Lodge Cast Iron 10.25" Skillet with Rosie the Riveter Design

I know there's a gazillion reviews already, but having used Lodge cast iron cookware a gazillion times, I can't resist weighing in. If you're newly getting into cast iron, read a bunch of the negative reviews first ... and discover people who are truly (often innocently) clueless about the preparation, care and usage of timeless cast iron cookware.I have a bunch of Lodge skillets, a griddle, two Dutch ovens and a pot with a self-basting lid which happens to also fit one of my skillets as well as my new chef's skillet. I really wanted a skillet with rounded sides, mostly for an egg and omelette pan. At $15, the LCS3 is a steal, considering I can neither find nor afford vintage Griswold.Like all Lodge, it comes pre-seasoned, which simply means it has a coating of oil that prevents oxidation. This seasoning is not what makes it non-stick. How you cook with it does. Out of the box, I enjoyed the cathartic ritual of baking four more coats of oil onto the seasoning which turned it a lovely, shiny black. Then, I pressed it into service as a non-stick wonder.Some people complain about the "pebbly" texture of the pan, some even testifying that this is the reason food sticks ... wrong. Proper temperature and proper amounts of fats are the keys to cooking non-stick. The "pebbly" texture means nothing. Besides, with continued use, the "pebbly" texture will turn into a smooth-as-silk surface. All my Lodge has been used enough to reach this point (except, of course, this brand new piece.)There are a lot of great videos on Youtube that can teach you how to cook with and care for your cast iron, but I can sum it up in a jiffy. Always preheat your cast iron over medium / low heat first, until it lightly smokes. Lower the heat slightly. Add butter, oil or other fats that are room temperature or cold. Coat the bottom and sides. Add your food and watch it slide around. When finished, rinse with hot water; if you have fond in the pan, scrape with a nylon scraper and rinse away. Dry the cast iron on the stove top burner and then wipe down with a very light coating of oil. You're ready for the next use. (This coating will lightly smoke when it reaches proper temperature, indicating when to add your cooking fats.)Other than the initial wash-down out of the box, I personally do not use soap on my cast iron. Some people do. Avoid cooking with acidic foods and liquids like tomatoes or vinegars or you'll surely be re-seasoning your pan before you know it. Good luck, and good cooking. And remember the chef's maxim: "Hot pan, cold fat."

Solid, high quality cast iron pan. Being that cast iron pans can last more than a lifetime (literally! I have a Sidney Wagnerware pan from the 1920s that I also use often & I'm a 31 year old male). When I was shopping for a new cast iron I wanted something special. That's why I chose the Rosie the riveter 2020 design. Not only does it signify something very important, but (hopefully) in 100 years when a future family member is cooking with this pan, it will be very easy to tell just how long ago this pan was made.Now on to the pan itself. This is a classic lodge product, high quality, attention to detail and one of the few cast iron cookware that are not made horribly in china, or cost an arm and a leg from Europe. Finishing is smooth for todays cast iron, although not as smooth as the stuff from yesteryear. I gave 2 stars for heat distribution and 3 for "easy to clean" only because this is cast iron- cast iron does not distribute heat, it holds heat, choosing the right sized heating element is a must for even heat distribution with cast iron.Cleanup is easy, but ONLY if you know how to care for cast iron (and it is well seasoned). Mostly I just wipe mine out after use, using the lodge plastic scraper for more stubborn residue (such as scrambled eggs- fried eggs require just a wipe with a paper towel). Properly seasoned cast iron is incredibly non stick.If you are new to cast iron, don't be discouraged, but do keep your mind open to learn. Once you get to know cast iron, you will NEVER go back to horrible non stick pans. I LOVE my cast iron and won't touch a nasty aluminum pan ever again (most Teflon, etc pans are cheap aluminum pans coated with a non stick coating, even those "blue diamond" or ceramic pans!)One more thing, I highly recommend adding a few additional coats of seasoning once you receive the pan- my go to is flax seed oil (I use the 365 brand from Whole Foods). Wipe the pan down liberally with the oil, then wipe the residue with a paper towel. Bake upside down @ 500f / 260c for 1 hour so the oil smokes and hardens. Let the pan cool & repeat (or if you use heat proof mits you can take it out and do it while its hot and go straight back in the hot oven)