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Products · Cookware · Lancaster Cast Iron

Lancaster No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet, 11 5/8 in, pre-seasoned

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Lancaster No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet, 11 5/8 in, pre-seasoned

Polished, lighter cast iron made in Pennsylvania and seasoned with grapeseed oil. Mamavation says an XRF screen found no lead in any part of the pan but shows no readings. Lifetime warranty against defects. About $225.

Best for Cooks who want a lighter, smooth US-made cast iron skillet and have an independent lead screen to point to.

Our rating
Good (4.2 of 5)
Price range
Premium
Size
No. 10: 11 5/8 in top diameter, 10 in cooking surface, 2 1/8 in deep, about 6 lb. Lancaster sells the No. 4, 6, 8 and 12 as separate pages
Made in
Cast, machined, seasoned and packed in and around Lancaster, Pennsylvania (stated by the maker)

approx. $225 for the No. 10

See it on Lancaster Cast Iron’s site → (opens in a new tab)

We are not affiliated with Lancaster Cast Iron. This link goes to the maker’s own page, with no tracking code. How we're funded.

Also sold at Amazon ($225), Cast Iron Company ($226), Kitchen & Company ($225) , and 1 more.

Reader ratings & reviews

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    Reviews are personal experiences, not research, and they never change our quality ratings. Every review is read by our team before it appears.

    How we evaluated it

    How it scores Our rating, metric by metric Good, 4.2 of 5
    1. Cooking surface 40% of the rating 5 of 5

      Bare cast iron with two layers of grapeseed oil. The maker's California AB 1200 page lists only iron, casting trace elements and the oil, and says it adds no PFOA, PFAS or PTFE.

    2. Independent testing 20% of the rating 4 of 5

      Mamavation says a Detectlead XRF screen found no lead in any part of the pan (October 2026). No readings, model or release test were published, and Lancaster shows no report of its own.

    3. Durability 20% of the rating 4 of 5

      Cast iron lasts generations, and Lancaster states a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and a 45-day return window. The terms are a few lines in its FAQ, with no standalone policy, and refund returns are at the buyer's cost.

    4. Trust 10% of the rating 4 of 5

      Names the oil, the materials and the town, and publishes an AB 1200 disclosure. No Prop 65 notice or CPSC recall found. It does not say whether its iron is recycled or name its foundry.

    5. Value 10% of the rating 2 of 5

      About $225, against about $25 for Lodge's 10.25 in skillet. The extra buys a smoother, lighter pan made in Pennsylvania, not a different material.

    The rating, 4.2 of 5, is the weighted average of these scores. See how we rank cookware and our standard.

    Where to buy Stores and the prices we saw 4 stores
    • Amazon (opens in a new tab) approx. $225. Sold by Lancaster Cast Iron's own storefront and shipped by Amazon. $225.00 and in stock when opened 2026-11-03.
    • Cast Iron Company (opens in a new tab) approx. $226. Independent cast iron shop in Ponca City, Oklahoma, also named on Lancaster's store locator. $225.95 and in stock when opened 2026-11-03.
    • Kitchen & Company (opens in a new tab) approx. $225. Kitchenware shop in Lewes, Delaware, named on Lancaster's store locator. $224.99 and in stock when opened 2026-11-03.
    • The Happy Cook (opens in a new tab) approx. $225. Cookware shop in Charlottesville, Virginia, named on Lancaster's store locator. $225.00 and in stock when opened 2026-11-03.

    Prices as we saw them on November 3, 2026. They change often. These links carry no tracking code and earn us nothing.

    What it’s made of What touches your food, water, skin or air 3 materials
    1. Cast iron: iron plus the carbon, silicon, manganese, phosphorus and sulfur that come with casting, per the maker's California AB 1200 disclosure
    2. Cooking surface polished smooth (the maker's wording)
    3. Seasoning: two layers of food-grade grapeseed oil
    Who tested it What each test found, and who paid for it 1 test
    • Independent Mamavation (XRF screening by Eric Ritter of Detectlead.com; Mamavation earns affiliate income and promotes Detectlead test kits with a discount code) October 2026

      In its 5 October 2026 cast iron guide, Mamavation puts Lancaster in its best group of five brands (with Field Company, Smithey, Solidteknics and YETI) and says it tested them all for lead with an XRF analyzer and found none in any part of the pan. Lancaster is listed at $225, seasoned with grapeseed oil and made in the USA. The guide gives no readings, model or sample details. XRF screens what the metal contains, not what comes out into food. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)

    Who paid, and why it matters
    • Independent The tester took no money from the maker for it: a consumer group, a journalist, a university or a regulator.
    • Paid certification An outside lab or certifier tested or listed it, and the maker paid for that.
    • Maker’s own test A lab report or certificate of analysis the maker commissioned and published.

