This variance, however, could be especially detrimental if you're picky about the doneness of your steak. Cast iron conducts heat well, especially when compared to the open flames of a grill.

Photo: Michael Hession With a few exceptions, we found in our testing that most cast-iron skillets perform similarly at basic tasks like searing a steak or frying eggs. But a number of factors can ...

Cook the steaks. Heat a cast iron skillet until it starts slightly smoking. Add neutral oil, then add the steaks. Cook until ...