for the boxed pan and lid. Cast iron is ferromagnetic, so the induction row reads Yes on the listing's word and the physics, not on Tramontina's page, which does not mention it.

Specs read from the product listing, on September 17, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#4Best starter kit

Cuisinel Cast Iron Skillet with Lid (12")

A starter bundle more than a single pan: a 12-inch skillet plus a lid, a silicone handle cover, and a pan scraper. The extras are exactly what a first-time cast iron cook keeps reaching for.

Who it’s for:a first-time cast iron cook who wants the useful extras in the box rather than in a second order — a 12-inch skillet, a lid, a silicone handle cover and a pan scraper. The scraper and the handle cover are genuinely the two things new owners reach for most. Note Cuisinel’s own care page caps its silicone handles and glass lids at 350°F, so the grip comes off before the pan goes in a hot oven.

Strengths

  • Comes with a lid, silicone hot-handle cover and a scraper
  • The handle cover takes the fear out of the hot handle
  • Good value once you count the accessories

Trade-offs

  • Pan quality is budget-import, not heirloom
  • The lid is handy but adds weight and storage bulk
TypeBare cast iron
Size12 in
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inNot published
Best forA first cast iron kit with the useful extras included

The details. Sold as a set: skillet, lid, silicone handle holder and a pan scraper. Pre-seasoned budget cast iron; care is the standard wash-dry-oil routine, and the scraper handles stuck-on bits without soap.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 19, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#5Best long handle

Victoria 13-inch Cast Iron Skillet

The value skillet with a proper long handle: pre-seasoned with flaxseed oil, cast in Colombia, and a real step up in comfort from Lodge's shorter grip — for only a little more than the cheapest pans.

Who it’s for:anyone who finds Lodge’s short grip uncomfortable on a full pan. Victoria casts in Colombia, seasons with flaxseed oil, and its longer angled handle is a real ergonomic difference rather than a styling one — thirteen inches of pan balances better on a long lever. It leaves most of the band unspent, which is the point of including it.

Strengths

  • Longer handle than a same-size Lodge, so it balances better full
  • Pre-seasoned with flaxseed oil out of the box
  • Inexpensive for a large 13-inch skillet

Trade-offs

  • As-cast surface is textured like most budget pans
  • Long handle means it won't fit a small oven as neatly
TypeBare cast iron
Size13 in
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inColombia
Best forBudget buyers who want a longer, more comfortable handle

The details. Victoria casts in Colombia and seasons with flaxseed oil; the standout feature is a longer, angled handle. Bare cast iron care applies throughout.

Specs read from the product listing, on August 7, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#6Budget pick

Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet (10.25")

The default cast iron skillet, and the right first pan for almost everyone: American-made, pre-seasoned, oven-and-campfire proof, and a fraction of the price of the boutique brands. Buy this before you spend more.

Who it’s for:the reader who suspects this whole page is overthinking it. Named the budget pick because it is the cheapest pan here that does the main job in full: 10.25 inches, 5.66 lb by Lodge’s own table, made in Tennessee, pre-seasoned, rated by Lodge for hob, induction, oven, grill and campfire. Buying this and keeping the other seventy-five dollars is a defensible outcome.

Strengths

  • Sand-cast in the USA and pre-seasoned, so it's usable out of the box
  • The 10.25" size fits two servings, cornbread, or a whole roast chicken
  • Cheap enough that you can add sizes without thinking hard about it

Trade-offs

  • Around 5 lb — noticeably heavy when you're flipping one-handed
  • The cast finish is pebbled, not machined smooth; it slicks up with use
TypeBare cast iron
Size10.25 in
Pre-seasonedYes
Induction-safeYes
Made inUSA
Best forMost people buying their first (or main) skillet

The details. Bare cast iron: no enamel to chip, safe from stovetop to a 500°F oven to a campfire. The factory seasoning is vegetable oil; it improves the more you cook fat in it. Dry it and wipe on a little oil after each wash.

Specs read from the product listing, on September 8, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

Which fork should you take?

Take the set if you own no cast iron. Three sizes change what you cook far more than one nicer pan does, and the 8-inch is the one that gets used on weekday mornings when the 12-inch stays in the cupboard.

Take the lidif you already own a skillet and keep hitting the point where a recipe says “cover and simmer”. A lidded deep pan is the cheapest way to add braising and deep frying to a kitchen without buying a Dutch oven — though if braising is the main event, the pot is the better buy, and Dutch ovens under $100 is the right page.

Take the enamelonly if the seasoning habit is genuinely what has stopped you owning cast iron. It is a two-minute routine, not a chore, and giving it up costs you the 500°F-plus headroom bare iron has: the enamelled 12-inch above is rated to 450°F, and Lodge publishes no ceiling at all for bare iron because there effectively is not one. Enamelled vs bare cast iron is the full comparison.

What a hundred dollars still does not buy

A machined-smooth cooking surface or a light casting. Those begin at roughly $135 — Field’s No. 6 publishes 3 lb and a polished surface — and run to $230 for a Finex or an enamelled Le Creuset. If that is what you are circling, the lightweight skillets page and the Smithey alternatives page are the honest next reads. Nothing in this band is smooth from the factory, and every bare pan here slicks up with use instead.

