Why You Need One
IT’S FOR KEEPS
Often passed down through generations, cast-iron cookware is sturdy, virtually indestructible, and frequently less expensive than many brands of stainless-steel pans. You can find 12-inch skillets for under $30.
IT’S HOT STUFF
The biggest perk of these pans is that they can get blazing hot, says Charlotte Druckman, author of Stir, Sizzle, Bake: Recipes for Your Cast-Iron Skillet. “That makes them excellent at searing, whether you’re cooking steak or want crispy-edged cornbread.” Remember, though, that the pan doesn’t always heat evenly, so move it around the burner while you cook. And the handle can be scorching—some pans come with a slip-on silicone handle, but if yours didn’t, use a potholder.
IT’S NONSTICK(ISH)
“I call cast iron ‘nature’s nonstick,’ ” says Seamus Mullen, a…