There’s a familiar rhythm to cooking for a crowd, whether it’s your own growing family or a gathering of friends. It’s the sizzle, the sear, and then… the shuffle. You cook one batch of chicken, move it to a plate, cover it with foil, and start the next. By the time the last batch is done, the first is lukewarm, and you’ve spent twice as long standing over the stove than you have with your guests. I know this dance well. For years, my trusty 12-inch skillet was my workhorse, but with a household of six, it was constantly being pushed to its limits, leading to overcrowded pans, steamed meat instead of seared, and a frustrating, staggered cooking process. The search for a better way—a way to cook everything at once, to serve truly hot food to everyone at the same time—is what led me to explore the world of oversized cookware, a realm where one pan can truly rule them all.
- YOUR NEW GO-TO PAN: Lodge cast iron cookware is the perfect kitchen tool for beginners, home cooks and chefs. Cast iron can handle any...
- SEASONED COOKWARE: Seasoning is simply oil baked into the iron, giving it a natural, easy-release finish and helps prevent your pan...
What to Consider Before Buying a Large Cast Iron Skillet
A cast iron skillet is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for achieving unparalleled searing, even heating, and developing a naturally non-stick surface that improves with every use. It’s a culinary tool that connects us to generations of cooking tradition, capable of moving seamlessly from stovetop to oven to open campfire. The primary benefit of a large-format skillet like this one is capacity. It eliminates the need for batch cooking, allowing you to prepare entire family meals in a single pan, which saves time and ensures everything is served at peak deliciousness. From frying a dozen eggs for brunch to searing four large steaks simultaneously, the generous surface area is a game-changer for anyone who regularly cooks for more than two people.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the challenge of cooking large quantities of food efficiently. This includes heads of large households, meal preppers who want to maximize their time, and avid entertainers who love hosting brunch or dinner parties. As one user perfectly put it, their 12-inch pan “wasn’t cutting it” for their family of six, and the ability to “cook all of my meat in one batch” was a revelation. Conversely, this skillet might not be suitable for those with limited kitchen space, small ovens, or physical limitations that make lifting over 13 pounds of iron difficult. If you primarily cook for one or two, or if you prefer lightweight, low-maintenance cookware, alternatives like smaller non-stick skillets or stainless steel pans might be a better fit.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: At 17 inches in diameter (and closer to 20 inches handle-to-handle), this is a serious piece of cookware. Measure your oven, your largest stovetop burner, and your sink before purchasing. Many users note it must be placed diagonally in a standard oven and will almost certainly cover two burners on a stovetop for effective heating. Storage is another key consideration; it often lives in the oven when not in use.
- Capacity/Performance: With a depth of 2.62 inches and a 5-liter capacity, this pan is built for volume. It can handle a spatchcocked 16-lb turkey, a massive shakshuka with a dozen eggs, or enough fajita mix for a party. Its performance hinges on its thermal mass—it takes time to heat up, but once hot, it retains that heat exceptionally well for a deep, even sear across its entire surface.
- Materials & Durability: Crafted from a single piece of American-made cast iron, this skillet is built to last for generations. Unlike coated non-stick pans that wear out, cast iron’s seasoning (its polymerized oil layer) only improves with age. It’s a lifetime investment in durability, free from synthetic coatings like PFOA or PTFE.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: “Ease of use” is relative. The dual loop-style handles are essential for safely lifting its 13.5-pound weight, but it still requires strength. Maintenance involves hand washing only, followed by immediate drying and a light coating of cooking oil to prevent rust. This ritual is part of the cast iron ownership experience and is crucial for its longevity.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles stands out as a titan of capacity and versatility. You can explore its detailed specifications and see what others are making with it here.
While the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles is an excellent choice for large-format cooking, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
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First Impressions: A Beautiful Beast of a Pan
Lifting the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles from its box is an event in itself. The first thing that strikes you is the sheer scale and heft. At 13.5 pounds, it has a commanding presence. There’s no assembly, no complex parts—just a solid, monolithic piece of dark iron. The surface, typical of modern Lodge products, has a slightly pebbly texture from the sand-casting process, a far cry from the glassy-smooth vintage skillets of yore. However, this texture is designed to help the factory seasoning—and your own future layers—adhere better.
We found our skillet to be impeccably made, lying perfectly flat with no wobbles, and free of any burrs or casting imperfections, a sentiment echoed by users who described it as “beautiful” and “well made.” The dual loop handles are a modern, practical necessity for a pan this size, offering a much more secure, two-handed grip than the traditional single long handle found on smaller skillets. Right out of the box, the pre-seasoning gives it a subtle sheen, though as experienced cast iron users will know, this factory layer is just a starting point. It’s functional, but the pan’s true easy-release potential will only be unlocked after several rounds of home cooking and seasoning.
