- Cast iron pans last longer and avoid harmful PFAS chemicals found in non-stick pans, but require more care and maintenance.
- Despite superior cooking results and durability, non-stick pans dominate in the Netherlands due to habit, convenience, and resistance to change.
- People reject cast iron with excuses like heaviness or no dishwasher use, even after solving those issues—mirroring reluctance to switch from big tech.
- Both cast iron pans and open-source alternatives suffer from a monoculture where lack of exposure and fear of change prevent adoption.
- The author recommends specific cast iron pans and encourages trying alternatives with small effort for long-term benefits.