Considering this thread is still going, I figured I'd give an update since I've now used it a couple of months.
Schmellba99 is right, cooking wise, it doesn't cook any worse or better than my cheap Lodge. The difference is the starting point of each. The Stargazer was super smooth and continues to be, where the Lodge was rough at first but has gotten better with each cook. With more "pits" on the surface, I guess it should take a seasoning better. Sticking hasn't been an issue with either, though eggs slide around the Stargazer like a nice carbon steel where they don't with the Lodge...but it doesn't stick either.
The one area the Stargazer does stand out is the handle. If cooking stuff a bit longer or on a higher heat, the handle does warm up, but not to the point that you need protection to touch it or move the pan. If you're going to be draining grease or something where you'll be holding it for a while, an oven mitt or towel is sometimes needed. Not so with the Lodge. Just cooking something simple eggs or bacon requires protection to turn the pan or to move it to a trivet when I am finished. I used the Lodge on Tuesday to cook something and burned my hand because I didn't have the silicon protector over the handle.
Another thing with the handle is it's extra length makes it feel lighter than it really is. It weighs similar to the Lodge, but I feel the weight with the Lodge because of the stubby handle. I either suck it up or use the helper handle. Not really a need with the Stargazer.
Also, the lip on the Stargazer works great and grease or anything else I pour out doesn't run down the side of the pan like I had with the Lodge.
Does any of it justify the premium over the Lodge? Nah. As I said earlier, this was a splurge/luxury buy and it remains so. Would I buy it again if I were doing it over? Yes. It's something that gets a lot of use and will be used for years in the future (good Lord willing), so the cost is really a non-factor in the long run for the little things it has over the Lodge. If I was on a tight budget or rarely cooked I wouldn't do it. But with 3 growing kids, we cook quite a bit. The 10" Stargazer and my 12" Lodge carbon steel are our 2 go to pans, with a Lodge 10" and 12" CI waiting in the wings.
Schmellba99 is right, cooking wise, it doesn't cook any worse or better than my cheap Lodge. The difference is the starting point of each. The Stargazer was super smooth and continues to be, where the Lodge was rough at first but has gotten better with each cook. With more "pits" on the surface, I guess it should take a seasoning better. Sticking hasn't been an issue with either, though eggs slide around the Stargazer like a nice carbon steel where they don't with the Lodge...but it doesn't stick either.
The one area the Stargazer does stand out is the handle. If cooking stuff a bit longer or on a higher heat, the handle does warm up, but not to the point that you need protection to touch it or move the pan. If you're going to be draining grease or something where you'll be holding it for a while, an oven mitt or towel is sometimes needed. Not so with the Lodge. Just cooking something simple eggs or bacon requires protection to turn the pan or to move it to a trivet when I am finished. I used the Lodge on Tuesday to cook something and burned my hand because I didn't have the silicon protector over the handle.
Another thing with the handle is it's extra length makes it feel lighter than it really is. It weighs similar to the Lodge, but I feel the weight with the Lodge because of the stubby handle. I either suck it up or use the helper handle. Not really a need with the Stargazer.
Also, the lip on the Stargazer works great and grease or anything else I pour out doesn't run down the side of the pan like I had with the Lodge.
Does any of it justify the premium over the Lodge? Nah. As I said earlier, this was a splurge/luxury buy and it remains so. Would I buy it again if I were doing it over? Yes. It's something that gets a lot of use and will be used for years in the future (good Lord willing), so the cost is really a non-factor in the long run for the little things it has over the Lodge. If I was on a tight budget or rarely cooked I wouldn't do it. But with 3 growing kids, we cook quite a bit. The 10" Stargazer and my 12" Lodge carbon steel are our 2 go to pans, with a Lodge 10" and 12" CI waiting in the wings.
