Cast iron is an invention that goes back to the 5th century BC, and, despite many advances since then, I find that my go to skillets are ALL cast iron. They have an awesome heating profile, are easy to clean, can work in and out of the oven and they look great when you set them out on the dining room table for a family style meal. But ever since I bought my first cast iron in the San Francisco vintage shop after college, I've also been buying only vintage skillets on eBay and Etsy. Cast iron lasts forever, so vintage is a great way to go. Older vintage brands are super affordable, nicely worn (you can get them totally refurbished as well) and much lighter than a brand new Lodge cast iron, which make them far easier to manage. I go for Griswold, but you can check out Wagner, Birmingham, Puritan and a host of other long lost brands.
I like the #8 Griswolds, which you can get here:
What's your go to?
