Lodge 17 in Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet - Large Crowd Pan

In this review the Lodge 17 in Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet earns its place as a go-to pan for cooks who need big capacity and reliable heat retention. It is best for home cooks, outdoor cooks and anyone feeding a crowd because the skillet's large surface and dual loop handles make it easy to move and share dishes straight from stovetop, oven, grill or campfire. The seasoned surface arrives ready to use and improves with time, which is the single biggest reason to buy: a lifetime pan that gets better with regular use.

Key Features

• Large cooking area: The 17 in diameter gives plenty of room for family-style meals, deep dish pizza, or searing multiple portions at once.
• Pre-seasoned finish: The pan ships with 100% natural vegetable oil seasoning for an easy-release surface that improves with continued cooking.
• Dual assist handles: Two loop handles make lifting and transferring the heavy skillet safer and simpler, especially from oven or campfire.
• All-heat-source use: Cast iron construction works on stovetops, ovens, grills and open flames, so you can move from kitchen to campsite without swapping cookware.
• Even heat retention: Thick iron stores heat and distributes it edge-to-edge, ideal for pan-frying, roasting and long sears that benefit from steady temperature.
• American-made: The skillet is crafted in the USA from iron and oil by a family-owned company with a long history in cast iron.

Who It's For

The Lodge 17 in skillet is a strong choice for hosts, families and outdoor cooks who need a single pan to handle large batches, communal meals and heavy-duty use. Its size and heat retention shine for deep dish pizzas, one-pan dinners, and campfire cooking where a single large surface is invaluable.

It is less suited to cooks who require lightweight or compact cookware for small kitchens, or those who only need small skillets for single servings. If you rarely cook for more than one or two people, a smaller cast iron or a nonstick pan may be more practical.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large capacity and even heat distribution make it ideal for big meals and shared dishes.
• Pre-seasoned surface offers an easy-release finish that improves with use.
• Dual loop handles provide safer handling when moving the hot pan from oven or grill.
• Versatile for use on stove, oven, grill, or over a campfire.

Cons

• The skillet's size means it is heavy and may be awkward for cooks who prefer lightweight pans.
• Some surfaces may show areas of uncarbonized oil on arrival that need seasoning through use or light maintenance.

Specifications

Our Verdict

The Lodge 17 in Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet is an excellent value for anyone who cooks for groups or enjoys outdoor cooking, offering a durable, improving seasoned surface and reliable heat retention. Its weight and size are trade-offs for capacity and performance, but for its intended uses the skillet is a long-lasting, versatile piece of cookware worth investing in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this skillet work on a campfire?
Yes. The cast iron construction is intended for use over an open flame as well as on grills and in ovens.

Does the skillet arrive ready to use?
Yes. It is pre-seasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, providing an initial easy-release finish that improves with continued cooking.

What if I see a rusty-looking spot?
That is often uncarbonized oil rather than true corrosion; scouring, drying completely and rubbing with vegetable oil will restore the surface.