Advantages
- Massive cooking surface eliminates the need for batch cooking
- Exceptional heat retention for superior searing and even roasting
- Extremely versatile: use on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, or over a campfire
- Durable American-made construction designed to last for generations
Drawbacks
- Very heavy (13.5 lbs), requires two hands and strength to maneuver
- Large size can be difficult to heat evenly on standard stovetops
A Deep Dive into the Lodge Skillet’s Real-World Performance
A spec sheet can tell you a pan’s weight and dimensions, but it can’t convey the satisfaction of sliding a perfectly browned, party-sized pizza onto a cutting board, or the efficiency of searing an entire family’s worth of chicken thighs at once. Over weeks of intensive testing—from family breakfasts to weekend grilling projects—we put the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles through its paces to see if its performance lives up to its monumental size.
The Ultimate Solution for Large-Scale Home Cooking
The number one reason to own this pan is its immense capacity, and in this regard, it performs flawlessly. Our first test was a big weekend brunch. Where we would normally use two separate pans for bacon and potatoes, we were able to cook a full pound of bacon on one side of the skillet while hash browns crisped up beautifully in the rendered fat on the other. Nothing was crowded. Later that week, we tackled a family favorite: chicken fajitas. We seared four large, thinly pounded chicken breasts at once, achieving a deep, flavorful crust that’s impossible in an overcrowded pan. This experience directly mirrors that of a user who celebrated being able to “cook all of my meat in one batch!” after struggling with a 12-inch skillet for their family of six. The pan transforms cooking from a sequential, often stressful task into a single, efficient process. We also found it perfect for making large one-pan meals like shakshuka, easily accommodating a dozen eggs nestled in a rich tomato sauce, just as one happy customer did for their brunch party. The deep sides prevent spillovers, making it as much a shallow braiser as it is a skillet.
Mastering Heat: From Stovetop Challenges to Oven and Grill Perfection
A pan of this diameter presents a unique thermal challenge on a standard kitchen stove. Placing it over a single burner, even a large one, will inevitably create a central hot spot. We confirmed this in our tests; the center of the pan heated much faster than the edges. However, this is not a design flaw but a matter of physics. The solution, as many experienced users have discovered, is twofold. First, on a gas or electric cooktop, the best method is to straddle the pan over two front-and-back burners, using both to heat the skillet more evenly. Second, and our preferred method for high-heat searing, is to preheat the entire skillet in the oven for 20-30 minutes. This saturates the entire 13.5 pounds of iron with even heat, turning it into a portable, flat searing surface you can then use on the stovetop. Where the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles truly excels is off the stovetop. In the oven, it’s an absolute champion, radiating intense, even heat that is perfect for roasting vegetables or baking bread. Its performance on the grill is perhaps its greatest strength. We used it to sear tomahawk steaks and to pan-fry a whole spatchcocked chicken, just as one reviewer did with their Thanksgiving turkey on a Weber kettle grill. The skillet contains flare-ups, keeps smaller items like shrimp or asparagus from falling through the grates, and delivers an incredible crust. The sheer versatility of this pan is its defining feature.
The Unsung Hero of Pizza Night
While Lodge markets this as a skillet, a significant number of owners, including us, have discovered its secret identity: it is arguably one of the best pizza pans you can buy. Fragile ceramic pizza stones are notorious for cracking under thermal shock, but this cast iron behemoth is indestructible. We tested it by preheating the skillet in a 500°F oven for 45 minutes until it was screaming hot. We carefully built our pizza directly in the sizzling, oiled pan and returned it to the oven. The result after just 10 minutes was spectacular. The crust was deeply browned, incredibly crispy, and had a satisfying chew that mimicked a professional pizza oven. One reviewer perfectly captured this, stating it makes a “first class, professional pizza” and noted that while they had broken several pizza stones, this pan “seems to hold up well.” The massive thermal energy stored in the iron creates a phenomenal “oven spring,” causing the dough to puff up dramatically. Whether you’re making a Chicago-style deep-dish or a classic thin crust, this skillet delivers a crust unlike any other, making it an indispensable tool for any serious home pizza maker. For anyone looking to elevate their homemade pizza, this skillet alone is worth the investment.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, the feedback for the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles is overwhelmingly positive, with users frequently calling it a “beast” and a “game-changer” for feeding a crowd. A common theme is the liberation from batch cooking. One user noted, “It is WONDERFUL to be able to cook all of my meat in one batch!” The skillet’s performance as a pizza pan is another point of universal praise. “Fantastic deep dish pizza pan!” one reviewer exclaimed, “The dough was baked perfect.” Many also highlight its versatility, using it for everything from smoking a 16-lb turkey on the grill to making giant pans of fajitas.
