Not all good things come with a hefty price tag! It's very apt when we talk about the cast iron cookware. You can buy expensive modern cookware made of lighter metals and alloys, but the advantages of cast iron are unique as compared to other alternatives. Be it price, durability, heat distribution or heat retention, this cookware is definitely the best choice for some applications.
Although it sounds old fashioned, castiron skillets and Dutch ovens are important kitchen tools. Some of the advantages of using cast iron are as follows:
Even Distribution of Heat
One of the advantages of using a cast iron is that, while it may take a bit longer to get up to temperature, when it is heated the heat is evenly distributed throughout the entire utensil. Also, once heated, it retains heat for some time unlike aluminum and other cookware metals. Cooking in a castiron skillets or pans would great choices for braising or browning, would provide constant temperature for soups, stews or thick sauces and would be superb for recipes that mix vegetables with roasts for slower cooking. The results would also be tastier meals.
Durable and long lasting
The durability of cast iron skillets and cookware is yet another advantage. Cast ron cookware has been known to be passed down from generation to generation. With proper care, it will continue to perform well for many more decades. Newer versions include enamel coated castiron which has the same durability but adds fashion colors along with different shapes and sizes.
Easy maintenance.
In contrast to general belief, cast iron cookware is fairly easy to manage and maintain. Reconditioning can be done in your oven. After heating to a high temperature for several hours followed by cleaning with baking powder or other biodegradable scrubbing powder, rinse thoroughly and then apply a coating of fat or oil on the surface and allow the oil to fill in the porous surface of the pan. After each use, apply a thin coat of oil to the clean surface. This will create a barrier for protecting your cookware.
Non-stick properties
While aged and conditioned cast iron is not truly non-stick, the traditional alternative does obtain a sheen and finish that has characteristics similar to non-stick.
Wide variety
Castiron cookware is available in many types. You can find different sizes of frying pan, griddles, Dutch ovens and roasting pans. The enamel alternatives add an array of colors as well. The versatility of this cookware is unmatched by any other style. Roasting, stewing, grilling and baking are just some to the options possible. Since cast iron can go from stove to oven to table to refrigerator with no special handling needed, you are limited only by imagination
Health Benefits.
Cooking in cast iron adds marginal amounts of iron into the food. For most people this is a positive result. When compared to some other alternatives, according to many reports, it is a safer alternative.
Affordable.
While it may be possible to find traditional cast iron cookware that has been handed down for years within families at very cheap prices, newer versions are no longer the cheap option. Enamel cookware can be expensive as demonstrated by Le Creseut and Lodge. There are other quality brands that are not quite as expensive such as Chasseur a French manufacture.
Even though there are multiple benefits of using cast iron cookware, there is one common myth, which needs to be resolved. The myth which implies that using soap can damage or corrode your cookware, but this is not the case. Using a mild antibacterial soap and baking soda will not affect your cookware and by adding a light coat of oil after washing will have it ready for the next time you want to use it.
The effectiveness of cast iron cookware is surely going to continue far into the future. New metals and engineering will continue evolve and cookware will change but cast iron will remain a mainstay in kitchens well into the future no matter what new alternatives are developed.
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