For home chefs everywhere, cast iron cookware has long been revered for its exceptional performance and versatility. From its natural non-stick surface to it supreme heat retention, the benefits of using cast iron in the kitchen are well known. Cast iron retains heat for a longer time, and food cooks faster. This is all for a price tag that is competitive with ceramic cookware.
Are you thinking about purchasing cast iron cookware? Are you curious about its composition and materials? Are you pondering the pros and cons of using cast iron cookware? If so, this article is for you!
7 Benefits Of Cooking With Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron cookware is made from natural substances like iron and small amounts of carbon, and is free of all artificial chemicals or any plastic coatings. As it is made of natural substances, you can confidently use it for your daily cooking.
1. Heat Retention
A massive benefit of cast iron is that it retains heat for an long period of time when compared to other, more common cookware. Cast iron is an ideal cookware to cook meat in, as the heat retention will allow the meat to cook at a more even temperature. Your food will also stay hot for longer periods of time, even after it is removed from the stovetop or oven. This means it can be the ideal cookware and serving ware hybrid.
2. Even Cooking
Cast iron cookware gives you the advantage of distributing heat evenly across the whole cooking surface. It retains and spreads the heat evenly across the ingredients, eliminating hot spots. Hot sports are areas within the pan where the heat is significantly higher than in surrounding areas, causing some portions of the dish to cook faster, potentially ruining the dish.
Due to the evenly distributed heat, your food will be perfectly cooked with no portions being either overcooked or undercooked. You can cook with confidence knowing that your food will always be properly cooked when using cast iron equipment.
3. Affordability
The price tag of cast iron cookware is another advantage. Cast iron cookware is extremely affordable than ceramic cookware and tends to last longer when properly cared for.
There are other cookware options available to you that are highly priced and claim to be of better quality. However, cast iron is a material that is highly resilient and can survive for years or even generations. Because of this, you won’t have to replace it as frequently as you may with other cookware, which will ultimately result in a lower lifetime cost.
4. Versatility
You can use cast iron cookware to cook an endless variety of meals. As mentioned above, cast iron is the ideal cookware for meat. You can also use it to roast vegetables or herbs. You can even use it to make soup or to bake a pizza. And potentially the best use of a cast iron pan is to fry chicken in it. Cast iron is truly the most versatile piece of cookware in your home.
5. Durability
The extraordinary durability of cast iron cookware makes it a long-lasting investment for your kitchen. Cast iron is a solid, hefty material, that does not easily decay, scratch, or chip. It may last for years if not generations, with the right maintenance and proper seasoning.
Cast iron is very heat-resistant and appropriate for a variety of cooking methods, including searing on the stove or roasting in the oven. Its iron content enables it to resist high temperatures without bending or cracking. Cast iron is a dependable option for all types of cooking.
6. Non-Stick Surface
Cast iron cookware has a natural, non-stick surface. If your pan is coated with the proper amount of seasonings (vegetable oil, flaxseed oil, or even shortening), no food with stick to the surface.
This also makes it more durable for you to use because it will never wear and tear and you will never be fearful about its non-stick surface going away. All you have to do is re-season the pan and voila, like new again.
7. Iron Enrichment
As you may have interpreted from the name, this type of cookware is made with an alloy that has iron in it. While you cook in cast iron cookware, it will release iron particles into your food. This can be highly beneficial to people with iron deficiencies.
8. Easy To Clean
Cast iron cookware is not more challenging to clean than other types of cookware if you understand the basics. To clean the cast iron cookware, there are a few steps you must take:
- Stay away from using soap or other abrasive cleaning products that can remove the cookware’s seasoning. To remove any food residue, use a gentle brush or scraper.
- Rinse with hot water, and then completely dry.
- You might try boiling some water in the cookware to assist loosen any stubborn food particles that have adhered to the surface.
- Applying a small layer of oil to the cookware after it has dried and will help preserve the seasoning and prevent corrosion.
In terms of cleaning the pan after cooking in it, the proper seasoning will release the leftover particles of food on the base of cast iron pan such that post-clean, it will look brand new!
Conclusion
Overall, cast iron cookware is a good buy for any home chef. Despite many options being available in the market, cast iron cookware has been a favorite for hundreds of years, and rightfully so.
