Observe the fascinating restoration of a vintage cast iron press, once used to extract meat juice or "meat tea"—a nutritious broth believed to aid those suffering from digestive issues, fever ...

Instead, imagine using a 1.8-pound piece of cast iron to transform your meat into a dazzlingly flat, charred masterpiece in one fell swoop. Anyone can do it!

Shoppers love the Lodge cast iron grill basket for veggies, proteins, and more, saying it’s the “perfect” grilling tool. Grab one while it’s on sale at Amazon.

For cooking, cast iron has a great weight and a porous surface — slightly rough, compared with smooth stainless steel or a nonstick coating — that makes it ideal for searing.