Whether you dabble in cooking or you consider yourself a well trained chef, anyone interested in cooking acknowledges that behind every good cook is a good set of cookware. It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to create a perfect dish if you don’t have the tools necessary. And for decades, people have been singing the praises of cast iron. But what exactly makes cast iron so special? Why are so many chefs constantly clambering for a cast iron cooking set? The easy answer is that the properties of cast iron far exceed the properties of related metals or materials such as stainless steel.

Cast iron heats slowly but evenly, and a pot or pan will hold the heat for a long time after the initial heat source has been removed. This type of even heating makes it absolutely ideal for frying or searing any number of dishes from bacon to fried chicken. It also offers a great deal of range and versatility, because cast iron products can be used everywhere from the stove to the grill to the oven. It doesn’t matter if you’re using cast iron pots or cast iron Dutch ovens; these properties hold true. Just make sure you know how to properly clean and season your cookware so it doesn’t rust over.