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This durable material is a cook's best friend.

We hate to break it to you, but your chef-y friends have been right all along: cooking on a cast-iron skillet is just better. These pans are made from a mix of iron and steel and can cook just about anything perfectly, from expertly-seared steaks to blistered shishito peppers. They're super versatile, too—you can cook with them on your stovetop or over open flames on the campfire. Treat your cast-iron pans right, and you won't need to get another one for years.

Cast-iron maintenance is a little higher than for your average pan, requiring a good seasoning every now and again, plus special wash care. Don't be intimidated, though. Our senior food product June Xie walks you through the entire process here. Once you've got that down and are ready to cook, check out these recipes designed especially for cast iron.

Convinced? Okay, good. We tapped the minds of some chefs and restaurateurs, our own Delish editors, and of course, the very strong opinions of at-home cooks on the internet to round up the best cast-iron skillets that deserve a spot in your kitchen.

Made in collaboration with the Delish team and Dash, this cast-iron pan is lightweight and perfect for making pancakes, pasta, veggies, and just about anything else you could dream up. It's rust-resistant, oven-safe up to 500 degrees, and easier to store and carry thanks to its lightweight design.

Le Creuset uses the same enamel to make its skillets as it does its famous enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens. The black satin enamel coating on the inside of the pan makes it non-stick, which makes it require less maintenance compared to other cast-iron pans.

"I enjoy making pizza with a cast iron, which adds the perfect char to the outer edges of the dough and keeps the inside light and fluffy," said Jason Goldstein, cookbook author, Next Food Network Star finalist, and force behind the food site Chop Happy. "A bonus of choosing Le Creuset is that you can choose your color. The one I have is orange, which not only works perfect for cooking, it adds a level of interior design to the kitchen space if you leave it as decor on the stovetop."

Co-executive chef Tomohiro Urata of New York Japanese restaurant Mifune agreed that this Le Creuset pan is great for the home cook."It’s less likely for the ingredients to stick to the pan, and it’s also induction-heater friendly, so it’s great for home use."

For everyday use, look no further. This model tops many lists of the best cast-iron skillets because of its durability, size, and easiness to clean—and it lives up to the hype. Several of the chefs we asked recommended Lodge for this reason.

"I really like the consistency of their iron, especially at such a great price point—and it lasts forever with good care!" said chef Oscar Cabezas of Spanish eatery Telefèric Barcelona, which has locations in California and Spain. "At Teleferic, we use it to cook caldoso rice. It maintains the temperature very well, gives some unique flavor notes, and has great table presentation."

"From baking to braising to frying, these pans can do anything, and they last you a lifetime," added Dupree Braswell, executive chef at the Marriott Bethesda Downtown at Marriott HQ. The price is right, too. "They are not too expensive and still perform well," Danny Lee, executive chef of Burger & Lobster USA, said.

Not only is this Utopia skillet one of the least expensive on our list, it's also one of the largest at 12.5 inches—talk about bang for your buck. With its reasonable price tag, this is a great choice for beginners. One thing to keep in mind, though: Just because it says "pre-seasoned," does not mean there is no work to be done on your end. Many reviewers note that it should still be seasoned before use for best results.

Low on storage space? This American-made pan is just under 7 inches—perfect for cooking up a sunny-side-up egg first thing in the morning.

"This pan more than lives up to expectation," one reviewer raved. "From eggs to slow roasting, from perfect stovetop steaks to pan pizza, this pan has performed beautifully. You are set up for success the day it arrives; gently pre-seasoned with a helpful guide on caring for the pan for years to come."

You're a busy person—seasoning a cast-iron skillet may not be at the top of your to-do list at the moment. That's totally okay! Just go for a pre-seasoned skillet like this one. It's pre-seasoned with 100% Kosher-certified, non-GMO flaxseed oil, which will keep even the stickiest foods from sticking to your pan.

Again, it's a good idea to season it again, just in case. Reviewers note, however, that the pre-seasoned cast iron takes to "new seasoning easily" so there's less work on your end.

"My favorite cast-iron pans come from Great Jones," said Elizabeth Blau, founder and C.E.O. of restaurant planning and development company Blau + Associates. "I love my cast-iron Dutch Baby! Not only is it incredibly versatile, but the green color (called broccoli) goes right from the oven to the table because the pan itself is so colorful and festive."

This set includes a 6.75-quart Dutch oven, a 3.5-quart Dutch oven, and a 12-inch cast-iron skillet.

All of the things you make with a traditional cast-iron skillet, you can make with a deep skillet like this one. However, tall sides mean you can also make splatter-prone homemade sauces and soups—or even deep-fry chicken.

"It does everything I need it to do and can withstand the high temperatures from the oven to the grill," said Kevin Bludso, pitmaster at Los Angeles's Bludso’s Bar & Que.

"[A] few months ago I was lucky to be given what I consider the créme de la créme of cast-iron pans and I am using it for EVERYTHING," said Einav Gefen, chef at dining management company Restaurant Associates. "A worthwhile investment."

This griddle and skillet combo can be used on the grill or even over the campfire, if you're feeling adventurous. Meanwhile, the non-stick patina is not only pretty, but makes cooking easier.