Cast iron pans can leach a sizeable amount of iron into your food, exceeding dietary intake in some cases. Acidic foods will contribute to much more leaching while an old, heavily-seasoned pan will leach much less iron than a newer one.
Luckily, research confirms that even cooking in a well-seasoned cast iron pan will still add some iron to the food, but issues with seasoning are just another reason why you shouldn't rely on these tools as the sole method for boosting your iron intake.
Unless you have existing health concerns about iron, there's no worry with cooking consistently on cast iron. The amount of iron you ingest is fairly negligible and goes does the more you cook as the seasoning develops.
Compared to using Teflon-coated, nonstick cookware, cast-iron pots and pans may increase the iron content of the foods cooked in them by up to 16%. This durable cookware may also effectively raise the iron levels for those diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, particularly children.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that rust isn't food safe, so it wouldn't be wise to ingest. But the truth is, rust occurs in the life of any cast iron pan or utensil. If you do happen to scrape a flake or two onto your fork, there's no cause for alarm.
From a food-safety standpoint, the surface of a cast iron pan during cooking easily reaches upwards of 300 degrees, which is high enough to kill any bacteria that don't get washed away. You will not get sick from maintaining your pan this way.
Cast iron pans are popular, especially for searing, and are generally safe to use. But they can leach iron, which is a strong pro-oxidant. Those genetically at risk for iron overload should learn more about cast iron safety. For well over a thousand years, cast iron has been used as a reliable cooking surface.
Cast iron cookware's disadvantages include its heavy weight, the need for seasoning and maintenance, potential reaction with acidic foods, and lack of slickness for delicate cooking tasks.
That's why our simple cleaning steps have you rub oil into your pan after each use to ensure the seasoning remains for quality cooking. You can also season your cast iron cookware in the oven. This method adds a more thorough layer of seasoning onto the entire pan, strengthening the bond to the iron.
“The most nontoxic cookware that you can buy is stainless steel, cast iron or carbon steel; things that don't have a coating on them,” says Alexis Pisciotta, culinary purchasing and events manager and cookware consultant for Food Network.
Cooks for generations didn't use soap on cast iron pans because the soaps were made with lye and vinegar, two ingredients that will absolutely strip the seasoning and can even damage the pan's iron. Today's aerosol oven cleaners are often made with lye or sodium hydroxide.
Cast iron is not only safe for everyday cooking but also offers several health benefits. When properly seasoned, the surface becomes virtually non-stick, reducing the need for excessive oil or fats in cooking.
But the quality of iron released in food from iron cookware is more due to its pure nature. Cast iron contains alloys, so the quantity of iron released in food is slightly lower. Not only Anaemic people, but iron-rich food is beneficial for everyone because iron plays an integral role in blood cell formation.
Eggs fall into the category of sticky foods that are not ideal for cast iron skillets that haven't built up their seasoning yet. While cast iron can become non-stick with sufficient use over time, a newer skillet will almost certainly cause your eggs to stick to its porous surface.
All cast iron, whether natural or coated, has a much higher carbon concentration than other popular food-safe metals like stainless steel and aluminum. This means that natural cast iron is more susceptible to corrosion because when carbon combines with oxygen and water, rust forms.
With proper care cast iron cookware can withstand a lifetime of use. Actually several lifetimes as these cast iron pans and dutch ovens are often passed down from generation to generation. Taking care of cast iron cookware is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3.
Cooking with cast iron can increase iron intake, potentially benefiting iron-deficiency anemia. However, frying in cast iron can lead to the formation of trans fats. Teflon (PTFE) coating in nonstick cookware has raised health concerns due to the release of toxic gases and chemicals at normal cooking temperatures.
Medical attention is required at doses greater than 40 mg/kg, and more than 60 mg/kg can be lethal. Excessive iron can be damaging to the gastrointestinal system. Symptoms of iron toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain.
“Glass, like Pyrex cookware, is a safe option,” Perko said. “Cast iron is a safe option if NOT frying or using high-temperature cooking. If you have or can use or purchase stainless steel pots and pans, they are healthier choices for long-term/lifetime use.”
Cooking with a cast iron pan that has a little bit of surface rust on it isn't likely to hurt you. If your pan is seriously rusty or has visible rust flakes, you shouldn't cook with it until the rust is removed and the pan is washed and re-seasoned.
CLEAN CAST-IRON SKILLET AFTER EVERY USE
Wipe interior surface of still-warm skillet with paper towels to remove any excess food and oil. Rinse under hot running water, scrubbing with nonmetal brush or nonabrasive scrub pad to remove any traces of food. (Use small amount of soap if you like; rinse well.)
If a crack appears in your cast iron pan, it's time to ditch it. Even a hairline crack will expand and contract when heated and cooled, and ultimately the pan will split—a potentially dangerous situation if it happens during cooking! Plus, cracks are difficult to clean and may harbor bacteria and rust.