Why Cast Iron Is Better Than Nonstick

Nonstick pans are disposable. Cast iron lasts forever.

A good cast iron skillet costs $30 and will outlive you. A good nonstick pan costs $60 and needs replacing in two years. The math is simple.

Cast iron gets better with use. Every time you cook with it, the seasoning improves. The surface becomes more nonstick over time. Nonstick gets worse over time. The coating scratches and flakes.

Cast iron can go from stovetop to oven. You can start a steak on the burner and finish it in the oven. You can bake cornbread in it. You can cook over a campfire. Nonstick cannot handle high heat.

The only downside is maintenance. You cannot put cast iron in the dishwasher. You have to dry it immediately. You have to oil it occasionally. That takes thirty seconds.

If you own one pan, make it cast iron. A 12 inch Lodge skillet does everything a home cook needs.