Weight is the spec that decides whether you use it

Lodge is one of the few brands publishing a weight for every size, and this band spans a lot of it: 3.44 lb for the 8-inch in the set, 5.66 lb at 10.25 inches, 7.69 lb at 12, and 14.49 lb once you add a cast iron lid to a 12-inch deep pan. A pan you cannot lift one-handed out of a hot oven is a pan you stop reaching for. Our size guide turns those figures into a buying decision.

Where the rest of the site picks up

For the widest view of the category, the skillet roundup ranks every pan we cover at every price. For a cast iron kitchen rather than a cast iron pan, best cast iron cookware works out which pieces earn their space. And for the one pan that appears at the bottom of nearly every list here, there is now a full review of the Lodge Classic.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best cast iron skillet under $100?

The 12-inch Lodge covered deep skillet, because it is the only pan in the band that works as a searing skillet and as a five-quart braiser. If you own no cast iron at all, the three-pan Lodge set is the better use of the same money, because three sizes change what you cook more than one capable pan does.

Is a $100 cast iron skillet better than a $25 one?

Not at cooking. Everything in this band is the same metal as the $25 pan, and once seasoned they brown food the same way. What the extra money buys inside $100 is a cast iron lid, a layer of enamel, or more than one pan — capability, not quality. Smoother and lighter castings start at around $135.

Should I buy one good pan or a cast iron set?

A set, if you are starting from nothing and the bundle costs less than the pieces. An all-skillet trio gives you 8, 10.25 and 12 inches, and the small one gets used far more than people expect. Buy a single pan instead if you already own a skillet and want to add a specific capability like a lid.

How hot can an enameled cast iron skillet go?

It depends on the pan, and you have to read the listing. The 12-inch enamelled Tramontina in this band publishes 450°F, which is below the temperature a lot of cornbread and roasting recipes call for. Lodge publishes no oven ceiling for bare cast iron because there is effectively not one — that headroom is the main thing enamel costs you.

Sources

  • Lodge Cast Iron — Cast Iron Deep Skillet (no lid) — Lodge's own page for the UNCOVERED version of the same deep skillet, cited so the weight of the lid can be read off the maker's own figures rather than estimated. 10.25 Inch / 3.2 Quart (part L8DSK3): 16.56 in long, 10.5 in wide, 3.06 in high, 6.39 lb, $35.95. 12 inch (part L10DSK3): 9.28 lb, $49.95. Same features as the covered version minus the lid line (accessed October 1, 2026)
  • Lodge Cast Iron — Classic Cast Iron Skillets — Lodge's own listing for the classic skillet line, with a per-size spec table: 6.5 in 1.94 lb, 8 in 3.44 lb, 10.25 in 5.66 lb, 12 in 7.69 lb, 13.25 in 10.5 lb, 15 in 12.3 lb. States the line is compatible with any stovetop including induction, plus oven, grill or campfire; seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil; made in the USA. No oven temperature ceiling is published for bare iron (accessed September 18, 2026)
  • Tramontina — Bestow 12 Inch Enameled Cast Iron Skillet with Lid — Tramontina's own page for the covered Bestow skillet (SKU 80131/068DS shown for Gradated Cobalt; Latte, Sunrise, Cactus and Smoke are the same pan): heavy-gauge cast iron, matte black porcelain-enamel interior, self-basting condensation ridges on the lid, cast stainless steel knob, pouring lips, helper handle, gas, electric and ceramic-glass cooktops, oven-safe to 450°F, hand-wash only, made in China. Tramontina's site listed the Cobalt SKU as sold out on the day we visited; no weight, dimensions or warranty is published (accessed September 17, 2026)
  • Cuisinel — Care & Use — Cuisinel's own care page, and the source of the one number its Amazon listings never mention: "Cuisinel silicone handles and glass lids are oven safe up to 350°F", against the 500°F the pans themselves are rated to on their listings. Also published verbatim: the cookware is "built to last a lifetime - and beyond" and "needs to be treated with love, care and respect"; "SEASON, SEASON, SEASON!"; wipe after each use with a "high smoke-point oil (sunflower, vegetable, canola or flaxseed oil)" but not "dripping in oil, as this will create a sticky surface"; to season fully, "cook at 400 -degrees for 45 minutes to an hour"; "You may use soap"; "Do not clean in dishwasher or fully immerse in water"; and "DO NOT airdry, as airdrying is guaranteed to rust cast iron" - instead heat over medium until all moisture evaporates. "Silicone handle grips may get hot and are not to be used in lieu of oven mitts." The page says nothing about induction or cooktop compatibility and nothing about where the cookware is made (accessed October 22, 2026)
  • Lodge Cast Iron — Buttermilk Fried Chicken — Lodge's own fried chicken recipe: cooked in a 12-inch cast iron deep skillet, oil heated to 350°F, chicken cooked to an internal 165°F (accessed September 18, 2026)

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