According to bon appetit, the cast iron skillet is durable, efficient and endlessly useful. And having owned a few skillets for over 25 years, I can attest to this for sure! From one pan dinners and cornbread to desserts, the pan is very versatile. But it is best used for foods that need to be browned or seared since the pan gets very hot and hold the heat consistently. It is perfect for stovetop to oven recipes and is a great alternative to a wok for stir fries. With proper seasoning and care in cleaning, the pan should last you a very long time. The article above gives great suggestions on caring for a cast iron skillet.