# Lancaster No. 8 Cast-Iron Skillet

- Source: https://stierproducts.com/products/lancaster-no-8-cast-iron-skillet
- Category board: https://stierproducts.com/categories/cast-iron-skillets
- Placement: #2 of 12 in Cast Iron Skillets, A tier
- Brand: Lancaster
- LP on this board: 703
- Last researched: 2026-07-26T22:00:34.413Z
- Method: https://stierproducts.com/methodology
- Reuse: Text, rankings, tier assignments, LP values and verdicts are free to quote and reuse with attribution to stierproducts and a link to the source URL (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.

## Verdict

Food & Wine’s “Best Cast Iron Skillets” list names it the top pick for its high-quality construction, durability and consistent performance on all cooktops. The same skillet is also highlighted as the best cast iron for induction in their 2026 induction cookware guide.

## For

- High-quality construction
- Durable build
- Consistent performance on all cooktops
- Best for induction
- Even heating

## Flagged as one to avoid

This product entered 1 of 6 runs as one buyers cross-shop but should not buy, rather than as a pick. It is published here rather than dropped.

## Evidence

Consolidated from 6 independent outlets

| Outlet | Said by | Stance | Link | Link status |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Serious Eats | - | - | https://www.seriouseats.com/the-truth-about-cast-iron | outlet blocks automated checks |
| Food & Wine | - | - | https://www.foodandwine.com/cooking-techniques/cast-iron-pans | outlet blocks automated checks |
| Food & Wine – Cast Iron Pans | - | - | https://www.foodandwine.com/cooking-techniques/cast-iron-pans | outlet blocks automated checks |
| Bon Appetit | - | - | https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-cast-iron-skillet?srsltid=AfmBOoqpqexbNNqRk4EcY-k1uvi81m-_zHoxuXWZWDvCh8mqA5nVBZFX | fetched and confirmed |
| Food & Wine – Best Induction Cookware | - | - | https://www.foodandwine.com/best-induction-cookware-8681645 | outlet blocks automated checks |
| Wirecutter | - | - | https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-induction-cookware/ | fetched and confirmed |

## Nearest alternatives on this board

| Rank | Product | Tier | Page |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Lodge Chef Collection 12 Inch Cast-Iron Skillet | S | https://stierproducts.com/products/lodge-chef-collection-12-inch-cast-iron-skillet |
| 3 | Lodge Blacklock 10.25 Inch Cast-Iron Skillet | A | https://stierproducts.com/products/lodge-blacklock-10-25-inch-cast-iron-skillet |
| 4 | Victoria Cast Iron Skillet | B | https://stierproducts.com/products/victoria-cast-iron-skillet |
| 5 | Smithey No. 12 Cast-Iron Skillet | B | https://stierproducts.com/products/smithey-no-12-cast-iron-skillet |
| 6 | Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron Skillet - 10.25 Inch | C | https://stierproducts.com/products/le-creuset-enameled-cast-iron-skillet-10-25-inch |
| 7 | Lodge Chef Collection 10.25 Inch Cast-Iron Skillet | C | https://stierproducts.com/products/lodge-chef-collection-10-25-inch-cast-iron-skillet |
| 9 | Victoria Cast Iron Skillet - 10 Inch | D | https://stierproducts.com/products/victoria-cast-iron-skillet-10-inch |
| 10 | Field Company No. 4 Cast-Iron Skillet | D | https://stierproducts.com/products/field-company-no-4-cast-iron-skillet |
| 11 | Lancaster No. 6 Cast-Iron Skillet | D | https://stierproducts.com/products/lancaster-no-6-cast-iron-skillet |
| 12 | Lodge Blacklock 12 Inch Cast-Iron Skillet | F | https://stierproducts.com/products/lodge-blacklock-12-inch-cast-iron-skillet |

The full board is at https://stierproducts.com/categories/cast-iron-skillets.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is the Lancaster No. 8 Cast-Iron Skillet for?

Cooks who want a high-quality, durable pan that performs consistently on every cooktop, especially induction. Food & Wine names it the top pick in its cast iron skillet list and the best cast iron for induction in its induction cookware guide. It sits in A tier on our board. If you want the single best all-rounder, the Lodge Chef Collection 12 Inch Cast-Iron Skillet is our S tier pick and gives you a larger cooking surface.

### Does the Lancaster No. 8 Cast-Iron Skillet work on induction?

Yes, and it is the pan reviewers single out for it. Food & Wine calls it the best cast iron skillet for induction in its 2026 induction cookware guide, and reviewers credit it with consistent performance on all cooktops and even heating. Its flat, well-finished base sits properly on a glass induction surface, which is what matters for even heat.

### How long does the Lancaster No. 8 Cast-Iron Skillet last?

A lifetime. Reviewers praise its high-quality construction and durable build, and bare cast iron can always be stripped and re-seasoned. Note that the smaller Lancaster No. 6 Cast-Iron Skillet does not share that reputation on our board, where a thin rim is blamed for quicker warping and a shorter lifespan. The No. 8 is the one to buy.

### What size is the Lancaster No. 8 Cast-Iron Skillet?

A No. 8 is the traditional cast iron size that corresponds to roughly a 10 inch pan, measured across the top. That is enough for two people, a couple of steaks, or a cornbread. For a family or for searing more than two portions at once, a 12 inch pan such as the Lodge Chef Collection 12 Inch Cast-Iron Skillet is the better fit.

### How do you season the Lancaster No. 8 Cast-Iron Skillet?

Wipe a very thin coat of neutral high smoke point oil over the whole pan, wipe it back off until it looks almost dry, then bake it upside down at around 230 C or 450 F for an hour. Do that two or three times when new or after a strip, then let everyday cooking with fat maintain it. Dry it straight after washing and store it with a light oil film to keep rust away.

## What this tier means

- A: Excellent. Strongly recommended, beaten only by the very best.

## How to read this

- Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand.
- LP is this product's points on its own category ladder. It is comparable within a category and not across categories.
- Link status reports what our pre-publication link check found when it fetched the cited URL. It says nothing about the quality of the review.
- A citation with no usable link is listed rather than dropped, and is excluded from the counted total above.

## Image

https://stierproducts.com/images/products/lancaster-no-8-cast-iron-skillet.webp

Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence.