Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.Whether you're breaking in a brand-new cast iron skillet or are lucky enough to have one passed down from your grandmother, one thing's for sure: It's likely to be among the more versatile, heavily used tools in your kitchen. Though cast iron requires a bit of special attention (if you need a refresher, here's how to clean a cast iron pan), a well-seasoned pan will last for generations. That's far longer than the five or six years you can expect to get from a nonstick pan, and yet a well-seasoned cast iron pan is relatively nonstick! (And if the seasoning does wear out, here's how to reseason a cast iron skillet.)In fact, when it comes to certain tasks, such as searing practically any type of steak or making cornbread, cast iron has no equal. That's because the iron itself is fantastic at holding heat, meaning it can create the kind of char you want on the surface of a piece of meat, w...
