Cooking in Iron cookware has been a trend forever! However, people often assume cast iron cookware and regular iron cookware as being same. This is not true. Cast iron cookware and regular iron cookware are two different varieties, with distinct compositions, heating temperatures, shelf life, and maintenance.
Through this article, let’s try to understand the key differences between iron cookware and cast iron cookware and which one to choose and why?
What Differentiates Cast Iron Cookware and Regular Iron Cookware?
Here’s a list of top 10 reasons that will help you identify which cookware is best and why?
1. Composition
Cast iron is composed of alloy, which simply means that it contains more than one ingredient i.e. iron and metal. On the other hand, regular iron cookware is made up of a single ingredient: pure iron.
2. effect on food
Cast iron takes time to heat up. This does not burn the food being cooked. On the other hand, regular iron cookware gets heated up very fast and may often burn the food.
3. Iron content on food
Regular iron cookware is made up of pure iron and thus imparts more iron (mineral) to the food being cooked than cast iron cookware. This simply means regular iron cookware is a healthier means of cooking food.
4. usage
Cast iron utensils are definitely light in weight, easy to use, and carry from one corner of the kitchen to another. On the contrary, regular iron utensils are usually heavy to lift.
5. sustainability
On high flames, cast iron cookware is more sustainable than iron cookware. Regular Iron cookware generally tends to expand in high heat conditions. Thankfully! Even in high heat conditions, cast iron cookware does not expand.
6. Non stickiness
Cast iron cookware is naturally non-stick in nature. Plus, they get even better after natural seasoning. This means you will use less oil during cooking. However, regular iron cookware requires a lot of oil for cooking food.
7. rusting
Iron cookware can easily go rust while cast iron cookware is resistant to rusting. This is because cast iron cookware does not contain pure iron and can only go minimal rusting.
8. shelf-life
The performance of cast iron utensils improves along with its age and so it does not needs to be replaced frequently. Regular Iron cookware, on the other hand, needs to be replaced from time to time. This is because iron cookware can not be left untouched and unused as it catches rusting immediately.
9. eco-friendly
In cast iron, the food remains hot for a more extended period of time. This helps to save fuel.
On the other hand, iron cookware gets back to normal temperature in a short span of time, this requires re-heating of food before consumption. Hence, fuel expenditure is more on iron cookware.
10. cleaning and maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining iron cookware after cooking is a troublesome task. While Cast iron cookware is easier and simple to clean and maintain. Ordinary soaps can efficiently remove the stains from cast iron utensils after cooking. Regular iron cookware however cannot be cleaned using any regular soap. To clean in the most efficient way, it is recommended to use ash and raw tamarind.
Wrapping Up – Which One To Choose For Regular Cooking?
Having the right set of cookware is a prerequisite to successful and healthy cooking. Cast iron cookware and regular iron cookware both are excellent choices and should be there in every kitchen.
Further, if a single choice is to be made, it’s best to understand what the requirement is and then make the purchase. Let’s say-
- For those who are looking for cookware that’s a highly durable, traditional, and healthier cooking option, Iron cookware is the right choice for them.
- However, If you are in search of cookware that’s chic, easy to maintain, has no rusting issues, is light on weight, nonstick surface, and is sustainable on rough and tough cooking, cast iron cookware is the right choice.
Depending upon one’s cooking goals and requirements both are great cookware options to pick from and can be swiftly used for cooking a variety of dishes every day!
