Can Enamled Cast Iron cause fires?
I heard of someone who supposedly had a fire while cooking on an enameled cast iron grill pan. I am not sure if this was due to negligence on the part of the chef or if there was something in the grill pan that could have caused this. What do you think?
Could some materials like the enamel coating have reacted to certain foods?
Best Answer
Metal (cast iron) would have to melt before it would burn, and it takes a lot of firepower to melt metal-- that's why we cook in it. Enamel likewise isn't going to burst into flame at temperatures generated on the average stove or grill. Something smeared or coating it might, though.
Like grease. On a grill pan, what you describe sounds like a grease fire. Possibly (but not necessarily, could have just been clumsiness or an accident) caused by negligence of the chef, the drippings from whatever was being cooked in the pan caught fire. If you leave grease/oil in a hot enough pan long enough, its certainly possible for it to catch flame, especially if there's something with a lower smoke point floating in it.
That said, plain cast iron does react with acidic foods, but in a way that makes your food taste off, not burst into flames.
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Can enameled cast iron go on the fire?
Enameled cast iron It also has temperature limitations: it's not recommended for use over open fire (while standard cast-iron is a campfire classic), heating one while empty can crack or damage the enamel, and temperature recommendations for oven use are mixed from brand to brand.Can an enameled Dutch oven go on a fire?
Using an enamel-coated dutch oven is not recommended over an open fire or directly on hot charcoal. Enameled cookware may not withstand these high temperatures, which can cause the enamel coating to crack, chip, and flake off. An open fire can also permanently burn or stain the enamel coating.Are enameled cast iron safe?
Yes, enameled cast iron is completely safe and non-toxic. Unlike traditional cast iron, enameled cast iron does not leach any iron into your food. It is also more durable, protects your pan from rust, and does not require seasoning.What can you not do with enameled cast iron?
4 Things You Should Never Cook in Cast Iron:- Smelly foods. Garlic, peppers, some fish, stinky cheeses and more tend to leave aromatic memories with your pan that will turn up in the next couple of things you cook in it. ...
- Eggs and other sticky things (for a while) ...
- Delicate fish. ...
- Acidic things\u2014maybe.
3 Dangers Of Cast Iron #AskWardee 137
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Answer 2
Enamel is basically glass. You can't do anything to it on a stove top. It can break, but it can't burn.
As @senschen said, there are plenty of things on the stove that can burn, like grease and alcohol. A grill pan will accumulate grease, and there are ways for it to catch on fire. That has a little to do with the shape of the pan, and nothing to do with the enameled surface.
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