The verdict
Smithey No. 12 appears in 1 AI-ranked category — best position #2 for cast iron skillet for steaks?.
Machined-smooth, polished cooking surface that behaves almost like vintage Griswold, releases well early, generous flared walls and a helper handle for steak flipping and basting; a genuine buy-it-for-life piece. FIX: ~$200 price and lighter than a comparable Lodge — hard to justify over a $25 pan on pure searing performance for most people.
GPT The pure-performance choice: an expansive 10.5-inch cooking surface, exceptional heat retention and recovery, and a polished interior that releases and cleans easily.
Gemini Combines heavy vintage-style iron density with a glass-smooth polished finish for exceptional crusting and smooth fat rendering; assumes a higher budget for hand-finished craftsmanship.
Grok Independently measured best-in-class heat retention and recovery; highly polished interior delivers exceptional nonstick performance and clean crust release from the first uses; comfortable ergonomics and heirloom aesthetics.
Where Smithey No. 12 falls short, per the models
- GPT Its roughly $220 price delivers only a modest searing improvement over the Lodge.
- Gemini Massive weight (over 8 lbs) and ultra-smooth initial factory polish make early seasoning layers vulnerable to flaking if overheated.
- Grok Premium price and weight comparable to a classic Lodge reduce practicality for frequent handling or budget-conscious buyers.
Poll history — On this board 2 of 2 polls since Aug 10 · now #4
#1 → #4
Top alternatives per the models: Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet · Stargazer 10.5-Inch · Victoria 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet · Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Head-to-head — how the models call it
Watch Smithey No. 12
Boards re-poll weekly and the models change their minds. One short email only when Smithey No. 12's standing moves — a rank change, a rival overtaking, or new reasoning from the models. Nothing otherwise.
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Smithey No. 12 ranks #2 for best cast iron skillet for steaks? by AI-model consensus. Put the badge in your README, docs or site — it updates automatically as the models re-rank.
[](https://modelsagree.com/best/best-cast-iron-skillet-for-steaks?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=badge-smithey-no-12)<a href="https://modelsagree.com/best/best-cast-iron-skillet-for-steaks?utm_source=badge&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=badge-smithey-no-12"><img src="https://modelsagree.com/badge/smithey-no-12.svg" alt="Smithey No. 12 — ranked #2 for Best cast iron skillet for steaks? by AI models on ModelsAgree" height="28"></a>Rankings are computed from what the models answer, re-polled on demand · raw reasoning shown verbatim · methodology