The few criticisms are practical and consistent with the nature of such a large piece of cast iron. The weight is the most common concern, with one person noting you “just needed a strong person to get it out of the oven.” Another valid point raised is the difficulty of heating it evenly on a standard stovetop, which we also observed in our testing. One user pointed out that the seasoning is “okay out of the box, but…it’ll take some time until it gets to that true non stick level,” which is standard advice for any new piece of cast iron. These critiques aren’t flaws in the product itself, but rather important considerations for any potential buyer to be aware of.
How Does It Compare to the Alternatives?
The Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles is a specialized tool for large-volume cooking. To understand if it’s right for you, it’s helpful to see how it stacks up against other popular options that serve different needs.
1. Cuisinart Chef’s Classic 8-Inch Nonstick Open Skillet
- EXCEPTIONAL DESIGN: Enjoy professional performance with Hard Anodized Exterior, Unsurpassed Heat Distribution and Quantanium Non-Stick...
- PREMIUM COOKING: drip-free pouring, sloped sides of skillet maximizes cooking surface. Oven safe up to 500-Degrees F
The Cuisinart represents the polar opposite of the Lodge in almost every way. At 8 inches, it’s designed for small, quick tasks: frying a single egg, sautéing garlic, or warming a small portion of leftovers. Its hard-anodized aluminum construction makes it lightweight and quick to heat, while the nonstick coating offers maximum convenience and effortless cleanup. This is the ideal skillet for a college student, a single person, or anyone who prioritizes speed and ease over the searing capabilities and longevity of cast iron. It can’t go on a campfire and won’t produce the same crust as the Lodge, but for daily convenience in small portions, it’s a practical choice.
2. Lodge 10.25 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
- PFAS-FREE & NON-TOXIC COOKWARE: Lodge cookware is made without PFOA and PTFE, and we’re proud to say our seasoned cast iron is made...
- SEASONED COOKWARE FOR EASY COOKING: Lodge pre-seasons every pan with 100% natural vegetable oil, giving it a non-stick finish without...
This is the iconic, best-selling little sibling to the 17-inch model. The Lodge 10.25-inch skillet offers all the core benefits of cast iron—excellent heat retention, durability, and versatility—in a much more manageable and practical size for everyday cooking. It’s the perfect skillet for a couple or a small family, ideal for making cornbread, searing a pair of steaks, or frying chicken. It heats evenly on a single standard burner and is significantly lighter and easier to store. If you love the idea of cast iron cooking but don’t need the colossal capacity of the 17-inch version, this is the undisputed starting point and an essential tool for any kitchen.
3. COOKER KING 3-Piece Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Frying Pan Set
- 【Non-Toxic Frying Pans Set】: The frying pan set is made of 3-ply food-grade stainless steel to ensure even and fast heat...
- 【Easy to Clean & Non-stick】: Our stainless steel frying pans use all-natural ceramic etching coating do a good job in preventing...
This set offers a different material philosophy altogether. Tri-ply stainless steel, with its aluminum core, provides excellent heat conductivity and responsiveness, meaning it heats up and cools down much faster than cast iron. This makes it superior for delicate sauces or dishes requiring precise temperature control. This set provides versatility with three different sizes (8, 10, and 12 inches) for various tasks. Unlike cast iron, stainless steel is non-reactive, so it’s better for cooking acidic foods like tomato sauce. While it won’t build up a non-stick seasoning, it offers a great sear and the convenience of being dishwasher safe. This set is for the home chef who values precision, responsiveness, and easy maintenance across a range of pan sizes.
The Final Verdict: Is the Lodge 17 Inch Skillet for You?
After extensive use, we can confidently say that the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles is not just a skillet; it’s a solution. It’s the solution to cooking in shifts, to lukewarm second batches, and to the limitations of standard-sized cookware when faced with a hungry crowd. Its performance in the oven and on the grill is nothing short of spectacular, particularly for making professional-quality pizza and achieving a perfect sear on large cuts of meat. The weight and size are formidable, and it demands respect (and strong arms), but the payoff in efficiency and culinary results is immense.
This pan isn’t for everyone. It’s for the family grill master, the host of the Sunday brunch, the ambitious home pizza chef, and anyone who has ever looked at their 12-inch skillet and wished for more. If you have the space to store it and the need to cook in volume, this skillet is one of the best-value investments you can make for your kitchen—a durable, versatile, and high-performing piece of American-made cookware that will likely outlive you. If you’ve decided the Lodge 17 Inch Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Dual Handles is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API