One cast iron skillet is enough to get started. It stops being enough the first morning you want to fry two eggs in a 12-inch pan and heat a burner’s worth of iron to do it, or the first night a 10-inch pan will not hold dinner for four. Sizes matter with cast iron, because the pan you pick is the heat you get.
This guide covers seven multi-size sets, from Lodge’s own griddle-and-skillet box to a two-pan set for small kitchens, with the sizes and care stated for each. If you only want a single pan, start with our guide to the best cast iron skillet.
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Quick verdict: which skillet set to buy
The best cast iron skillet set for most kitchens is the Lodge 3-Piece Skillet and Griddle Set. It gives you an 8-inch skillet, a large 13.25-inch skillet and a 10.5-inch griddle that works as a comal, all seasoned and cast in the USA, according to Lodge. If you want the classic 8, 10 and 12-inch sizes from a plain listing, the Commercial Chef 3-Piece Set is sold by Amazon.
Lifting is hard for you? The Cuisinel 3-Piece Set adds helper handles to its two larger pans. If you would like lids, the MegaChef 13-Piece Set includes one for every pan. And Lodge’s boxed 8, 10.25 and 12-inch set is in our value skillet guide.
Five skillet sets side by side
Five of the seven sets, one for each kind of buyer. Sizes are from the listings.
| Set | Best for | Sizes | Maker and details | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lodge 3-Piece Skillet and Griddle SetBest overall
|
Most kitchens, tortillas and big sears | 8 in, 13.25 in, 10.5 in griddle | Lodge, seasoned, cast in the USA | View on Amazon |
Commercial Chef 3-Piece Cast Iron Skillet SetBest plain 8-10-12 set
|
A plain set from Amazon’s own stock | 8, 10 and 12 in | Commercial Chef, pre-seasoned | View on Amazon |
Cuisinel 3-Piece Skillet Set With Handle CoversBest for lifting
|
Two-handed lifting, pour spouts | 8, 10 and 12 in | Cuisinel, handle covers, pour spouts | View on Amazon |
MegaChef 13-Piece Skillet Set With LidsBest with lids
|
Braising and covered cooking | 6, 8, 10 and 12 in | MegaChef, glass lids, holders | View on Amazon |
Utopia Kitchen 3-Piece Skillet Set, 6, 8 and 10-InchBest small sizes
|
Small households, individual portions | 6, 8 and 10 in | Utopia, pre-seasoned with vegetable oil | View on Amazon |
None of these listings states pan weights, so expect any 12-inch cast iron pan to be a two-hand lift when full.
Our picks for the best cast iron skillet set
All seven are bare, seasoned cast iron, so there is no enamel to think about. They are in order of how well they suit a home kitchen, by what the makers and listings state.
1. Lodge 3-Piece Skillet and Griddle Set – Small, Huge and a Griddle
Most three-piece sets give you three skillets that do much the same job. This one gives you three jobs. The 8-inch skillet handles eggs and small batches of salsa, the 13.25-inch handles the big things, such as a whole pan of fajitas or a large batch of chicken thighs, and the 10.5-inch round griddle is a flat comal in everything but name. For a kitchen that heats tortillas every day, that griddle may get more use than either skillet.
Lodge says the set is seasoned in its foundry with 100% vegetable oil and is ready to use, that it can go on the stove, in the oven, on the grill or over a campfire, and that it is cast in the USA. Lodge also says cast iron is suited to induction, and that it recommends preheating slowly on those cooktops.
The trade-off is the gap in the middle. There is no 10-inch skillet here, which is the size many cooks reach for most. And a 13.25-inch pan is heavy and needs a big burner to heat evenly, though Lodge’s set does not state weights. If your stove has small burners, the 8, 10 and 12-inch sets below will be easier to live with.
Why we like it
- Three shapes, not three sizes of one
- Griddle works as a comal for tortillas
- Foundry seasoned with vegetable oil, per Lodge
- Cast in the USA, per Lodge
Key specifications
| Model | L3SETASAMK |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 3 |
| Pans | 8 in and 13.25 in skillets, 10.5 in griddle |
| Seasoning | Seasoned, 100% vegetable oil |
| Heat sources | Stove, oven, grill, campfire |
| Lids and extras | Not stated |
| Made in | USA |
| Care | Hand wash, dry, oil, per Lodge |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants one box to cover daily eggs, tortillas and the occasional crowd.
