Lodge Cast Iron Review

About Lodge Cast Iron

Before you bring the heat in the kitchen, make sure you have the right cookware for your culinary journey. Don’t settle for medi-okra tools! 

Lodge Cast Iron’s extensive line of enamelled and/or seasoned cast iron, carbon steel, heat-treated serveware, and stoneware kitchen essentials are sure to stand up to the test of any of your kitchen nightmares (or dreams). 

The company has won the approval of nearly 345k followers on Instagram and almost 770k followers on Facebook. Not to mention, they’ve been featured by reputable media outlets such as the NY Times, NBC News, Today, and many more.

There are patents on a large number of Lodge Cast Iron’s iconic products, and its initial foundry was awarded the Tennessee Governor’s Award for Excellence in Hazardous Waste Reduction in the mid-1990s.

We know that you are anxious to stop cooking with flimsy kitchenware, but before you press the ‘checkout’ button, read our Lodge Cast Iron review. We made sure to pack it full of useful tips and tricks, answers to FAQs, customer ratings, descriptions of bestsellers, and more. In the end, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about whether the brand is worth your buy.

Overview of Lodge Cast Iron

The year was 1896 when Joseph Lodge started the Blacklock Foundry, a producer of cast iron products, in his hometown of South Pittsburg, Tennessee. 

Disaster struck when the foundry burned down in the early 1900s. But from the flames, Lodge Cast Iron emerged. The company has since been a trusted and valued brand in the cookware industry. It currently operates from two locations in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, which has been its home since its conception. 

Although it isn’t explicitly stated on the site, the brand only ships within the US but has distributors all over the world. Before we dive into the depths of our Lodge Cast Iron review, stew on these pros and cons first:

Pros

• Impressive range of cast iron cookware and kitchen accessories 
• Tried, trusted, and established brand with a good reputation
• Global distributors give buyers all over the world access to Lodge products
• Fantastic reviews 
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Affordable cookware 
• Highly-informative website 

Cons

• Limited stock due to pandemic 
• Limited shipping through the website 
• No loyalty program/not many discounts offered at this time 

Lodge Cast Iron Cookware Review

Lodge Cast Iron cookware is some of the most durable and trusted cookware on the market. See what all the hype is about by checking out some of these bestsellers featured on the brand’s website. 

Lodge Cast Iron 2 Quart Serving Pot Review

Customers said, “Hit me with your best pot,” and Lodge Cast Iron delivered with the 2 Quart Serving Pot, which the brand claims is ideal for cooking dinner for two. The versatile model features dual handles for easy carrying and a sturdy lid with a handle closure.

In terms of Lodge Cast Iron seasoning, using pure vegetable oil would do. When treated properly, the pot performs fantastically well on induction cooktops. 

This Lodge Cast Iron pot sells for $40, but it’s also available in sizes 1, 5 and 7 for those who require different sizes. 

Lodge Cast Iron 6 Quart Blue Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven Review

The 6 Quart Blue Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven is ideal for those nights on which you feel too lazy to use a bunch of different cookware pieces. The one-pot-wonder features a stainless steel knob on the lid, along with stainless steel handles for safe carry. 

Buy your Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven in one of seven beautiful colors for $90, each which comes with six pot protectors to ensure it remains damage-free. 

Lodge Cast Iron 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet Review

No, we are not talking about the rock band formed in 1996 when we say ‘Skillet’. The Lodge 12 Inch Cast Iron Skillet is a US-made beauty that is great for producing one-skillet meals or cooking the perfect piece of steak. 

The Lodge Cast Iron Skillet is seasoned with pure vegetable oil, which will ensure durability, an even cook, and a non-stick surface for any of your recipes. Find it on the brand website for $28. 

Lodge Cast Iron 20 x 10.5 Inch Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle Review

Grill you be having people over for dinner? Perhaps you should use the 20 x 10.5 Inch Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle to cook up some juicy cuts of meat. This Lodge Cast Iron grill promises a restaurant-quality sear with its 20-inch double burner design that fits over two stovetop burners. 

You can take it camping, or throw a barbecue in nice weather. Multitasking has never looked so delicious and more affordable! The 20 x 10.5 Inch Cast Iron Reversible Grill/Griddle costs $60 a pop. 

Lodge Cast Iron 10.5 Inch Cast Iron Griddle Review

One of the worst kitchen nightmares is having hot batter or oil flying everywhere, acting like tiny delicious meteorites that are hell-bent on searing your delicate skin. 

Lodge Cast Iron’s 10.5 Inch Cast Iron Griddle features the smooth, seasoned flat surface you want from your griddle, with raised edges to ensure that all the good stuff stays where it should. 

Get to pancake flippin’ for only $20. 

Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill Review 

I bet you wish you had one of these at your last cookout. The Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill is the entertainer/barbecue master’s best friend with its durable charcoal hibachi-esque design. 

The grill is elevated with a built-in draft door to enhance and adjust airflow and a secure flip-down door for easy charcoal replacement. Next time you are in charge of the hot dogs, wow the crowd with this $150 wonder. 

Lodge Cast Iron 9 Inch Cast Iron Mini Wok Review 

Take a wok on the cast iron side with the 9 Inch Cast Iron Mini Wok. The deep, sloping design of the piece makes it perfect for filling to the brim with tasty side dishes or one-pot meals that are sure to impress your guests. Make sure to add some veggies to complete the display. 

The flat base secures the wok to the cook surface, while the even seasoning ensures that all of the food cooked within it slides gracefully onto your serving plate. This Lodge Cast Iron wok retails for $25. 

Lodge Cast Iron 15 Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Pizza Pan Review

It’s not delivery—it’s Lodge Cast Iron. The 15 Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Pizza Pan promises to deliver a crispy, satisfying crust with every use, thanks to its super flat surface that allows for even heating. 

The piece also features a dual handle and rimless design for easy carry and edge-to-edge baking for you to get the most out of your pizza-making experience. Ditch the middleman with the Lodge Cast Iron pizza pan, which sells for $43. 

Lodge Cast Iron 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Lid Review

Lids lock in moisture and flavor. The 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Lid fits like a glove on top of your 10.25 inch Lodge Cast Iron pan or skillet. 

The US-made piece is seasoned with pure vegetable oil and is totally oven-safe, so you can be sure you will not have any accidents or unintended bursting or breaking due to high heat. 

Buy the Lodge Cast Iron Lid for the reasonable price of $25. 

Is Lodge Cast Iron Toxic? 

Unlike other brands that often use toxic paints to give their cast iron cookware a black, glossy sheen, Lodge Cast Iron seasons their cast iron products with baked-on oil, which leaves a glossy carbon deposit on the pan after the manufacturing process is complete. 

The brand ensures that even over time if you see flakes or color-transfer, it is completely non-toxic and non-harmful. 

Who Is Lodge Cast Iron For? 

Anybody who is able and old enough (sorry kids) to cook can use a cast iron pan. The better question would be, ‘What can I use my cast iron pan for?’ That’s where it gets interesting. 

As a general priiple, because cast iron has a tendency to become and remain extremely hot, it is best for dishes that require high heat. Some foods that perform well in cast iron cookware are meats, cornbread, eggs, stir-frys, and fried foods. 

If you are cooking with overly acidic foods such as tomatoes or jonesing for a nice delicate piece of fish for dinner, then a cast iron pan is just not the best option. Another thing to note is that cast iron has a higher likelihood of absorbing flavors from foods than other cooking surfaces. If you often use your pan to make savory foods, then switching it up to bake sweet treats in the same pan may not deliver the best results. 

Comparison: Lodge Cast Iron vs. Caraway 

Caraway is a brand that manufactures non-toxic, aesthetically-pleasing, super easy-to-use cookware and linens for the modern kitchen aficionado. The brand was founded in 2018 by Jordan Nathan, and is currently headquartered in New York City, where all of its cookware is designed. 

Caraway manufactures its products in facilities that are regularly monitored to ensure they meet ethical manufacturing processes in China and India. 

Unlike Lodge Cast Iron sets, which are well-known mostly for, well, cast iron, Caraway pots and pans are made with aluminum and feature stainless steel bases and handles. What makes the interior of each pot and pan non-stick is a glossy ceramic coating, which is free of a whole host of harmful chemicals that have no place in the kitchen. Just a glance at the products available online shows you that their cookware is extremely affordable and accessible to many. 

Caraway only delivers to locations within the US directly from its website (for free over $90), but through its retail partner Goop.com, customers in Canada, the UK, and the EU can also benefit from the brand’s extensive line of essentials. As mentioned in this Lodge Cast Iron review previously, our featured brand also has a very similar shipping policy. 

Some other cool things that Caraway offers are a recycling program and a ‘refer a friend’ program, which allows customers to give their friends 10% off in exchange for receiving a free linen gift. 

So, what draws your attention more? The Lodge Cast Iron dutch oven or Caraway’s best-selling Cookware Set? Continue to check out more on the our Caraway Cookware Review.

Lodge Cast Iron Reviews: What Do Customers Think?

This Lodge Cast Iron review wouldn’t be complete without taking a look at what customers and culinary critics are saying about the brand. We explored feedback on Amazon, New York Times Wirecutter, Epicurious, and Serious Eats. 

To kick things off, we will take a peek at the Amazon customer ratings of the Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet – 12 Inch Ergonomic Frying Pan with Assist Handle, which is rated 4.7/5 stars based on 5,840 global reviews. 

