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Once the pan has cooled down, use a clean paper or lint-free towel to wipe excess oil and grease. Cover the skillet's surface with coarse kosher salt, add a small amount of hot water to form a paste, and scrub with a sponge to remove any stuck-on food. Rinse the pan with hot water and then thoroughly towel dry the skillet. Evenly rub a light layer of cooking oil onto the inside of the skillet and store it in a dry place.

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.

Griddles and grill pans made of black cast iron offer versatile cooking options for a wide range of culinary creations. This article delves into the features, applications, and benefits of black cast iron griddles and grill pans, highlighting their ability to enhance cooking techniques and create flavorful dishes.