A cast iron skillet is the one pan that belongs in every kitchen — here's why

Have you or a loved one ever struggled to get a consistent sear on a rib-eye steak? Do you often find yourself sweating over the sink in a battle with crusted-on food, or replacing cookware every couple of years? Would your life be drastically improved if you owned a single pan that's versatile enough to be used for sunny-side-up eggs in the morning, fried chicken for lunch, beef stew for dinner, and a baked apple crisp for dessert?

If so, you may be entitled to a cast-iron skillet.

Cast iron cookware: An extremely condensed history

While the oldest-known cast-iron artifacts (tools, specifically) date all the way back to ancient China, the concept of cooking with cast iron emerged in the 18th century Europe, when pieces of the iron alloy were melted down and poured into sand molds for cauldrons and pots. By the late 19th and 20th centuries, you could find cast iron cookware in most American kitchens thanks to its durability and low cost of production. (Big shoutout to industrialization for that one.) Read more...

More about Cooking, Kitchen, Mashable Shopping, Culture, and Food

IMAGE: Amazon

BEST FOR EVERYDAY USE

Lodge's Classic Cast Iron Skillet

Lodge's simple, sturdy, American-made cast iron skillets are true workhorses — and Reddit can't get enough of them.

Preseasoned: Yes (with 100% natural vegetable oil)
Warranty: N/A

$14.19 from Amazon

IMAGE: Field Company

BEST HIGH-END SKILLET

Field Company's Field No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet

Harkening back to the polished vintage skillets of bygone years, Field Company makes ultra-smooth cast iron cookware that you can hand down to your grandkids' grandkids.

Preseasoned: Yes (with cold-pressed grapeseed oil)
Warranty: Lifetime

$125 from Field Company