Your guide to a better future

Plus, more seriously good cast-iron cookware deals at Amazon.

Senior Editor / Home and Kitchen

I live in Brooklyn where I write about food subscriptions, cooking, kitchen gadgets and commerce. Anything with sesame is my all-time favorite food this week.

Cast iron isn't flashy like some cookware, but it's remarkably consistent and effective, doing all the important things you really need. Cast iron handles heat about as good as any other cooking material, for instance, making it a kitchen essential, especially if you regularly make steaks, burgers and other meats that revel in a good, hot seer. It's also tough as nails and will last you as long as you're willing to care for it. Lodge is one of the best-known -- if not the best-known -- producer of cast iron, and right now Amazon has a slew of Lodge quality cast-iron cookware on deep discount. That includes skillets, griddle pans, a Dutch oven, a combo cooker (my personal favorite) and a bunch more. Here are a few picks from the limited-run cast-iron cookware sale.

If you're a seasoned griller, you know that some things just aren't worth putting on the grill grates with all the messy cleanup that follows. A flaky fish, certain vegetables and other delicate proteins end up just falling through the crack. Enter a griddle pan like this you can just throw over the grates, turning a section of the grill into a no-fuss griddle. It's also ace for pancakes, with low sides for easy flipping.

Save for an actual grill, there's no better candidate for cooking steaks and burgers than a cast-iron grill pan. If you want seared steaks beyond outdoor grill season, this cast-iron pan would be a good one to add to your collection. To achieve that crispy, caramelized smashed burger result, add this Lodge cast-iron grill press -- also just $20 right now. 

Use the smooth side for pancakes, eggs and hot sandwiches, and the ribbed side for grilling steak, fish, burgers, chicken, veggies and more. Wipe it clean with a rag soaked in hot water and you're done.

When I think of classic cast-iron cookware, something like this Lodge Dutch oven comes to mind. Forget the charming cowboy/camping aesthetic -- this thing is as durable as Tom Hanks. Go ahead: Bang it, clang it and knock it around. Just don't let it sit in soapy water for long. There's no better place to make stews, soups and braised meats, and it's 50% off right now.

You could do a whole lot with just these two pieces of cookware, and for less than $37 for the pair, you likely won't find a better deal on quality cast iron. The two-piece set includes a traditional skillet to sear steaks, chicken and burgers, along with a high-walled Dutch oven for braising stews, soups and vegetables. The skillet fits snugly over the pot so you can cook food covered if you need to. It's the perfect combo set to bring camping, and both pans are preseasoned and ready to go.

Know you're getting the best price on your next food processor or immersion blender when using the CNET Shopping extension.