Despite all of the technological advances to the present time, not everything has become better. That has become apparent when it comes to cookware. In the past several decades, much effort has been given to producing new and improved cookware that is both cheaper to produce and attractive for efficiency. It seems that in the process cast iron has been cast aside, perhaps intentionally by marketers, and probably eagerly by us consumers in our quest for the popular, the easier, the stuff "everybody is buying." The packaging of cookware sets have, indeed, set them up to be popular gifts. But are these newfangled cookwares the ideal gift? Do they keep on giving?
The Comeback
Enameled Cast Iron Cookware
Since the 1970s or so there have arisen concerns about toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process of nonstick coatings, worries about the cumulative effects of heavy metals in humans and non-humans alike, an increase in dangerous or tragic events in kitchens, or - in a less gloomy context - just plain disappointment in the quality of the cookwares and the foods produced in them. Now, health-conscious consumers and the ever-enduring quest for the best, cast iron cookware is finding favor again across the U.S.A. and around the globe.
Too many cooks and professional chefs never gave cast iron cookware the chance to actually fade away. Many a boomer grew up with many a hearty, unforgettably unbeatable home-cooked dinners, as though there were spirits in those old kettles and skillets that won't let them forget what great cooking really is. And there has always been a tight relationship between chef and cast iron...what's in those recipes may be only half the secret!
Unsurpassed Qualities
When the cost-to-value ratio of cast iron cookware is pondered, there is little surprise that it beats all other choices. Most cookware made of other metals or materials may have their own advantages, yet it takes them all to task and beats them fair and square.
Compared with any cookware of reasonable quality, they costs less new. At yard sales and flea markets an old piece, maybe found tucked away in an attic or buried in the garage, will catch the eye of someone in-the-know like a glittering piece of gold. (Like wine and old fiddles, well-kept cast iron seems to get better with age.) Even long-neglected and rusty old skillets can be easily restored - reborn to please its lucky finder!
Cast iron cookware has a centuries-old reputation-literally! Well-kept pieces and multi-piece sets have been handed down generation to generation, ever performing superbly, yielding up that old-fashioned taste, just as in old times. First produced in China around 513 B.C., it was the mainstay of cookery in the Old World since 1100 A.D., coming to the American colonies to continue the traditions, even clamoring on the sides of covered wagons across the continent. Chefs are proud of their heirloom cast iron skillets and campers are adamant about cooking over smoky campfires. It is durable like no other cookware.
Superior in heat conduction and retention properties, cast iron cookware is untouched by all cookwares. It is a source of dietary iron - the higher the acidity (as in applesauce and tomato-based sauces) the higher the iron content is likely to be. Unlike aluminum and copper, iron does not carry the consequences of cumulative heavy metals. Cast iron is a safe bet for people with diabetes and for people who are struggling against high LDL (bad cholesterol) - you can cook without adding oil or fat! Unlike other metal cookware, properly seasoned does not react with other foods.
Should you ever stumble upon a cracked piece of cookware, or if you should happen to crack yours (as can happen by forgetting it in the campfire, or pouring cold water onto it while it is still very hot), there is hope. Cracks can be welded by an expert welder.
Few Disadvantages
It is hard to beat cast iron in the home kitchen, the gourmet restaurant, or at the camp site. Still, a couple of cautions are in order. Persons with iron sensitivity - an inherited metabolic disorder known as hemochromatosis - should avoid cast iron-cooked foods. Can scratch glass and ceramic flat-top stoves. Boiling water is not recommended, nor can cast iron cookware go into the dishwasher (but you can almost clean it quicker with warm, mildly soapy water and a brush or sponge than you could put it into the dishwasher, anyhow!).
Thermal shock (for example, cold water on a hot cast iron; from the fire into the snow) can cause it to crack. And, finally, backpacking with cast iron cookware should be left only to the most hardy and determined souls.
Black Friday Le Creuset Classic Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Piece Cookware Set, Satin Red 2011 Deals
Nov 20, 2011 05:04:56
Click for larger image and other views
Black Friday Le Creuset Classic Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Piece Cookware Set, Satin Red Feature
- 2-1/4-quart saucier pan with lid, 5-1/2-quart round French oven with lid, 10-inch square skillet grill, and 8-by-10-inch roaster
- Made of enameled cast iron for even, consistent heating
- Ergonomic cast-iron handles ensure a safe, secure grip when transporting
- Secure-fitting lids with phenolic stay-cool knobs help trap in heat and moisture
- Oven-safe up to 350 degrees F; limited lifetime warranty; dishwasher-safe
Black Friday Le Creuset Classic Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Piece Cookware Set, Satin Red Overview
Le Creuset 6 -Piece Classic Cast Iron Cookware Set, Red. Only Le Creuset offers such a wide range of unique shapes and designs. This product offers unrivalled flebyibility of use, ebycellent heat efficiency, and the versatility to use it on any stovetopBlack Friday Le Creuset Classic Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Piece Cookware Set, Satin Red Specifications
Le Creuset combines four of its most well-used cast-iron cookware items in this excellent gift set. The collection consists of a 5-1/2-quart round lidded French oven; a 2-1/4-quart lidded saucier; a small 8-by-10-inch roaster; and a 10-inch square skillet grill with raised ridges, helper handle, and two pour spouts. Each heavy cast-iron piece heats evenly and comes coated with hard porcelain enamel for superior performance, and is attractive and durable enough to go straight from the stovetop or oven to the table. You'll find the saucier ideal for whisking sauces and heating soup; the French oven perfect for casseroles and stews; the skillet an indoor barbecue substitute for getting those char stripes on hamburgers; and the roaster perfect for everything from baked potatoes to brownies.Le Creuset is known for suffusing the exterior of its products with bright, modern colors, while keeping a more neutral, sand-colored tone on the interior to showcase the cuisine (satin black interior on square skillet grill). The enamel resists cracking, chipping, and staining and is best cared for when the contents are stirred with nylon, wood, or silicone utensils. It's also so smooth that food particles tend not to stick, making cleaning by hand or in the dishwasher a snap. The French oven and saucepan come with secure-fitting lids that help trap heat, moisture, and nutrients--plus offer phenolic knobs that can withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees F. Made in France, Le Creuset premium cookware brings joie de vivre to any kitchen it graces and is covered by a lifetime warranty, whether you bought the item for yourself or received it as a gift. --Ann Bieri
What's in the Box
2-1/4-quart saucier pan with lid; 5-1/2-quart round French oven with lid; 10-inch square skillet grill; small 8-by-10-inch roaster.
SAVE NOW on Black Friday offers below!
Available In Stock. |
| This Black Friday Le Creuset Classic Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Piece Cookware Set, Satin Red ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. |
Price : Click to Check Update Prices Please. |
