Cast Iron Skillet Sizes: What Size Do I Need?

January 17, 2023January 17, 2023 by Egle Goleckyte

Cooking remains a much sort after skill for many people, although it can sometimes be confusing. One of the most confusing aspects of cooking is understanding which cooking pot is best when preparing certain meals. Using one pot/ pan to prepare all kinds of meals destroys the pot/pan and affects the quality of the meal prepared. As a result, it is very important to use the correct pot for your cooking process whether you are frying, boiling, baking, searing, and so on (skip straight to the cast iron skillet sizes).

Searing is a cooking term used to describe the act of cooking food at a blasting high temperature of around 500F (260°C). The idea behind searing is for the outer portion of the food to be cooked faster, turning it into a golden-brown color, while the inner portion remains uncooked or not as well cooked as the outer portion. Sometimes, the food is then transferred to low heat to allow the inner portion to be properly cooked. This process is often used in preparing meat and it is usually done using an iron skillet.

Cast Iron Skillet Sizes: What Size Do I Need? size-charts.com — _{Image Source: British GQ}

An iron skillet is a type of cast iron cookware that resembles a deeper frying pan with a helper handle. It is also known for its non-stick properties and its ability to withstand higher temperatures, such as the heat from the Dutch ovens, than most other cooking pots and pans. This makes it the best option for searing. A major problem most beginners find when using an iron skillet is knowing which size iron skillet to use.

This article will contain the iron-skillet size chart to help you pick the right size skillet for you. It also contains answers to some of the internet’s most frequently asked questions about cast iron cookware.

Jump right into the Frequently Asked Questions

Cast Iron Skillet Sizes Table of Contents

Iron Skillet Size Chart
What sizes do skillets come in?
Frequently Asked Questions

Iron Skillet Size Chart

Skillet Size (inches)	Skillet Size (cm)	External Diameter (inches)	External Diameter (cm)	Weight (lbs)	Weight (kg)	Capacity
3.5-inch skillet	8.9	3.93	10.0	0.62	0.28	Individually prepared scrambled eggs, dessert for a single person, also for cooking food in batches
5-inch skillet	12.7	5.13	13.0	1.15	0.52	Individually prepared egg omelet (single servings), one serving of deep-dish pizza
6-1/2 Inch Skillet	16.5	6.68	17.0	1.94	0.87	Two fried eggs, fish fillet; 2 servings of stir fry, two servings of casserole dish.
8-inch skillet	20.3	8.68	22.0	3.4	1.53	Three fried eggs, One chicken breast, one chop
9-inch skillet	22.9	9.68	24.6	4.17	1.88	Four fried Eggs, two chicken breast, two chops, one steak
10.25-inch skillet	26.0	10.68	27.1	5.35	2.41	Five fried eggs, two steaks, four chicken breasts
12-inch skillet	30.5	12.56	31.9	7.89	3.55	Six fried eggs, family-sized recipes.
13.25-inch skillet	33.7	13.75	34.9	10.5	4.73	Seven fried eggs.
15-inch skillet	38.1	15	38.1	12.36	5.56	Eight fried eggs, large family recipes
17-inch skillet	43.2	17	43.2	13.53	6.09	9 fried eggs, recipes for a large extended family

What sizes do skillets come in?

Pieces of cast iron skillets come in versatile sizes; the dimensions vary from 3.5 inches to 17 inches. The quart size for skillets varies since they come in a variety of shapes with lower and higher sides. The size of the food you plan to make with it will have a big impact on the one you choose. To choose the appropriate size of iron skillet for your upcoming kitchen session, refer to the sizing chart above.

The 3.5-inch cast iron skillet is the smallest size skillet (mini-sized skillets) and one of the most popular skillet sizes on the market and can be mostly used to prepare meals for a single person at a time or batch cooking. The 8-inch cast iron skillet, on the other hand, can be used to prepare meals for about 3-4 people.

It is a popular size for medium-sized (medium skillet) skillets. The 12 to 15-inch skillets (large-sized skillets) are family skillets, although the 15-inch cast iron skillets are better for preparing larger portions of food at a time.

Learn more about cast iron skillet sizes (video)

_{Cast Iron Skillet Sizes Explained by Cast Iron Cookware}

Frequently Asked Questions

What size is considered a large cast iron skillet?

Skillet sizes from 12 inches (30cm) and above are considered large. A 12-inch iron skillet can fry 6 eggs conveniently and can prepare a recipe for a small family. Larger skillets can prepare recipes for extended families or small house parties.

To determine what size of skillet you have, take a measuring tape across the internal and external parts of your iron skillets and compare the values with those on the chart.

Is a 12-inch cast iron skillet too big?

Deciding on whether a 12-inch cast iron skillet is too big depends on what you intend to do with the skillet. For instance, a 12-inch skillet is too big for frying eggs for a person as it can conveniently contain about six eggs.

A 12-inch skillet could be used to prepare meals for a small family. The 14-inch or 15-inch skillets are much bigger and are primarily family skillets and can be used to prepare all types of food for the whole family.

What size is a #10 cast iron skillet?

#10 skillet is a 10-inch pan with dimensions of about 10.25 inches (26 cm) in internal diameter and 10.68 inches (27.1 cm) in external diameter weights of 5.35 lbs (2.41kg). It is generally considered a size medium in comparison to other cast iron skillets sold on the market.

A size #10 skillet can fry five eggs conveniently; it can also prepare two average-sized steaks or four average-sized chicken breasts.

How do I know what size my cast iron skillet is?

To measure your cast iron skillet, you will need to take certain accurate measurements. These measurements include the inner diameter, the external diameter, and weight. To take the length of its inner diameter, take a measuring tape across the longest length on its inner portion.

For the external portion, take a measuring tape across the pans external portion of the pan, measuring it across its longest length. Finally, you can take the weight of the pan using a small scale. You can compare the values with the chart above.

What is the largest cast iron skillet ever made?

According to a report, the largest cast iron skillet ever made is 36 pounds and 3 ounces (16.4kg). The skillet is about 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter and is about 3 inches (7.6 cm).

Is a heavier cast iron skillet better?

Yes, it is advised to choose a heavier cast iron skillet because it maintains heat better. The heating will be more uneven the thinner the skillet.

Conclusion

Understanding which cooking pot or pan is ideal to use while making particular meals is one of the most challenging aspects of cooking, and hopefully, you have found this article to be useful. Cooking food at a scorching high temperature of about 500F is referred to as searing.

This method is frequently used to cook meat, and it is typically done in an iron skillet. The page above included a sizing table for iron skillets. It also contained answers to some of the internet’s most frequently asked questions about iron skillets.

Remember that the cast iron skillet sizes range from 3.5 inches to 17 inches. Usually, skillet sizes from 12 inches (30cm) and above are considered large but deciding on whether a 12-inch cast iron skillet is too big depends on what you intend to do with the skillet. Also, the 10-inch skillet is about 10.25 inches (26 cm) in internal diameter and 10.68 inches (27.1 cm) in external diameter weight of 5.35 lbs (2.41kg).

To measure your cast iron skillet, you will need to take certain accurate measurements. These measurements include the inner diameter, the external diameter, and weighToill date, the largest cast iron skillet ever made is 36 pounds and 3 ounces (16.4kg). The skillet is about 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter and is about 3 inches (7.6 cm).

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Picture in this post is by David B Townsend on Unsplash