Wondering whether is it safe to cook and eat with iron utensils?
In the modern age, we’ve largely moved past iron utensils, choosing stainless steel, silicon, and wooden products instead.
Even so, there’s still a surprisingly active market of buyers looking for iron utensils.
These are often used for celebrations like themed parties, barbecue events, and outdoor dining.
Iron utensils are seen as something of a novelty, hearkening back to eras long past.
Iron utensils can be used for cooking, serving, and even consuming food at the table.
So are iron utensils safe?
Let’s take a look and find out.
Cooking and Eating with Iron
Iron isn’t an inert material.
When you cook with stainless steel, anodized aluminum, or even glass cookware, there are no materials leached into your food.
With stainless steel, wooden, and silicone utensils, the same is also true.
However, when you cook with iron, whether considering a cast iron pan or pot, iron utensils, or even iron cutlery at the table, trace elements of metal will enter your body.
This sounds scary, but it’s considered to be very beneficial.
People who are iron deficient, or who consume low-iron diets like vegan diets, can use iron utensils and cookware to get more dietary iron.
The amount of trace iron released by utensils and cookware is minimal and isn’t considered to be a health risk.
After all, people have been cooking with iron pots and pans for hundreds of years, without any known complications.
If you’re concerned about your iron intake, or if your doctor has recommended that you reduce your blood iron, then you should avoid iron cookware, iron utensils, and iron cutlery.
Are There Contaminants in Iron?
Iron is the most common element on earth.
Cast iron and pure iron used for utensils are made from pig iron.
This is simply raw iron ore, smelted and purified, and then cast into a shape.
Iron is also one of the building blocks of stainless steel.
Stainless steel is made from smelted iron that has been combined with carbon and chromium to create an alloy.
There are no real contaminants in iron utensils and cookware.
When buying quality products, you can be assured of safety.
Is it safe to cook and eat with iron utensils?
You now know how to answer the question.
It’s safe, providing you aren’t on any type of iron-restricted diet.
Don’t be afraid of cooking with iron cookware or utensils.
It’s perfectly safe, although it can be difficult to find high-quality iron utensils today.