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.

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    A bacon press, also known as a cast iron steak weight press or cast iron bacon flattener, is a kitchen utensil designed to improve the cooking process and results of bacon. Typically made of heavy-duty materials like cast iron, a cast iron steak weight press is a flat, weighted tool that is placed on top of bacon as it cooks. Its purpose is to ensure even cooking, prevent curling, and promote crispiness by pressing the bacon flat against the cooking surface.

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    One popular type of cast iron cooking griddle is the cast iron skillet used for cast iron cooking griddle .  This type of skillet is designed for use on the grill, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of cast iron cooking while taking advantage of the open flames and smoky flavor that come with grilling.  Cast iron cooking griddles used for grilling typically have a flat cooking surface and raised edges to prevent food from falling off, making them ideal for cooking a variety of foods, from breakfast favorites to delicious roasts and vegetables.

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