12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet

The 12 inch Stargazer has been my go to pan for a few years now. So well made. The long curved main handle and the generous sized support handle make this skillet a breeze to manipulate regardless of how full the skillet is. Cooking is even and the foods that develop with this skillet is amazing!
I like it so much, I have given two 12 inch skillets as gifts. The accolades keep coming!

I wanted a step up from my 12” Lodge since I didn’t like the textured surface and I read great things about the 12” Stargazer. Firstly, the pan is beautiful! From the design on the bottom to the flowing handle to the bronze shade of seasoning, this thing is a real showstopper! I love showing it off to my friends and keeping it on the stovetop to look at. The smooth surface is great for cooking and easy to clean and season. The sear I get on steaks is second to none and it’s versatile enough to cook anything that I cook in my nonstick. It is heavier than a few other pans I’ve tried, but the small assist handle helps a lot and I don’t end up moving the pan much anyway. I’m very happy with my purchase and would absolutely buy again

I bought a Stargazer 12" because it was the one size I lacked, and because I'd heard good things. After cooking only a few different foods I now know that I'll reach for the Stargazer 12 any time I don't definitely need something smaller. Its velvet finish never fails; the seasoning always holds up with normal maintenance. No need for multiple extra plies of hot-smelling oil being baked off in the oven or on the stove top and scenting my whole living space as if it was a fast food joint, no need for glistening blackness. Even though initial care suggests taking steps to add at least minimally to the seasoning, for me it just works as it should, right out of the box.

If I could start over knowing what I know now, I'd start with Stargazer and stay with it.

I've been using cast iron to cook for my entire adult life, just like my mother did, and her mother before her. In 2019, my husband gave me a Stargazer 12-inch skillet as a birthday gift, and it's been my favorite present from him in our 24 years of marriage. This skillet cooks everything so well and evenly that I can't even begin to describe how amazing it is. I use it for everything—meats, vegetables, breads, and desserts—you name it.

I also have the 10-inch pan, and I often use them both at the same time to cook different dishes. Sometimes, I'll load them up with halved Brussels sprouts and pop them in the oven to make the crispiest, most delicious Brussels sprouts you could imagine. I highly recommend the 12-inch skillet because it's the perfect size for cooking a meal for the whole family. With three kids, it easily makes enough for all five of us.

**Pro Tip:** You don’t need to season these pans. If you cook regularly like I do, I actually suggest not seasoning them. The surface of Stargazer cast iron is so smooth, naturally non-stick, and well-crafted that seasoning can actually take away some of the magic. I've included a photo of my two pans to show that they're not seasoned, and they still perform beautifully.

Don't hesitate—buy one!

These are great pans. I’ve been using cast iron and carbon steel pans for a long time. I’ve used many different brands and Stargazer has become my favorite. I feel like they are easier to season than other cast iron pans. I also like that the cooking area is smooth. I believe this helps with seasoning and makes cleaning easier. I also enjoy many design features such as the handle and curved lip which makes pouring easy.

Honestly this one was a stupor. Not my first foray into cast iron but I really wanted to treat myself and got me a nice stargazer. Let me tell you it is just beautifully crafted. I’ve so far noticed no burs or rough spots from the casting. They seem to have a very good QC. I wish I could have figured out what they use as a seasoning blend to keep that beautiful bronze gold hued color they come in. I’m not gonna lie to you guys it wasn’t a walk in the park for me to season this thing. I usually use a crisbee stick to season my cast iron griddle and that has always worked for me. But the stargazer not so much. After trying and trying the season would always come off with even a very gentle wash. So I asked some questions on Reddit cast iron sub ( a Godsend). And was suggested to use avocado oil as the crisbee stick has a fair amount of beeswax in it. So I did a simple strip boil on my stargazer and started anew. This time I did a stove top instead of oven seasoning round. Put about 4 layers of season and now it finally seems to be holding well. If you’re on the fence I’d buy it. Heck I plan on buying the 10” skillet and Dutch oven too. I’ve got my stainless steel for acidic foods and my cast iron for everything else.