If you were to write out the pros and cons of cast iron, the list would likely lean heavily on the pros side. Cast iron is sturdy and durable. It can even handle the heat from the open flame of a campfire. If properly cared for, cast iron will last a lifetime or even past your grandchildren’s lifetimes.

As far as cookware goes, not much can top it. Cast iron conducts heat evenly. With cast iron, you can start off a casserole or frittata on the stove and finish it off in the oven. It won’t gas off any noxious chemicals, like nonstick cookware does. With time (and use) your cast iron skillet will actually make your food taste better.

Does this longtime favorite cookware have any negatives? Well, if it’s not used for a while, or if it’s regularly exposed to water, it can start to rust. Stuck on or burned on food also makes cast iron skillets a bit tricky to clean.

Some cast iron cleaning tutorials suggest you use oven cleaner or all-purpose cleaners to clean a particularly crusty cast iron skillet. Don’t worry. You don’t need anything near that toxic. You mostly just need a potato…and a couple of other items, but really just a potato. Cool, huh?