How long can a cast iron skillet last?

Richard Ehrlich's answer is pretty spot on, but I have heard of a couple of other things that have rendered some cast iron pans unusable. read more

Cast iron is not totally invincible, but they normally last for lifetimes. Too much neglect could result in enough rust that they lose integrity. Or dumping a very hot pan into cold water could crack or warp it. read more

One—and perhaps the only—benefit of hipster-esque, back-to-the-land cooking is the resurgence of a collective love for cast-iron skillets. They are the Filson of fryware: reliable, long-lasting, and ruggedly handsome. They are just as handy for frying a plate full of bacon as they are for a gooey, sticky skillet cake. read more

The main advantage of cast iron is that it has very high volumetric heat capacity, which means that once it's hot, it stays hot. This is vitally important when searing meat. To really heat cast iron evenly, place it over a burner and let it preheat for at least 10 minutes or so, rotating it every once in a while. read more