Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

12" Cuisinel skillet. This is a really good skillet. I have had a Lodge 12" for over 10 years and compared the two. You may have read that the Lodge comes with a pebbled surface which Lodge says will smooth out over time. In my experience that is true (see photo, Lodge is on the left). The Cuisinel also has a pebbly surface. I also have had 10" skillet from Westinghouse for about 3 years, that also is pebbly (still is) which does not adversely affect cooking performance or clean up. Complaints about pebbliness are misguided in my view. The Cuisinel feels a bit rough around the edges at first, like freshly cast, but after scrubbing mine with a cast iron chain mail cleaner thing, I don't notice the rough edges anymore. (I don't recall what the Lodge was like when new.) As far as performance goes, it works perfectly, just as well as the Lodge. It is flat on the bottom (my first Lodge was convex and I had to replace it to use it on a glass cooktop), and works well on an induction cooktop as well as gas. On the induction cooktop, the edges of the circular magnetic area get hot first, and with more time the heat radiates so that the whole surface is heated evenly. Cast iron is not a great conductor, so preheating at a more moderate temperature is important to give the heat a chance to disburse more evenly. The instructions say to wash with dish soap once and reseason on arrival. I washed it and dried it but didn't reseason. I have not have a problem with anything sticking, but haven't tried the ultimate test: fried eggs. If you do choose to reseason, the best thing to do is remove the seasoning with spray on oven cleaner (caustic, so follow directions), and reseason with flax oil. Flax oil creates a much more durable coating than any other, per Cooks Illustrated, but you have to start with raw metal. The pan weighs 7 lb 13.5 oz. The Lodge weighs 7 lb, 4 oz. The Cuisinel is a bit taller, 2 1/4" vs. 2 1/16" and the handle a bit wider. It is a very nice cast iron skillet. It is a real plus that it comes with a lid (and silicone handle cover). A lid makes it much more convenient.