Uses of Cast Iron

Cast iron is a material used to manufacture various items found in the home and in the construction of buildings and other structures. Cast iron is an alloy, a blend of the elements iron, carbon and silicon. It is used for producing items because of its durability and strength.

Cookware

Cookware, such as skillets, pots and pans, is one of the common uses of cast iron. Once the cookware is cured, it seals in the seasoning of the foods cooked in them and even adds iron to the diet.

Cooking Utensils

Cooking utensils for stove-top and outdoor cooking are also constructed of cast iron. Many of these cast-iron cooking utensils include spoons, grill presses and tongs.

Furniture

Designers use cast iron to build furniture, particularly outdoor patio pieces. Cast-iron furniture includes chairs and glass-top tables.

Barbecue Grills

Welded barbecue grills use heavy cast-iron materials and stainless steel. Larger models of these grills are often so heavy that two people have to carry them.

Construction

Industrial and residential construction used cast iron on buildings, especially for beams and posts that hold up architectural structures. Cast iron is also used in pipe plumbing.

Bridges

In the late 1700s, bridges constructed in Europe and the United States used cast iron as their primary building material.