Cast iron skillets are, if not the oldest, then certainly one of the oldest types of cookware still in use today, with a multitude of sizes and shapes from which to choose. What is the best and most versatile size of cast iron skillet is a common question. I have been using cast iron for over 50 years, and here is my recommendation.

The best and most versatile cast iron skillet size is 10 inches. It is about the size of a standard pie and is perfect for cooking meals for about two people. However, I recommend having two sizes on hand: an 8-inch and a 10-inch cast iron skillet.

The 8-inch is perfect for frying eggs and making pancakes, and the 10-inch works really well for frying meat of any kind, and making things like dirty rice and macaroni and cheese.

For most people, this 8-inch skillet and this 10-inch skillet will suffice for just about anything you want to do in the kitchen. Both can be found on Amazon.

Popular Cast Iron Skillet Sizes:

In order to narrow down this process of choosing the best size for you, let’s take a look at each of the most popular sizes and the foods they are suited for.

3-½ inches 

While this little fellow is really cute, and everybody wants one, it is too small to be very useful if you only want one or two pieces of cast iron. It is only large enough to cook one egg at a time.

5 inches

Here again, this size will only cook one egg at a time but might be sufficient for cooking for one person.

6-½ inches

This size would cook 2 eggs and could be used to cook a couple of hamburgers and might be sufficient for cooking for a couple of people.

8 inches

An 8-inch skillet is really the best size for cooking for one person. To use any smaller size, there would be certain things that you could not cook in them. This size will cook 2 eggs, 2 hamburgers, or other kinds of meat and will even be a good size for a smaller casserole or dessert.

9 inches

Now we are getting to a better size for cooking many things, including 4 eggs at a time or even making a dessert of some sort.

10-¼ inches

This is actually the best size to start with and has the capacity to cook 5 eggs at one time and for cooking almost anything you want to cook. This size would be perfect for cooking for a couple of people. It is also about the same size as a standard pie plate and could be used for many desserts. I’ve cooked frittatas and cakes in my 10-inch skillets, and they turn out beautifully.

Related Why You Have to Cook Cornbread in a Cast Iron Skillet.

12 inches

You could cook a maximum of 6 eggs at one time in this size skillet and could cook for a large family in it. The only downsides are that a skillet this size is quite heavy and is really too large to fit on a standard stove burner. However, if you don’t mind the weight and want to use it in the oven or on the grill, it will be perfect. Lodge recommends the 12-inch skillet to cook for a family of four.

13.25 inches

This size accommodates cooking 7 eggs at once and would be sufficient for cooking for a dinner party.

15 inches

This size is for those who do a lot of cooking, will cook 8 eggs at once, and will hold enough food for inviting guests.

My Recommendation

To fully answer this question of which size is correct for you, other questions must be taken into consideration and answered, such as what you are cooking and how many you are cooking for. We have to keep in mind that cast iron skillets range in size from 3.5 inches to about 15 inches.

Another question to be answered is how much you actually cook. For a person who doesn’t cook a lot, one iron skillet might be enough, but for someone who loves to cook and who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, two or more would be the answer.

During my research, I’ve discovered that more recommendations suggest that most people should have 2 skillets in sizes 10 inches and 12 inches, which are known as the two most versatile sizes. However, I don’t agree.

Even though I have many cast iron skillets of various sizes, I mainly use an 8-inch and a 10-inch. I use the 8-inch for frying eggs and making pancakes, the 10-inch for frying meat of any kind and making things like dirty rice and macaroni and cheese.

And when I make biscuits, I use both sizes. This is because my standard batch of biscuits will not fit into a 10-inch skillet or a 12-inch, but will fit nicely into the two, the 8-inch and the 10-inch skillets.

So, my recommendations are as follows:

• For those who have decided that they should have 2 cast iron skillets, I would suggest getting an 8-inch and a 10-inch. 
• For those who would like 3 cast iron skillets, I would recommend an 8-inch, a 10-inch, and a 12-inch.

Either way, I think both groups will have the size skillets they need to cook whatever foods they choose to prepare.