Skip it if you want the classic 10-inch skillet in the box, or your burners are small.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Real variety of shapes
- Named US foundry
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- No 10-inch skillet
- The 13.25-inch pan is a lot to lift, full
2. Lodge 8, 10.25 and 12-Inch Skillet Bundle – The Three Sizes People Use
This is the classic lineup: 8, 10.25 and 12 inches from Lodge. Between them they cover a single egg, a weeknight dinner for two and a family pan of carne asada. Lodge’s plain skillets are the familiar baseline for the rest of this page.
Read this listing carefully, though. It is sold as a bundle by a third-party seller, not by Amazon, and its model code looks like a reseller’s rather than Lodge’s. The features are thin. They say it suits gas stoves and the oven and that it should be hand washed, and they name only the 12 and 10.25-inch pans in one line, even though the title and set count include the 8-inch. Lodge says its cast iron suits induction as well, so we would not read the gas line as a limit.
We are including it because this three-size set is the one most people mean when they search, and Lodge’s boxed version of the same sizes is already on our value skillet guide. Check that guide if you would rather buy that listing. When this bundle arrives, make sure you have all three pans, and confirm they are Lodge’s.
Why we like it
- The three sizes most cooks want
- Lodge pans at the heart of it
- Oven safe, per the listing
- Hand washing keeps it simple
Key specifications
| Model | QUIVERBNDLE2 (seller’s code) |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 3 |
| Pans | 8, 10.25 and 12 in skillets |
| Seasoning | Seasoned |
| Heat sources | Listing names gas stoves and oven |
| Lids and extras | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated on this listing |
| Care | Hand wash only, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook starting from nothing who wants the familiar Lodge sizes in one purchase.
Skip it if you prefer buying from Amazon or the maker directly. This listing came from a reseller when we checked.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Most useful size spread
- Lodge pans
- Three pans in one order
Cons
- Third-party seller’s bundle
- Thin, partly incomplete listing
3. Commercial Chef 3-Piece Cast Iron Skillet Set – Plain Pans, Induction Stated
If the Lodge bundle’s reseller puts you off, this is the plain alternative. You get 8, 10 and 12-inch round pans, pre-seasoned, with holes in the handles for hanging. The title names all cooktops including induction, and the listing adds the oven, broiler and campfire use.
Despite the name, nothing on the listing shows these are restaurant-grade pans. The listing asks for hand washing with gentle detergent and thorough towel drying, which is the normal routine for bare iron.
Where it falls short is detail. It does not state a foundry, weights or a country of origin, and we did not find an independent review of this set. So we treat it as an honest, basic set of pans and do not expect a smoother surface than Lodge’s. Cast iron is forgiving, and plain pans season up over time, but a rough surface may take longer to get there.
Why we like it
- Full 8, 10 and 12-inch spread
- All cooktops, including induction, per the listing
- Handle holes for hanging
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | CHCI03PK |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 3 |
| Pans | 8, 10 and 12 in skillets |
| Seasoning | Pre-seasoned |
| Heat sources | All cooktops, oven, broiler, campfire |
| Lids and extras | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Hand wash, dry thoroughly |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants the standard three sizes from a straightforward listing and does not need a named foundry.
Skip it if you care where the pans are cast. Nothing on this listing tells you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Useful sizes
- Clear cooktop list
- Handle holes
Cons
- Origin and weights not stated
- Name suggests more than the listing supports
4. Cuisinel 3-Piece Skillet Set With Handle Covers – Helper Handles on the Big Pans
Cast iron gets heavy once it is full of chile verde. This set answers that with helper handles on the 10 and 12-inch pans, so you can lift with two hands, and pour spouts on the same two for draining fat or pouring sauce. The set also includes silicone handle covers and a care guide.
Be careful with those covers. Cuisinel’s own listing says the silicone grips get hot and to use an oven mitt, so treat them as a little extra comfort, not protection. We would take them off before the oven. The listing names gas, electric, induction and glass tops, plus oven, grill and campfire.
Care is the usual routine: rinse while warm, dry on low heat and wipe with a thin coat of oil, and do not soak or put the pans in the dishwasher. Cuisinel is an Amazon-first brand, so there is no foundry story and the listing does not state a country of origin. What it offers is a sensible design for the size, and we would buy it for the handles.
Why we like it
- Helper handles on the 10 and 12-inch pans
- Pour spouts on the same two pans
- Silicone handle covers included
- Induction and glass tops named
Key specifications
| Model | C12608-10-12-V3 |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 3 plus handle covers |
| Pans | 8, 10 and 12 in skillets |
| Seasoning | Pre-seasoned |
| Heat sources | Gas, electric, induction, glass, oven, grill, campfire |
| Lids and extras | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Rinse warm, dry on low heat, thin coat of oil |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who finds a one-handled 12-inch pan hard to lift, or who pours off fat often.
