Some women like to collect pretty things, such as vases, flowers, figurines. Some, however, like to collect cast iron. Having multiple cast iron pans makes meal prep so much easier, as you can grab what you need and go from stove top to oven with ease.

Some advantages of cast iron cookware are it heats quickly, cooks food evenly, and can be used over the stove, campfire and more. There really is no limit to the recipes you can make with cast iron. From chicken and beef to pasta or desserts, a good cast iron pan can do it all.

Some of my favorite cast iron pieces that I use daily (you can find them at my affiliate partner’s site) are:

3 quart pot Perfect for veggies, soups, and making bread.
Dutch oven Also great for bread, whole chickens, and deep dish meals.
10 inch skillet My go to for eggs, casseroles, and meatloaf.
Pizza Pan Great not only for pizza, but for fajitas and large servings of bacon and eggs.
waffle maker Our go to waffle maker.
wedge pan Great for making cakes, cornbreads, and even cookies in easy serving sizes.

Cast iron is also great for cooking because it cleans up easily when it’s well seasoned. Simply wipe the food off, add a bit of oil and you’re good to go for the next recipe! Well seasoned cast iron has an excellent non stick coating, even better than teflon. If the seasoning is causing food to stick, simply clean well, and reason your cast iron.

See how to season your cast iron here.

Keep your cast iron pieces in great condition.

To keep cast iron seasoning at it’s best, try some of these tips:

Don’t ever use soap to clean the pan.
Don’t allow water to sit in pan for long periods of time (such as soaking)
If food gets stuck, apply a thin coating of salt and rub food away.
Don’t use metal utensils on the pan to avoid scratching the surface.
Clean pan as quickly as possible after use.
Add a bit of oil such as tallow or coconut oil after cleaning while pan is hot.

Some brands of cast iron to consider:

Lodge-currently the most commonly found brand, it’s available even at Walmart or other large stores.
Griswold-very vintage, and can be pricey or hard to find. (interested in vintage? Check out this site here)
Le Cruset-very “French” and quite pricey, but gorgeous pieces to add to your collection.