Cast iron cookware has been used for thousands of years. A cast iron pan never wears out. Many have been handed down for generations and are still in daily use. The only disadvantage to cast iron cookware is that it is heavy. But it cleans up without soap and, if properly seasoned, works as well as any high-tech non-stick pan. The three basic shapes of cast iron cookware are the skillet, a round pan with a handle; the Dutch oven, a large round pot with a lid; and the grill or griddle, a wide flat pan with a lipped edge.
