Preparation
A cast-iron skillet is one of the most essential pieces of cookware for any home cook and chef alike. “Cast iron can do it all—and do it all well,” says Tiffany La Forge, a professional chef, Parsnips and Pastries blogger, and author of The Modern Cast-Iron Cookbook (from $12.41, amazon.com). Not only are they available in a wide range of prices to fit a desired budget, but they are also versatile simply based on how you can cook with the skillet. “What other piece of cookware can go from the campfire to the stovetop to the oven to the center of the table (and look that good while doing it)?” adds La Forge.Cast iron skillets can handle a variety of different foods, as they maintain and absorb heat well and can withstand temperatures up to 600°F. “Honestly, I make anything and everything in my cast-iron skillets! My favorite things are anything fried, steak, stove-to-oven dishes like Shepherd’s pie, desserts like cobblers, and breads,” La Forge says. “Deep-frying in your cast iron skillet helps build and maintain the seasoning, and I love cooking bread and quick breads in cast iron and getting that lovely quintessential crust.”
There are several types of cast-iron skillets you can shop now based on qualities that are most helpful for your specific cooking and baking needs, such as size and depth. Ahead, find our favorites to buy on the market. As La Forge explains, “They are a great investment piece that will last a lifetime.”
Lodge L8SK3 Pre-Seasoned Skillet, $19.90Staub Enameled Cast-Iron Traditional Deep Skillet, $179.95Martha Stewart Collection Enameled Cast-Iron Fry Pan, $59.99Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron Deep Sauté Pan, $350FINEX Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet, $370Lodge Seasoned Cast-Iron Skillet, $14.95Smithey No. 12 Cast-Iron Skillet, $200
