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Butter-basted steaks. Freshly opened mussels. Melty queso fundido. Smoky greens. A crust of perfectly browned rice at the bottom of your paella. There are many reasons to grill with a cast iron pan, but these five are some of the tastiest. And then there are the practical reasons: Grilling your goods with a cast iron pan gives you the best of both worlds—you get that signature smoky flavor with none of the limitations of a grate. Sear delicate seafood, baste your meat with butter and herbs, or saute veggies, all without smoking up the house or worrying about food falling onto the coals. And when you’re done, you can just stick your pan back in the kitchen to clean as usual, which means less time scraping and brushing and more time relaxing on the patio with that smoky seafood or crispy cheese. Seriously, take your cast iron pan outside this weekend and give it a try. Before you know it, you’ll be coming up with reasons of your own.