Skip it if you want a foundry you can name. Cuisinel’s listing does not give one.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easier two-handed lift
- Pour spouts
- Care guide included
Cons
- Silicone covers get hot, per Cuisinel
- No origin stated
- Third-party seller when we checked
5. MegaChef 13-Piece Skillet Set With Lids – Four Pans, Four Lids
The piece count flatters this set, since 13 pieces really means four skillets (6, 8, 10 and 12 inches), a tempered glass lid for each, four silicone holders and two scrapers. Even so, four sizes with matching lids is unusual, and lids are the first thing most bare skillet sets leave out. They let you steam a tortilla stack, braise a few chicken thighs or finish a quesadilla with the cheese melted.
MegaChef says the pans can go on the stove, in the oven, on the barbecue and over a campfire. The listing doesn’t give an oven limit for the glass lids, so check the paperwork before you put one in a hot oven. We would also not take its broader claims about healthier cooking as anything more than marketing. For more covered options, including lids from other makers, see our skillet with lid guide.
The 6-inch pan is small enough for a single egg and not much else. The lids and holders take up cupboard space you may not have, and the listing gives no weights, foundry or origin. No independent review of this set turned up in our search.
Why we like it
- Four sizes, 6 through 12 inches
- A glass lid for each pan
- Holders and scrapers included
- Stove, oven, barbecue and campfire named
Key specifications
| Model | Not stated (listing shows a general code) |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 13 (4 pans, 4 lids, 4 holders, 2 scrapers) |
| Pans | 6, 8, 10 and 12 in skillets |
| Seasoning | Pre-seasoned |
| Heat sources | Stove, oven, barbecue, campfire |
| Lids and extras | Glass lids; oven limit not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone setting up a whole kitchen who wants lids and every size in a single order.
Skip it if you already own any cast iron. You would be paying for pieces you do not need.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lids for every pan
- Widest size range here
- Sold by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- Piece count overstates it
- No origin or lid temperature stated
- More to store
6. Bayou Classic 8 and 10-Inch Skillet Set – Two Pans, Pour Spouts
Not everyone needs three pans. If you cook for one or two, a 12-inch skillet may spend its life in the oven drawer. Bayou Classic’s set is just an 8 and a 10-inch pan, both with pour spouts, and the listing says both are oven and broiler safe and come seasoned to ease cleaning and prevent rust.
Bayou Classic also sells 14 and 16-inch skillets on Amazon, and this is the small end of its range. The listing is short, but it does state a one-year limited warranty, which is more than most of the sets here tell you. It does not state a country of origin, and it does not list cooktops, so check the maker’s guidance if you cook on glass or induction.
Two pans also take up less room, which matters in an apartment. If you outgrow them, a single larger pan is easy to add later, and our main cast iron skillet guide covers that.
Why we like it
- Two useful sizes, no extras
- Pour spouts on both pans
- Oven and broiler safe, per the listing
- One-year limited warranty stated
Key specifications
| Model | 7457 |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 2 |
| Pans | 8 and 10 in skillets |
| Seasoning | Seasoned |
| Heat sources | Oven and broiler named; cooktops not listed |
| Lids and extras | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a one or two-person household or a small apartment kitchen.
Skip it if you regularly cook for four or more. You will want a 12-inch pan.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Compact set
- Pour spouts
- Warranty stated
Cons
- No large pan
- Short listing
- Third-party seller when we checked
7. Utopia Kitchen 3-Piece Skillet Set, 6, 8 and 10-Inch – The Smaller Sizes
This set stops at 10 inches, and that is its appeal or its problem depending on the household. The 6-inch pan is good for a single egg, a small batch of toasted chiles or an individual skillet dessert, the 8-inch for a two-egg breakfast, and the 10-inch for a small dinner. If you cook for a crowd, it is the wrong set.
Utopia says the pans are pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, and it names stovetops, ovens, grills and campfires. Note its care advice: let the pan cool fully before washing with hot soapy water and a sponge, then rub on a little vegetable oil after each wash. It is not dishwasher safe. Lodge also says mild dish soap is fine, so that part of the routine is not unusual.
Utopia is an Amazon-first brand and the listing does not name a foundry or country of origin. We have not seen an independent review of this set. It is a sensible way to get small pans, not a substitute for a large one.
