Homes and Gardens Puts Lancaster Cast Iron to the Test

Earlier this year, Homes & Gardens put the Lancaster Cast Iron No. 4 Skillet through a series of real kitchen tests, from fried and scrambled eggs to frittata, chicken sausage and even a skillet cookie. The result was a review that highlighted exactly what we set out to create when we started Lancaster: cast iron that delivers the performance and durability people love, without the weight and roughness traditionally associated with it. The review opened with a simple verdict: “It may be mini, but it’s mighty.”

Homes & Gardens cookware editor Lydia Hayman tested the skillet on an induction cooktop and in a high-heat oven, putting it through the kind of everyday cooking that cast iron needs to handle. She found that the skillet heated quickly and evenly, thanks in part to its thinner walls, and appreciated the ease that came with its smooth, pre-seasoned cooking surface.

Eggs cooked evenly and released nicely from the smooth surface. A small frittata developed golden edges and moved easily from stovetop to oven. Chicken sausages browned beautifully, and even a skillet cookie came out with a crisp edge and the perfect center.

For us, though, some of the most meaningful parts of the review weren't about one particular recipe. They were about the overall experience of using the pan. Hayman specifically noted how light the Lancaster felt for cast iron, along with its smooth finish, vintage-inspired design and practical pour spouts. She also highlighted that it is proudly made in the USA.

We believe cast iron should be something you actually want to reach for every day. It should be durable enough to last for generations, but light enough that you don't think twice about picking it up. The cooking surface should feel smooth, and the design should be rooted in the cast iron that came before us, while still fitting in a modern kitchen.

Lydia also recognized Lancaster as a strong option for people looking for non-toxic cookware, describing it as a small upgrade for healthier cooking at home and noting that the skillet is free from forever chemicals.

We wanted to make the kind of pan we wanted to cook with ourselves: lighter, smoother and built for real cooking. Nearly every Lancaster skillet is cast, machined, seasoned and packaged in and around Lancaster, PA, with the goal of creating cookware that can stay in a family for generations.

Homes & Gardens tested the pan in a real kitchen, compared it with other leading brands and came away calling Lancaster smooth, durable, lightweight and thoughtfully made.

For a company built around making cast iron a little differently, that's a win we're proud of.