Our readers are always on the hunt for durable nonstick cookware that is free of nasty stuff, like PTFE. In this post, I make the case that Lancaster Cast Iron actually makes the best nonstick pan on the market. Hear me out…
I’ve tested many non-stick pans while working for Leaf Score and I’m here to tell you that the best of the bunch is… cast iron. And not just any cast iron, Lancaster cast iron.
Sure, I still love my Made In CeramiClad non-stick pans, and the Alva Maestro non-stick pan is a close runner-up, but Lancaster’s No. 8 cast iron skillet beats them both, no question.
Here’s why.
The many benefits of Lancaster cast iron
Cast iron wins points from me across the board. And Lancaster’s cast iron collection is the best of the best when it comes to this kind of cookware. That’s why we prioritized bringing Lancaster’s No. 8 cast iron skillet and lid to the Leaf Score Essentials store.
BIFL
Good quality cast iron is a true Buy it for Life (BIFL) purchase. I got my first cast iron pan around 15 years ago and it’s still going strong. I have no doubt that, barring serious mishaps, I’ll pass it down to the next generation.
The same goes for the Lancaster cast iron skillet. Adored by the Leaf Score team, this skillet is an heirloom purchase. How about we coin a new term:
Buy it for the Next Generation (BING).
In contrast, even the best ceramic coated non-stick pans will likely start to warp, scratch, lose non-stickiness, and end up in landfill within five to ten years. Made In’s CeramiClad is very robustly made with a 5-ply design, but even that will lose its appeal and be tricky to recycle once the non-stick coating gives up the ghost.
As for cast iron of lesser quality, this can be a pain to season at first, lose its seasoning fast, start to rust, and fail to be truly non-stick. That’s when cast iron gets relegated to the back of the cupboard, never to be used again.
Not so with Lancaster. The No. 8 skillet will quickly earn a permanent place on your stovetop.

Cost
A Lancaster No. 8 cast iron skillet costs around the same, or less, as a ceramic coated non-stick pan. The difference is that you’ll pay that cost once, not every few years.
Even better, because of the No. 8’s impressive longevity, you can pass this onto your kids, grandkids, friends, or the thrift store once your cooking days are over. That’s much better for the planet than the endless cycle of manufacturing new cookware destined for landfill.
Naturally non-stick
Cast iron can be naturally non-stick, without chemicals, when properly seasoned and maintained. Not all cast iron is the same, though, and Lancaster goes above and beyond to create a smooth surface that comes pre-seasoned, for out-of-the-box non-stick ease.
There’s also no need to worry with Lancaster cast iron if there’s anything leaching from a ceramic coating, or if PTFE or other PFAS chemicals are present. If you accidentally overheat your Lancaster skillet, things can get smoky and a bit scary, but these pans are robust enough to handle a few mishaps without harm to your health (or your pan).
Overheat a ceramic coated or, gasp, PTFE pan and the pan is ruined. You might also accidentally kill your pet parrot or need a trip to the hospital for help breathing.


Maintenance is a breeze, actually!
Cast iron might have a reputation for being fussy, but top quality cast iron it’s actually very forgiving.
Lancaster takes pains to make the surface of its skillets smooth enough to hold onto seasoning properly. That means these pans are very resilient, even in the face of inexperienced cooks doing questionable things.
Here’s more info on how to care for cast iron.
Lancaster cast iron is sustainable
Good quality cast iron pots and pans forged in the U.S., like Lancaster, and shipped in recycled and recyclable materials are the most sustainable cookware purchase of all.
Again, because you’re buying once, for life, the impact on the planet and its resources is minimal. BING!
Still skeptical about whether cast iron is green? I dig into that here.


Lancaster’s No. 8 Skillet is stovetop agnostic
Lancaster cast iron has enough ferrous metal for it to work with every kind of stovetop, including induction. It’s also suitable for camp cookouts, though best for car-camping!
Cast iron has a lot going for it. But… all that durability and high performance requires a bit of heft.
For some, cast iron is uncomfortably heavy. I had trouble using my biggest cast iron skillet when I injured my wrist, but I found workarounds because I love that pan so much!
If you like the idea of cast iron but the weight is a challenge, Lancaster’s No. 8 Skillet is a top choice. This skillet has a shorter, sturdy handle that makes it easier and more ergonomic to lift the pan. It also cuts down on heft, weighing in at just 4 pounds! Similar sized pans made of rougher cast iron from other companies often weigh twice as much, especially if they have unnecessarily long handles that add bulk.
Why choose Lancaster cast iron?
There’s a lot of cast iron out there, and not all is made equal. Here are just a few more reasons we strongly favor Lancaster for cast iron cookware.
Good design
The best cast iron pans are well designed with ergonomics and flexible use in mind.
Lancaster’s design team has clearly thought through how people actually use cast iron.
As well as the shorter handle for greater maneuverability, Lancaster smartly added pour spouts on three sides of the pan. If your household has both left- and right-handed cooks, this is a huge bonus.
Speaking from experience, having the pour spout on the ‘wrong’ side of a heavy pan makes it much less likely I’ll keep using that pan. Ouch.
Seasoning

To make everything super easy, Lancaster expertly pre-seasons the No. 8 Skillet with natural seed oil, so it’s ready to go right out of the box.
With Lodge and other cast iron contenders, you’ll need to work at seasoning the pans at least a couple of times before you can use them.
Lancaster also manufactures its skillets with a fine grade texture that helps the metal hold onto the seasoning to create a smoother, slicker non-stick surface. That means less work and easier maintenance than with other cast iron pans (and carbon steel) that lose their seasoning more easily.
“We use grapeseed oil which has a very high smoke point. We apply two separate coats of seasoning at 480 degrees. The seasoning along with the smooth surface help our cookware to be non-stick out of the box.”
Matt Sklar, Lancaster
Like every non-stick pan, you’ll still need a dash of oil for cooking eggs or other fragile foods.
There’s no doubt, though, that Lancaster’s cast iron is impressively non-stick. Lancaster also provides quality cast iron seasoning you can apply at home to help maintain your pan.
Lancaster cast iron really is heirloom quality. While most non-stick pans (green or otherwise) are destined for landfill once the coating wears away, Lancaster cast iron has real staying power.
Forged in Pennsylvania, lightweight but robust, and perfectly pre-seasoned, Lancaster cast iron is the last non-stick pan you’ll ever need to buy.
Check out Lancaster cast iron at Leaf Score Essentials.