Why David Chang Thinks Every Kitchen Needs A Cast Iron Skillet

Cast iron skillets fall into celeb chef David Chang's list of kitchen essentials. As he explains to GQ, "I do feel that every kitchen needs a cast iron skillet," adding that they are a valuable culinary investment (though not wildly expensive like copper cookware) and essentially indestructible. 

From baking cornbread recipes to cooking crispy strips of bacon, cast iron pans can be pushed inside of an oven to set the finishing touches onto dishes and be used on top of hot stoves to put recipes together. Since these weighty skillets don't have plastic handles, at-home chefs can relax and focus on preparing their favorite meals instead of worrying about melted parts. Plus, Chang adds, when properly taken care of, a cast iron skillet can become something of a family heirloom and be passed down from one generation to the next to keep delicious, dependable recipes coming out of your kitchen.

Chang knows his way around a kitchen and is used to improvising with materials and ingredients. Though sturdy pieces of cast iron kitchenware can be intimidating to someone unacquainted with them, learning how to use one can elevate some of your favorite recipes. From cracking nuts to making pies taste better, cast iron skillets are ready to be put to work. If you're wanting to set a delicious roast on the dining room table this weekend, a cast iron skillet can help you prepare that irresistible taste of a browned cut of meat. 

Any advice of Chang's certainly won't steer you wrong when it comes to taking gastronomic masterpieces out of your oven, and a cast iron pan — or a collection of them — is a definitive must-have accessory that can help chefs unleash their creative side when making dishes at home.