Irish soda bread is incredibly easy to make, and it’s absolutely delicious when toasted with some Irish butter. Once the dough is shaped, place it into a cast-iron skillet, score the top into an “X” shape and bake. (istockphoto.com/lauraag/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Instead of baking your brownies in a traditional pan, pour that batter into a greased cast-iron skillet. In order to keep the edges from burning, you’ll want to lower the cooking temperature by about 25 degrees and increase the cooking time by 10 to 15 minutes. (istockphoto.com/MSPhotographic/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

As a good rule of thumb, if it can be made in a ramekin, baking dish or casserole, it can also be made in a cast-iron pan. A cast-iron pan is the perfect size of a family-size shepherd’s pie, and it’s the perfect height, as well. (istockphoto.com/Anna_Shepulova/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

If you’re a fan of crispy lasagna edges, then you should definitely start cooking lasagna in cast-iron. You can even put it on the stovetop for a couple minutes after it comes out of the oven to make sure it’s really browned. (istockphoto.com/ruvanboshoff/E+ via Getty Images)

A Dutch baby is a big, fluffy pancake that can only really be made in a cast-iron pan. A pan is heated in the oven, and a thin pancake batter is added. It baked for about 20 minutes or so, and it comes out puffy and golden brown. This is similar to a more custardy dessert called clafoutis (which also cooks best in cast iron), and there are countless variations. (istockphoto.com/Janna Danilova/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Dinner rolls, biscuits, cinnamon rolls, monkey bread… a cast-iron pan is a great method for baking them all. Just assemble them neatly around the pan and bake as you usually would; they’ll come out perfectly pull-aparty and delicious. (istockphoto.com/rudisill/E+ via Getty Images)

Cast-iron pot pie, with the pastry crust draped over the top of the filling, has a rustic feel to it, and the white filling against the black pan is a lot more striking than your standard white or glass dish. (istockphoto.com/MSPhotographic/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Like skillet brownies, skillet cookies (sometimes called cookie cakes) are a whole lot of fun. Instead of turning the batter into individual cookies, just spread it out as one large cookie in a cast-iron pan and bake. Cookie wedges are a great family-friendly dessert, especially when served hot and topped with ice cream. (istockphoto.com/LauriPatterson/E+ via Getty Images)

Galettes, sometimes also called crostatas, are basically open-faced pies. A large ring of pie dough is placed into the bottom of the pan (overhanging the sides), the filling is spread inside, and then the overhanging crust is folded back on top. Using a cast-iron pan keeps it in a neat circle, and makes serving a breeze. (istockphoto.com/jenifoto/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

We’re used to making rice in a pot, but some folks will argue that a cast-iron skillet is the best vessel for cooking rice, especially basmati. Just add a cup of rice, a cup and a half of water, a teaspoon of butter and a half-teaspoon of salt to the skillet, turn the heat up to high and bring it to a simmer. Stir, turn the heat to low and cover and in about 25 minutes you’ll have a perfect batch of rice. (istockphoto.com/lily_rochha/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Using a cast-iron skillet is old-fashioned but super-easy to make cake and cornbread, but you already knew that. Just mix up your favorite cake batter recipe, pour it into a greased and floured cast-iron skillet, let it bake until golden brown, then let it rest for 15 minutes or so and turn it out. Voila! (istockphoto.com/DebbiSmirnoff/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Dude… Cast. Iron. Nachos. Brilliant, no? Just layer chips, cheese and all your favorite toppings in the pan, bake until melty and dig in. (istockphoto.com/Lauri Patterson/E+ via Getty Images)

A cast-iron skillet is one of the best pizza-making tools in your kitchen, and it’s so easy to make. Get your oven preheated as high as it will go and heat up your pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle some cornmeal in the pan, then add the pizza dough, stretching it out so it goes up the sides a little bit (cauliflower crusts work great too!). Brush it with oil, and when it starts to bubble, add your marinara sauce, cheese and other toppings. Then bake until golden brown and delicious! (istockphoto.com/DianeBentleyRaymond/E+ via Getty Images)

You can — and should — use a cast-iron pan to make jam. Just set the pan to medium heat, add the fruit, some sugar and a little lemon juice, and cook it down until it looks like the jam you know and love. The large surface area of the pan helps with the cooking time and will make it easier to mash up the fruit. (istockphoto.com/Magrig/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Irish soda bread is incredibly easy to make, and it’s absolutely delicious when toasted with some Irish butter. Once the dough is shaped, place it into a cast-iron skillet, score the top into an “X” shape and bake. (istockphoto.com/lauraag/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

If you don’t yet know the glory of cast-iron mac and cheese, then let us enlighten you. When you top a batch with toasted breadcrumbs and place the whole thing in the oven, it gets bubbly, golden-brown, crusty around the edges… Well now we’re hungry. (istockphoto.com/nicolesy/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Shakshuka is a Middle Eastern breakfast dish of eggs baked in a spicy sauce (here’s a winning recipe for it), and because it starts on the stove and finishes in the oven, cast iron is perfect for it. (istockphoto.com/JMichl/E+ via Getty Images)

If you ever make a roast without also making a Yorkshire pudding, you’re missing out. The hot drippings mixed with a thin batter (usually a one-to-one mixture of eggs, flour and milk) make for a savory side dish (and a perfect vessel for sauce); some prefer to make them in individual servings, but we love the rustic appeal of one large, cast-iron pud. (istockphoto.com/Lauri Patterson/E+ via Getty Images)

Instead of filling up a whole pot with oil to deep-fry at home, just use a cast-iron pan. Want to know how to make amazing fried chicken? Use your cast-iron skillet. This technique is also the best way to cook that perfect state fair food, funnel cake. (istockphoto.com/rudisill/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

Why use a pie pan for quiche when you can make it cast-iron style? Here’s some quiche inspiration. (istockphoto.com/GMVozd/E+ via Getty Images)

You can (and should) make paella at home, even if you don’t have a traditional paella pan. Using a cast-iron pan, you’ll be able to get that crust of rice on the bottom (called soccarat) that paella lovers go crazy for. (istockphoto.com/rudisill/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

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