Iron pans] Differences between mineral iron- Kugor Recipes

Which cast iron pans to buy, benefits, and how to care for them.

You always ask me about the kitchen utensils I use, but since there are so many, in this article I am going to focus only on frying pans.

The ones I use are iron pans.

There are 3 models to choose from: mineral iron pans, cast iron pans, and enameled cast iron pans. I have the mineral iron and enameled cast iron ones (I’ll tell you which brand, which one is my favorite, and why later).

So if you are thinking about buying a cast iron pan, which is the best option because they do not release toxins stay here because you have to take into account some things that I am going to explain to you.

Although the 3 models are similar in some aspects, they are also different from each other in other aspects such as price, the care they require o, and the way to clean them.

Come on, I’ll tell you.

Non-toxic: reason #1 to choose cast iron skillets.

If you ask me why I use cast iron pans, I can give you many reasons that we will see below, but the main one is that they are toxic-free.

When we change our diet, we begin to be aware of which foods are good for our health and which we should have in our pantry and in our refrigerator.

And which ones do we have to avoid to eat healthily?

But there is another thing we also need to be aware of, and that is where we cook these foods.

Because if you use kitchen utensils that release toxins, they pass into the food, so no matter how much you choose quality foods, you will be ingesting those toxins that are harmful to your body.

What toxic materials should you avoid in frying pans?

As I told you at the beginning of the article, today I’m going to focus on frying pans, so take note of which materials you should avoid using in them:

Non-stick pans because they contain perfluorinated compounds (also called PFAS or perfluoroalkyl substances) and are endocrine disruptors. And if they are also Teflon, they also contain PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which emits toxic gases at high temperatures.

Aluminium is found as a base or in the body of pots, pans, casseroles… Because even if it is covered by another material, when the utensil becomes worn, such as a scratch, it comes to light and comes into contact with food. It is used because it is a good conductor of heat and very light, but it is a heavy metal that is associated with health problems such as neurodegenerative mental illnesses (Alzheimer’s for example). In several countries, its use in kitchen materials is already prohibited.

And copper, which is also used in kitchen utensils because it is a very good conductor of heat, is a heavy metal, which in excess is very oxidizing and can cause premature aging of the body, skin irritation, and affect the nervous system…

So if these are the materials you should avoid, which one do I recommend for your pans?

Iron!

It is a more harmless material because it does not contain nickel, chromium, or aluminum in the core.

That being said, let’s take a closer look at cast iron skillets.

Mineral iron pans, cast iron pans, and enameled cast iron pans: pros and cons.

What do the 3 types of cast iron pans have in common?

In addition to the fact that they are the healthiest pans because they do not release toxins, there are other aspects and reasons to choose them, which the 3 models have in common:

These are pans that last a lifetime. If you use them properly and maintain them correctly, they will last forever.
You can cook all kinds of food in them (even omelets without them sticking).
Suitable for all types of heat sources: gas, ceramic, and induction.
When you cook with them, you get the real flavor of the food because no toxins are released. They taste better.
And, although they take longer to heat up, the heat is distributed better throughout the pan, so it cooks more evenly.

Well, these would be the pros.

As for the cons that I see, it is that they are heavier pans, that they require some maintenance (except for the enameled iron ones, which we will talk about later) and you have to learn how to use them if you are used to the typical non-stick ones.

But I assure you that once you get the hang of it, they are very easy to use and you won’t have any problems.

What are the differences between the 3 models?

The main differences are price and maintenance. The former costs around 30, 40 or 50 euros, while the latter costs up to 120 euros.

On the other hand, cast iron pans and enameled cast iron pans are practically identical in appearance, what differentiates them is the enamel.

Mineral iron pans are the lightest of the 3 and therefore easier to handle.

As for maintenance, mineral iron and cast iron cookware require more care thanenameledd iron cookware, which requires no maintenance (we will go into more detail on this at the end of the article).

And finally, although all types of food can be cooked in all 3, it is true that in both mineral iron and cast iron pans, you should avoid preparations that require a long cooking time with acidic foods, because the iron in the pan would pass into the food due to the high pH of the food.

How to season, use, and care for cast iron skillets.

It is essential to learn how to use this type of pan and adapt to them because they do not work the same as the non-stick ones you have used until now.

If you don’t want your pan to warp and food to stick, you should let it heat up gradually and gently (not all at once) until it reaches a high temperature, so that the heat will be distributed evenly.

Now it’s time to add the oil and finally the food. At this point,t you can regulate the temperature.

Don’t worry because it’s not difficult at all, you just have to get the hang of it and that’s it.

Well, another very important thing is the curing in the case of mineral iron (only in these, cast iron and enameled cast iron do not need it).

The curing process is as follows:

Wash the pan with very hot water and soap, then rinse it carefully.
Once this is done, heat the pan on the stove and cook 1 centimeter of oil for 5 minutes.
Throw away the oil, wipe the pan with kitchen paper and it’s ready to use.

Finally, if you want your pans to last a lifetime, you have to take care of them and clean them well so that they do not get damaged.

Only the enameled iron ones can be put in the dishwasher, the other two models cannot.

What the WHO (World Health Organization) recommends

Let them cool down a bit, wash them with hot water and soap, scrubbing them well with a scouring pad (you can use a nana type) so that there are no food residues left. This is super important.

If you see that after doing this it still doesn’t come out clean you can heat a little oil in the same pan, add a handful of coarse salt, and rub again. Salt also helps to eliminate odors.

Once they are clean, dry them immediately with a cloth or absorbent kitchen paper, and apply a layer of oil with a brush or by hand before storing them to prevent them from rusting.

Finally, one thing you should keep in mind so that you don’t panic if this happens to you, is that mineral cast iron pans tend to darken over time.

This is a good sign because it will help food stick less, so the more you use it, the better.

What pans do I have and recommend to you?

I have two of the 3 models.

The De Buyer B mineral cast iron frying pan is the one I use the most because I’ve become very used to it and because it weighs less, it’s more comfortable for me. And, in addition, I think that in terms of quality/price, they are superb.

And the Le Creuset skillet, which is made of enameled iron. This is my favorite because it sticks less due to the coating it has and requires less maintenance. It is more practical.

I can’t recommend either of the two I have specifically because they are both very good.

But taking into account everything we have seen and my experience, I can tell you that whichever one you choose, it will be a good investment.

In the long term, they are worth it, even if you choose the more expensive enameled iron one because they last a long time and, above all. After all, you are gaining in health.

If you want to free your kitchen from toxins as soon as possible, you can start by buying mineral iron because although it requires more maintenance, it is nothing special and is more economical.

But if the price doesn’t matter and you don’t want to spend any time on it, enameled iron is also a great option because it doesn’t require any maintenance.iron pan

In the end, it depends on what you are looking for, want, and need.

I hope the article helped you.

And tell me in the comments if you knew about these pans and if you have them at home, how they work for you.