At its core, the Dutch oven is a heavy-duty pot typically crafted from cast iron or enameled cast iron. Its design features thick walls and a tightly fitting lid, allowing for even heat distribution and moisture retention – essential elements for achieving succulent, flavorful meals.

    Additionally, adding cast iron skillets  to your cast iron cookware collection can complement other cast iron pieces, such as square cast iron frying pan, oval cast iron skillets, and cast iron round skillet.     Frying pans can be combined with these other pieces to expand your cooking capabilities.  For example, you can use a frying pan to cook bacon and eggs, while using a cast iron round skillet to make a savory sauce or a square skillet to sear a steak.

Dutch Oven Use  

    There are a few tips to remember when cooking with a cast iron Dutch oven.  First, it's important to season your Dutch oven properly before use to create a nonstick surface and prevent rust.  Additionally, using gentle heat and avoiding sudden temperature changes can help extend the life of your Dutch oven and prevent cracking.

    A bacon press, also known as a cast iron steak weight press or cast iron bacon flattener, is a kitchen utensil designed to improve the cooking process and results of bacon. Typically made of heavy-duty materials like cast iron, a cast iron steak weight press is a flat, weighted tool that is placed on top of bacon as it cooks. Its purpose is to ensure even cooking, prevent curling, and promote crispiness by pressing the bacon flat against the cooking surface.

Here are two recommended nonstick skillets from CR’s tests.