Cast Iron vs Iron – Are They Same? Know Here The Difference

Before jumping into cast iron vs iron cookware, it is necessary to know why using safe and best cookware is essential. The composition of cookware has a direct influence on the food being cooked. Therefore, it is possible that the food might lose most of its nutritional value because of the wrong use of utensils. This is the main reason why it is important to choose safe cookware. Cast iron and iron cookware are considered highly safe utensils because they impart a small amount of iron in the food, and they have high heat retention quality. So, let us explore both utensils in a deeper way to know which one you should choose.

Cast iron is a pure iron alloyed with more than 2% carbon content. Other than carbon, it is made by smelting iron ore and mixing scrap metals and other alloys such as 2 to 5% silicon, manganese, sulphur, phosphorus, etc. Because of the influence of these various elements, the colour and quality of cast iron are highly influenced.

The main health benefit of using cast iron cookware is its ability to leach a small amount of iron into the cooked food. This quality of cast iron utensils becomes highly beneficial for people with iron deficiency.

Some of the mechanical properties of cast iron are hardness, ductility, toughness, and elasticity. Other benefits of using cast iron utensils include their affordability, longevity, naturally nonstick material, even heat distribution, high heat retention, etc. Also, there are many cast iron cookware options such as cast iron tawa, cast iron pan, cast iron skillet, etc., which makes cast iron cookware versatile. To know more, check out our article on the benefits of cast iron cookware.

Iron cookware is composed of pure iron and contains no other alloys. That is why the iron content in iron cookware is more than cast iron cookware. Because of the composition of pure iron, iron cookware are long-lasting and highly durable. Utensils made from wrought iron are created by heating, beating iron sheets and moulding pure iron into various shapes. Another benefit of iron cookware is that it imparts raw and rustic flavours to the food, which gives a delicious outcome.

Other benefits of iron cookware are its high heat retention, compatibility with multiple heat sources, high durability, etc. Iron cookware is also malleable and will easily bend. However, it will not get fractured like cast iron utensils. The versatility factor of cast iron utensil also applies to iron utensils, as there are iron pans, iron tawa, iron skillet, iron pots and many other iron utensils.

After learning about cast iron and iron cookware separately, the question arises of which one is better. To help you answer, we have considered a few factors to know the difference between cast iron and iron cookware. Let us explore these factors.

Cooking time is the first and most basic thing to consider while comparing cast iron cookware with iron utensils. Cast iron utensil is the best for slow cooking, and it is preferable if you are planning to cook a dish that takes a long time to prepare. Cast iron doesn’t burn the food because it heats the food evenly.

Iron cookware, on the other hand, heats up quickly and might burn the food. Slow cooking in iron cookware is thus not possible, and such cookware is recommended to be used for a dish which doesn’t take a long time to prepare and saves fuel.

Iron utensils are malleable, on the other hand, cast iron cookware is non-malleable. That is why pure iron utensils are more durable than cast iron utensils.

While both cast iron utensils and pure iron cookwares have naturally nonstick surfaces, cast iron cookware gets better after natural seasoning. Because of this, properly seasoned cast iron cookware requires less oil than wrought iron cookware. Iron cookware also heats quickly, and that can disturb its naturally non-stick surface.

Food becomes iron-enriched when cooked in either cast iron or iron cookware. However, because iron cookware is purer in nature, the quality of iron released in food from iron cookware is more and better. Iron-rich food is highly beneficial for everyone because it plays an important role in the formation of blood cells and boosts your immune system. Therefore, anaemic people should definitely consider cooking food on iron cookware daily.

It is more durable to use cast iron cookware over high flames than iron cookware since iron cookware tends to expand under high heat. Because of this reason, cast iron cookware is also best for slow cooking, and it also keeps the food warm for a long time.

Because of the pure and raw material in pure iron cookware, iron utensils tend to suffer from rusting problems. In contrast, cast iron cookware does not rust easily. It has a composition of alloys which does not contain pure iron; These cookware materials prevent rusting. We also recommend seasoning and re-seasoning cast iron utensils with a thin layer of oil to avoid the rusting issue.

When compared to iron cookware, cast iron cookware provides better heat distribution because it distributes heat evenly.

Because of the fact that cast iron cookware provides even heat distribution, it is more eco-friendly as once heated, the temperature is evenly circulated. This avoids high flames while cooking. Also, cast iron skillet or any other cookware remains hot and keeps the food cooked warm for a long time so that you do not have to reheat it again and again.

However, pure iron cookware needs high flames to cook food, which uses more gas or electricity.

It is true that seasoning and storing cast iron cookware takes practice to maintain. However, iron vessels are difficult to clean as they tend to leave tough black stains after cooking. It is comparatively very easy to clean cast iron utensils.

Cast iron vessels are compatible with induction, electric stoves, campfires and gas stoves. They can be used in a variety of heat sources to cook food. However, iron utensils are only compatible with open flame heat sources.

Using iron utensils is like having an arm workout every day. Iron vessels are heavier if compared to cast iron utensils. More weight of iron cookware also makes it difficult to store or shift them regularly.

Cast iron vessels, on the other hand, are comparatively lighter in weight and, therefore, easier to use.

Cast iron vs iron, which one is the best? Well, after learning about the different characteristics and features of both cookware, our personal choice is to use cast iron cookware. This cookware has more heat retention, provides even heat distribution, is lighter in weight and easier to maintain. However, we won’t completely discard the idea of using iron utensils. There are many health benefits of cooking with iron utensils such as iron tawa, iron kadhais and iron pots, especially for Anaemic people with iron deficiency. Also, iron utensils are more durable than cast iron cookware. Additionally, while cooking acidic foods in cast iron utensils doesn’t define healthy cooking, cooking acidic foods in iron cookware is ideally recommended.

So, there are advantages and disadvantages to both cookware types. That is why we recommend you choose cookware according to your cooking needs. Or better yet, invest in both cookware for a versatile cooking experience. And do not worry; both cast iron cookware and iron cookware are extremely affordable.

Considering health benefits, maintenance, affordability and versatile cooking, it is safe to say that both types of cookware, cast iron cookware and iron cookware, are good for health. While we have switched to using cast iron cookware for daily cooking, we save iron utensils for occasional use.

There are no major health disadvantages to using either cookware. Both cookware types are equally good with their own benefits. That is why you can choose whichever cookware that simplifies your cooking needs. If you want to buy cast iron cookware, check out our article on the best cast iron cookware in India. With this, we wish you happy, healthy cooking!