Michael Ruhlman made a post about cast iron pans today, and after reading it, I feel like I should extol the virtues of my own heavy black workhorse. My cast iron pan has been abused (by me, in my less-savvy days) and then reincarnated for a second chance at life. Over the past seven years this pan has made pancakes, soup, potatoes, agedashi tofu, fried chicken, ice cream base, and probably anything else you can think of. It’s a little battered despite its young age, but I love it just the same. Here’s another post on how to keep your cast iron pan in tip-top shape.

Do you have a cast iron pan kicking around your kitchen? How old is it? What’s its story?

(Photo credit: Evilrob at Flickr)