One customer gushes about the versatility of the piece: “I love it. On the stove, in the oven, on the grill, or sitting right down in the coals of a campfire…nothing heats as well and evenly as cast iron. This 12-inch skillet is big enough for six quarter-pound burgers, lumberjack-size pancakes, a couple trout or bass, and it’s deep enough to bake an upside-down cake for dessert.”

New York Times Wirecutter reviewers wrote about the Lodge Chef Collection 12 Inch Skillet in late 2020. According to them, the best features of the skillet are its lightweight construction and affordability. The writers also praised it for being incredibly versatile, producing crispy cornbread, juicy bacon, and evenly browned steaks. 

Three critics wrote an article in Epicurious that reviewed the best cast iron skillets of 2021. The Lodge Blacklock 96 model took the award for the best 10-inch cast iron skillet. Their Lodge Cast Iron review read, “We loved how easy the pan was to clean, likely because the seasoning repelled stuck-on food better than other models. For a smaller 10-inch pan, we think it’s the best on the market.” 

A Serious Eats review written in 2021 deemed the Lodge 10.25-Inch Skillet the best everyday cast iron skillet, and the Lodge Blacklock 10.25-Inch Skillet the best lightweight cast iron skillet. Gritzer praises the brand for having quality products, a proven track record, and a longstanding history. 

Is Lodge Cast Iron Worth It?

This Lodge Cast Iron review appreciates the value of sturdy cookware. Once you cook your first steak on a good cast iron skillet, you’ll never descend to the levels of a regular non-stick frying pan ever again. 

The only downside to this type of cookware is that it tends to be quite pricey, but Lodge Cast Iron provides users with affordable and durable versions of the much beloved products. 

The only thing that this Lodge Cast Iron review would recommend that the brand improves on is to have its website list authorized retailers to streamline the shopping experience. Plus, providing more shipping information could help customers find answers quicker. All that said, these are just minor inconveniences when we’re surrounded by hundreds of positive reviews of the brand and its products. 

Lodge Cast Iron Promotions & Discounts 

Our Lodge Cast Iron review found only one promotion being offered on the official website at this time. Customers are entitled to a discount of up to 15% off of their grilling favorites, plus free shipping on orders over $59. 

To initiate the discount, use the code 15GRILL during checkout. If you really love Lodge’s products, become a ‘Pan Fan’ and subscribe to the brand’s newsletter with your email address. You don’t get a discount, but you can get updates on upcoming sales!

Where to Buy Lodge Cast Iron

Lodge Cast Iron has several retail options for US customers. First off, it has four brick-and-mortar locations in Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, along with one in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Got your eye on the Lodge Cast Iron muffin pan? You can also order cookware directly at lodgecastiron.com. 

Lodge Cast Iron also has distributors in countries all over the globe, including Argentina, Barbados, Canada, China, the UK, Sweden, Spain, Russia, and several more. There are also apparently some products on Amazon, but the brand does not mention any authorized retailers. Some items may be limited on both US and international selling platforms due to the ongoing strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

FAQ

Where is Lodge Cast Iron made? 

Lodge Cast Iron manufactures all of its seasoned cast iron and carbon steel products in the US and all of its enamelled cast iron products in China. It operates two foundries in Tennessee, where the brand was born. 

What is Lodge Cast Iron’s Shipping Policy?

Anxious to receive your Lodge Cast Iron griddle? The brand doesn’t offer a substantial amount of shipping information on its FAQs page, but if you proceed to checkout with an item, you will notice that the only country listed is the US.

All shipping fees and arrival times are calculated at checkout, but Lodge states that you should allow an additional 5–7 business days for delivery due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

What is Lodge Cast Iron’s Return Policy?

Want to send back your Lodge Cast Iron skillet sets? The brand offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The company is happy to replace your product free of charge if it arrives damaged or defective, or if you’ve received a mistaken order. 

Damages and shipping errors must be reported within 48 hours of receipt, and concealed damages or mis-shipments must be reported within 30 days of receipt. Buyers can contact customer care to proceed with the process. 

This Lodge Cast Iron review would like to note that a shipping fee and a 15% restocking fee will be deducted from your return credit. To initiate a return, simply email [email protected]. 

How to Contact Lodge Cast Iron

Have any questions after reading this Lodge Cast Iron review? You can get in touch with the brand in the following ways: 

• Fill out an online contact form
• Call 1.833.563.4387 between 7:30–4:30 CT on weekdays 
• Visit one of the factory stores peppered across Tennessee, with one in North Carolina

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Looking for more tools for your kitchen? Here are a few more brands to choose from:

Caraway

Uno Casa

Misen

Great Jones

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