    A certification is a floor, not a verdict: it checks what its program checks and nothing else. We weigh tests by someone with no stake in the result most.

    What people ask Worries raised online and elsewhere, and what we found 5 questions
    Can pans made from recycled or scrap iron carry lead?
    Mamavation's guide (opens in a new tab) warns that scrap iron can bring in traces of lead, arsenic or cadmium unless a maker tests for them. Lancaster does not say whether its iron is recycled. Mamavation says its XRF check found no lead in any part of Lancaster's pan, and the maker's AB 1200 page (opens in a new tab) lists only the elements of ordinary cast iron. We found no test report from Lancaster.
    Is it really made in the USA?
    Lancaster says every piece is cast, machined, seasoned and packaged in and around Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and its product page (opens in a new tab) says Made in Lancaster, PA. It does not name its foundry on the pages we read, so we could not check this.
    Is a $225 skillet safer than a $25 one?
    We found no evidence that it is. Both are iron and seasoning oil. Lancaster's pan is smooth and lighter; its page says its skillets are up to 4 pounds lighter than the modern standard. Mamavation puts Lodge in its better group and does not say it screened Lodge for lead, so we have no like-for-like test result for the cheaper pan.
    Who is paid to recommend it?
    Mamavation's guide carries affiliate links, with Amazon links beside Lancaster's name. Lead Safe Mama's April 2024 list (opens in a new tab) labels an 11-5/8 inch cast iron pan lead-free and links it to this skillet's Amazon page through an affiliate link. We found no affiliate, ambassador or influencer program on Lancaster's own pages and no sign that it paid for either mention. Our page takes no payment.
    Is cast iron right for everyone?
    It adds iron to food. People with hemochromatosis or other iron overload should ask their doctor first; our article on cast iron, seasoning and safety covers who should take care.
    Why we chose it What put it on our list 4 points
    • The materials are plain and named: iron and food-grade grapeseed oil, with no PFOA, PFAS or PTFE, according to the maker's California AB 1200 disclosure.
    • Mamavation says an XRF lead screen found no lead in any part of the pan (October 2026), and the maker's iron is listed as ordinary cast iron.
    • The No. 10 weighs about 6 lb with an 11 5/8 in rim, against about 7.7 lb for Lodge's 12 in skillet, and Lancaster says its skillets are up to 4 pounds lighter than the modern standard.
    • A lifetime warranty and a 45-day return window are stated, and the care pages allow a little mild dish soap.
    Trade-offs What to weigh before you buy 4 points
    • It costs about nine times a Lodge 10.25 in skillet. The extra money buys polish, lower weight and a Pennsylvania foundry, not a different material.
    • The warranty has no standalone policy: its page is a registration form and the terms are a few lines in the FAQ. Refund returns are at your cost.
    • The lead evidence is one line in a guide that carries affiliate links. Lancaster publishes no test report and does not say whether its iron is recycled.
    • It adds iron to food, as all cast iron does. Dry it well after washing to prevent rust.
    What to know Details worth knowing first

    Cast iron needs no coating, which is why it is the first answer in our cookware guide to the non-stick problem. Lancaster Cast Iron makes its skillets in Pennsylvania, polishes the cooking surface smooth and seasons it with grapeseed oil. The No. 10 weighs about 6 lb with an 11 5/8 in rim, and the maker says its pans are up to 4 pounds lighter than the modern standard.

    What we like is how plainly the materials are written down. Lancaster's California cookware disclosure lists iron, the trace elements of casting and the oil, and says there is no PFAS, PFOA or PTFE. Mamavation, which had Detectlead.com screen pans for lead with an XRF analyzer, says it found none in any part of this one. The iron it adds to food is covered in our article on cast iron, seasoning and safety.

