Cast Iron

    While using the cast iron steak press, it's essential to monitor the bacon's progress to prevent overcooking. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a consistent cooking temperature and flip the bacon halfway through the cooking process for even crispiness on both sides.

5 – Cast Iron Frying Pans

These new skillets immediately acquired appeal among outdoor enthusiasts, making it much easier for soldiers to take them during camping or backpacking trips.

Best for: Almost any food that needs searing, including steak and burgers. Cast-iron pans are ovenproof, so you can use them to roast meats like beef or pork and to bake cornbread, deep-dish pizza, shepherd’s pie, and more. And they retain heat so well that they’re a good choice for deep-frying chicken, doughnuts, or other foods because they keep the oil at a constant temperature.

The details: Cast-iron frying pans are practically indestructible, and they’re handed down for generations in many families. That makes their typically low price even more attractive. And if well cared for, cast iron develops a patina that releases food almost as well as nonstick. But the pans are heavy, and you have to be patient when heating them up because they don’t come up to temperature fast. Once they do, however, they retain heat.

Our tests of coated and uncoated cast-iron pans show how versatile this cookware can be. We sear steaks, brown scallops, and bake cornbread to see how well a cast-iron pan works for home cooks. The best pans ace all these tests. We also judge how easy they are to clean. Because of the enamel coating, the coated pans are a bit easier to clean than the uncoated ones.

Here are two recommended cast-iron pans from our tests.

No, your should always clean your cast iron skillets by hand. A dishwasher will strip a cast iron skillet of its seasoning and cause it to rust.

Cast Griddle Plates Advantage

Another thing to keep in mind when shopping for a pan is the amount of space you have available. If you have a farmhouse kitchen with ample drawer space and a pot rack, for example, you can justify picking up one (or more) of each. For more compact kitchens, however, a smaller multi-material set will allow you to do a lot with a little.