Victoria vs. Marquette Castings

Victoria and Marquette Castings are two cast iron cookware brands.

Neither is as well-known as brands such as Lodge or Le Creuset.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth knowing about them.

There are many cast iron companies you might not know of, and it’s my goal to bring awareness to them.

Both Victoria and Marquette have some similarities and differences. However, it doesn’t make one better than the other.

It simply means they aren’t the same, and it’s helpful to talk about each so you can decide which one may be right for you.

And so you can be aware of what various cast iron companies offer.

Let me note that I will focus more on the cast iron skillets than the other cookware.

So, let’s look at each brand and why you might prefer one over the other.

Table of Contents

Victoria is a small cast iron business in Columbia that manufactures many cast iron products such as skillets, dutch ovens, griddles, tortilla presses, and grinders. Marquette Castings is also a small company, but they are in the USA. They make cast iron and carbon steel skillets, a cast iron griddle, and an enameled Dutch oven and grill pan. The most noticeable difference in the cast iron skillets will be the price.

How Each Company is Similar or Different

Similarities Between Victoria and Marquette Castings

Victoria and Marquette Castings are both family-owned businesses.
Both make cast iron cookware at their home foundry, and each makes some products in China.
Both companies have websites where you can view their products, learn their story, and get tips on maintaining cast iron.
Victoria and Marquette both sell more than just cast iron cookware.
Both season their cast iron skillets with flaxseed oil.
Both make longer, more ergonomic handles on their cast iron skillets, but only Marquette advertises theirs as stay-cool.
Victoria and Marquette are both on Amazon and get good reviews.
Both offer lifetime warranties against manufacturer defects.

Company Differences: From Where to How They Make Their Cast Iron Skillets

Victoria makes their cast iron products in Columbia (with a USA office), and Marquette makes theirs in the USA.
Besides cast iron skillets, Victoria offers cast iron tortilla presses, Dutch ovens, grinders, and more. And Marquette Castings has enameled Dutch ovens and grill pan, plus a cast iron griddle.
You can buy Marquette from its website, but not from the Victoria website.
Where they resource their iron: Victoria uses European resources, and Marquette gets theirs in the USA.
Marquette’s cast iron skillet is smoother and lighter than Victoria’s, but Victoria’s is smoother and weighs less than Lodge.
Both have Dutch ovens, but Marquette’s has enameled, and Victoria’s is regular cast iron.
Victoria was founded in 1939 and Marquette in 2015.
Victoria uses sand casting to make cast iron products, and Marquette uses investment casting.
Marquette cast iron skillets cost up to 10x as much as Victoria’s.

All the products on the Victoria website are made in Columbia. But some of the products they offer in their Amazon store are made in China, such as glass lids and hot handle holders.

Similarly, Marquette Castings makes all cast iron and carbon steel products at the foundry in Michigan. However, their enameled cookware is still manufactured in China.

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The Similarities and Differences in The Cast Iron Skillets

You’ve already learned a bit about each manufacturer’s products, but let’s go a little deeper into the two sizes of cast iron skillets they both make. And the only two sizes Marquette offers. Click on the links to see the image.

Cast Iron Skillets	Victoria	Marquette Castings
Sizes and Weight	10-inch 4.9 lbs. 14-inch 7.7lbs.	10.5-inch 4.1 lbs. 13-inch 7.6 lbs.
Handle	10-inch long, ergonomic 13-inch two loops	10.5-inch long, ergonomic, stay-cool 13-inch two loops
Helper Handle	yes for 10-inch	no for 10.5-inch
Pour Spouts	large for both sizes	small and on 10.5-inch only
Casting	traditional (sand mold)	investment (ceramic mold)
Seasoning	one coat of organic flaxseed	four coats of organic flaxseed
Finish	semi-smooth	smooth
Cost	affordable	high-dollar

What do you get for the more expensive Marquette when comparing the skillets side-by-side?

Smoother finish
Stay-cool handle on the 10.5-inch
Three extra coats of organic flaxseed oil (four coats total)
Lighter weight
USA-made product
A new, innovative way of casting (investment, ceramic mold)

What does Victoria offer that Marquette doesn’t?

A helper handle on the 10-inch skillet
An affordable price for most people

Differences in the 13-inch pans

Victoria’s 13-inch cast iron skillet is a Paella pan that’s more rounded at the bottom and has a smaller cooking surface.

And Marquette’s 13-inch pan has a heat ring on the bottom that helps it sit flat on any stovetop.

Now for the prices of the skillets

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Victoria 10-inch

Victoria 13-inch Paella

Marquette 10.5-inch Marquette Castings

Marquette 13-inch Marquette Castings

Why Spend $200 on a Cast Iron Skillet?

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are quite a few similarities between Victoria and Marquette Castings, but there are also many differences.

Similarities include that they are both family-owned businesses and factory season their skillets with organic flaxseed oil.

However, Marquette puts four flaxseed coats on, and Victoria only puts one.

Another difference is where they make their skillets and when they began. Victoria started in 1939 in Columbia, and Marquette Castings only opened up in 2015 in the USA.

The focus was comparing two skillets they both have.

Victoria offers a 10 and 13-inch cast iron skillet for a fraction of the cost of Marquette’s 10.5 and 13-inch skillets. And its 10-inch has a helper handle, whereas Marquette opted not to put one on, saying their skillet was light enough and, therefore, unnecessary.

Additionally, the Marquette skillet is smoother, lighter, and has a stay-cool handle. It comes with four coats of organic flaxseed oil. Plus, they use a new investment casting technology to make their skillets, so they come out smooth rather than bumpy.

Both brands got very high reviews, though Marquette has much fewer.

Both companies make excellent cast iron skillets, and what you think about each one will largely depend on what you are looking for in a pan.

Considering all the factors, which skillet do you like best?