First developed during the Fourth Century BC in China, cast iron was used to make early Greek coins, but was not widely available in Europe until the 1400s. The material is extremely strong, but is rather brittle and cannot be bent or shaped in any way once it has solidified.

Cast iron is still manufactured in a process very similar to the way it was produced historically. Iron ore is heated in a blast furnace with coke and limestone, which deoxidizes the ore, drives off impurities, and produces molten iron. The molten iron is then cast into molds of various shapes and allowed to cool and harden. When cast iron is produced, the material develops a protective film on the surface that makes it initially resistant to corrosion. Various finishes or coatings, however, are sometimes applied to cast iron to extend the property and postpone the possibility of rust.

Due to its favorable mechanical qualities and because it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, cast iron is used for many different purposes. One of the earliest applications of cast iron was to make pots, which are still occasionally used in modern times because they transfer a more steady, even heat than cookware made of other materials. Cast iron is not as popular in kitchens as it once was, however, because it is porous and occasionally gives food a metallic flavor. Yet, cast iron is frequently used to make weather-resistant outdoor furniture, piping, fences, tools, stoves, firebacks, decorative items, and structural components of buildings.