I'm 47 years old, and the 10" Lodge skillet that my mom gave me when I was in college still lives on my stovetop and gets used every day, often multiple times a day.

Get the Lodge. Her college age son will not have any trouble lifting it.

Anonymous wrote:Lodge is great quality and affordable. But, maybe look into carbon steel? Same nonstick properties (if properly seasoned) and heat conductivity as cast iron, but much, much lighter.

It's so much easier to cook with, being lighter to lift.

Lodge is great.

Thanks everyone. He lives at home so I’ll make sure he cares for it properly. He doesn’t get much so he takes care of the stuff he does have.

Anonymous wrote:Lodge FTW. Give him the pan and a tub of Crisco and tell him to YouTube seasoning instructions.

If you want to go even better and more affordable, visit thrift stores in search of an old one. Like everything else these days, new pans are a little thinner and lower quality than the ones made even 10 years ago.

Yeah you can sometimes find rusty ones for just a few dollars and it's not too hard to season them. Just do that at home rather than in the college dorm in case you need up and apply too much oil and it starts smoking.

I personally wouldn't trust college kids to care for it well. If a roommate soaks it or something it'll rust again, even a good new one.

Lodge FTW. Give him the pan and a tub of Crisco and tell him to YouTube seasoning instructions.

If you want to go even better and more affordable, visit thrift stores in search of an old one. Like everything else these days, new pans are a little thinner and lower quality than the ones made even 10 years ago.

Good old Lodge.

Lodge basic

I commented on the other thread that I like the Field cast-iron skillet. It's not too heavy, and is non-stick. Not cheap, but I think they are having a big sale right now.

Lodge is great quality and affordable. But, maybe look into carbon steel? Same nonstick properties (if properly seasoned) and heat conductivity as cast iron, but much, much lighter.

My college age son has been interested in cooking for the last few years. I am not a cook so we have the basics at home in the kitchen. My son asked for a cast iron pan for a Christmas gift. I don’t went to break the bank (college is already doing that) but I don’t want to buy junk either. It’s the only gift he’s asking for. TIA!