CNN Underscored Names Lancaster No. 8 the Best Machined Cast-Iron Skillet

CNN Underscored has named the Lancaster No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet its best machined cast-iron skillet. After testing 10 pans, writer Joe Bloss picked the No. 8 for its combination of lighter weight, quick heating, and thoughtful design.

We’re proud of that recognition. The No. 8 was our first skillet, and making cast iron easier to handle has been part of its design from the beginning. It’s good to see those details stand out when someone puts the pan to work.

A “One-Hand Wonder”

“Lancaster’s No. 8 is a one-hand wonder.” Joe Bloss, CNN Underscored

Bloss weighed his test skillet at 4 pounds, 4.3 ounces, making it the lightest in his group. It also heated faster than the other pans he tested and held onto heat well after the burner was turned off. He highlighted the handles, depth, smooth pour spouts, and factory seasoning, too.

The weight difference becomes especially noticeable away from the burner. Think about lifting a pan of cornbread out of the oven, tilting it to pour, or holding it over the sink while you wash it. A lighter skillet makes those jobs more manageable. That matters when it’s a pan you cook with several times a week.

Get to Know the No. 8

Our original skillet measures 10½ inches across the top, with a 9¼-inch cooking surface and 2-inch depth. There’s room for a skillet dinner, a batch of sautéed vegetables, or a cake, without taking up more space than you need for everyday cooking.

The cooking surface is machined smooth, and the pour spouts are machined as well. A stout main handle and helper handle give you two places to grip when moving a full pan. It arrives pre-seasoned with grapeseed oil, ready for its first meal after a quick wash and thorough drying.

You can use the No. 8 on gas, electric, glass, or induction cooktops, then move it into the oven to finish dinner. Give it a gradual preheat, especially on a small burner. Bloss noted that allowing time for heat to spread across the pan is important—a useful habit to build into your cooking.

Vintage Inspiration, Made in Pennsylvania

The smooth, lighter pans made by earlier American foundries helped shape our idea of what cast iron could feel like. We wanted to carry that experience into cookware people could buy new and use for decades.

Today, we oversee design, casting, machining, seasoning, and finishing close to home in Pennsylvania. That involvement lets us follow each pan through production, paying attention to the surface, edges, and feel of the finished skillet.

Bring the No. 8 into Your Kitchen

If you’ve been looking for cast iron that feels easier to lift and comfortable to cook with, take a closer look at the Lancaster No. 8 Skillet. It’s the pan featured in the review, and the one that started Lancaster Cast Iron.

Need a little more cooking room? Explore the No. 10 Skillet. Our wooden spoon and turner set also makes a useful companion for stirring, flipping, and serving.

You can read Joe Bloss’s full review at CNN Underscored for his testing process and complete thoughts on the No. 8.