Why we like it
- Small pans that many sets skip
- Pre-seasoned with vegetable oil, per Utopia
- Stove, oven, grill and campfire named
- Clear care advice on the listing
Key specifications
| Model | UK0224 |
|---|---|
| Pieces | 3 |
| Pans | 6, 8 and 10 in skillets |
| Seasoning | Pre-seasoned, vegetable oil |
| Heat sources | Stove, oven, grill, campfire |
| Lids and extras | Not stated |
| Made in | Not stated |
| Care | Cool, wash, dry, rub with oil; not for the dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
It suits a small household, or anyone serving individual portions right in the pan.
Skip it if you want to cook a whole family meal in one pan. The largest here is 10 inches.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Compact sizes
- Good for individual portions
- Clear care advice
Cons
- No large pan
- Rests on the listing
- Third-party seller when we checked
How to choose a multi-size cast iron set
A set is only a bargain if you use all of it. These are the things worth checking:
- Sizes first. Eight inches is an egg pan, ten is a two-person dinner, and twelve is family size. Six-inch pans are for single portions, and anything over 13 inches needs a big burner. Picture your usual dinner, and buy the set that holds it.
- Burner fit. A pan much wider than your burner heats unevenly at first and takes longer to get there. Cast iron holds heat well, but preheating slowly gives the edges time to catch up.
- Handles. A helper handle changes the job of moving a full 12-inch pan. Check for one on the sizes you will lift the most, and remember that Cuisinel’s silicone covers get hot.
- Lids. Bare skillet sets rarely come with them. If you braise or melt cheese under a cover, look for lids or plan on buying them, and check the oven limit for any glass lid.
- Who made it. Lodge states that it casts its iron in the USA. Most of the others here do not state an origin, so you are buying on the listing alone. That is not a fault of the iron, but it is worth knowing.
- Cooktop. Lodge says cast iron is suited to induction and that glass tops should not be scratched by its smooth bottom, but advises lifting the pan to move it and not sliding it. Do that with any set.
How we chose these sets
We started with what Amazon had in stock from identifiable makers, then read each listing for pan sizes, included pieces and care instructions. We set a limit of two Amazon-first brands, and left out sets that only reshuffled the same sizes from a seller we could not identify. Listings came first, then Lodge’s own pages on care and cooktops.
Our search for independent reviews of these sets found retail pages, ratings roundups and affiliate lists, not a side-by-side trial of cast iron sets that we would rely on. One older Mashed article recommended a four-piece Cuisinel set, but based on Amazon ratings and maker claims and for a different set, so we did not lean on it. That means these picks rest on the listing and maker details. We did not use any of these pans ourselves.
We also searched the CPSC recall database for each brand and found no recall for any of them.
Cast iron skillet set questions, answered
What sizes should a multi size cast iron set include?
For most homes, an 8-inch pan for eggs, a 10-inch for small dinners and a 12-inch for family meals. A griddle is a very useful swap if you make tortillas, quesadillas or pancakes often.
Is a cast iron set better than buying one pan at a time?
Only if you will use every piece. If you know you want two sizes, buying those singly can make more sense, and you can pick a smoother or lighter pan. A set makes sense for a kitchen starting from nothing.
Can I use soap on cast iron?
Lodge says mild dish soap is fine, and that today’s dish soap is no longer strong enough to remove seasoning. Lodge also says not to soak the pan or put it in the dishwasher, to dry it fully, and to rub on a thin layer of oil.
Do these sets work on induction and glass tops?
Lodge says cast iron is fine on induction and advises preheating slowly. For glass tops it says to lift the pan to move it, not slide it. Commercial Chef and Cuisinel name induction on their listings. The Bayou Classic listing does not list cooktops, so check first.
Are lids included with cast iron skillet sets?
Usually not. Of the sets here, only MegaChef includes lids. If you want a lid and one strong pan, see our guide to cast iron skillets with lids.
How do I keep a new set from rusting?
Dry each pan straight after washing and oil it lightly, as Lodge advises. Stacked pans can trap moisture, so make sure they are fully dry, and put a paper towel between them if you stack them.
Our last word on skillet sets
Buy for the meals you actually cook. For a Mexican home kitchen we would take a griddle over a third skillet, which is why the Lodge set comes first. Keep a good spatula for cast iron and some oven mitts that can handle the heat nearby, and use the griddle for warming tortillas. Our note on corn and flour tortillas is a good next read.
And if you would rather let someone else cook tonight, see the menu or call to order.