    The testing is thinner than we would like. It is one line in a guide with affiliate links, with no readings, and Lancaster publishes no report and does not say whether its iron is recycled. If you want the cheapest honest cast iron, buy the Lodge. Lancaster's price is for the finish, the weight and the Pennsylvania foundry.

    What we checked Each claim, and how sure we are of it 6 checks
    How Lancaster No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet, 11 5/8 in, pre-seasoned measures up against our cookware criteria
    What we checked What we found
    No PTFE or PFAS coating Maker’s claim Lancaster's California AB 1200 disclosure says it does not add PFOA, PFAS, PTFE or synthetic nonstick coatings. We found no outside PFAS test.
    Plain, named materials Maker’s claim Iron, machined smooth and seasoned with two layers of grapeseed oil, made in Pennsylvania, per the maker. The foundry and the origin of the iron are not named.
    Lead screening Verified Mamavation says Detectlead's XRF test found no lead in any part of Lancaster's pan (October 2026). The guide publishes no readings.
    Built to last Maker’s claim Lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and 45-day returns are stated in the FAQ. Misuse, improper care, thermal shock and normal seasoning changes are excluded. There is no separate warranty document.
    Fits how you cook Maker’s claim The product page says it works on all cooktops including glass and induction, in the oven, on the grill and on a campfire. About 6 lb. No oven temperature limit is stated.
    Notices and recalls Verified No California Prop 65 notice names Lancaster Cast Iron and no CPSC recall covers its cookware (searched 2026-11-03; the only CPSC hits for Lancaster are a restaurant furniture company).
    What the labels mean
    • Verified We opened an independent record that confirms it: a certifier’s listing, a regulator’s list or a lab report. It is linked under Sources.
    • Maker’s claim The maker says so on its own page or label. We read it but found no independent record.
    • Not verified We looked and could not confirm it, or the maker does not say. Treat it as unknown.
    Sources Where our facts come from 12 sources
    1. Lancaster No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet product page. Maker’s page. Read 2026-11-03: $225, lifetime warranty badge, pre-seasoned with two layers of grapeseed oil. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    2. Lancaster Cast Iron: California AB 1200 disclosure. Maker’s page. Lists iron, casting trace elements and food-grade grapeseed oil, and says no PFOA, PFAS or PTFE. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    3. Lancaster Cast Iron: FAQs. Maker’s page. Soap, seasoning, rust, the 45-day return policy and the scope of the lifetime warranty. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    4. Mamavation: Safest Cast Iron Cookware Investigation (5 October 2026). Test report. Says Eric Ritter of Detectlead.com XRF-tested the brands in its best group, Lancaster among them, and found no lead in any part of the pans. No readings are shown. The site earns affiliate income and says so. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    5. Lead Safe Mama: April 2024 affiliate links for lead-free choices on Amazon. Independent source. A list of picks made outside China. Its 11-5/8 inch cast iron pan link opens the Lancaster No. 10 Amazon page. No readings are given. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    6. Amazon listing for the Lancaster No. 10 skillet. Independent source. Opened 2026-11-03: $225, sold by Lancaster Cast Iron, shipped by Amazon. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    7. Lancaster Cast Iron: Store locator. Maker’s page. Lists stockists, among them Cast Iron Co., Kitchen & Company and The Happy Cook. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    8. Cast Iron Company: Lancaster No. 10 Cast Iron Skillet. Independent source. Opened 2026-11-03: $225.95, in stock. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    9. Kitchen & Company: Lancaster No. 10 11.5 in Cast Iron Skillet. Independent source. Opened 2026-11-03: $224.99, in stock. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    10. The Happy Cook: Lancaster Cast Iron No. 10 Skillet 11 5/8 in. Independent source. Opened 2026-11-03: $225.00, in stock. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    11. California Attorney General: Prop 65 60-day notice search. Certifier or regulator listing. Searched by alleged violator on 2026-11-03; no notice named Lancaster Cast Iron. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
    12. CPSC recalls API. Certifier or regulator listing. Searched on 2026-11-03; the four results are recalls of Lancaster Table & Seating restaurant furniture, not cookware. Open ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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