Stainless Vs. Iron Grill
Modern grills offer the outdoor cook a wide range of options and accessories. A grill's cooking surface can be made from a variety of materials, including cast iron and stainless steel. Though both types of grills are suitable, shoppers looking for a new grill should consider the differences between the two. Does this Spark an idea?
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Cooking Properties
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Both iron and stainless steel grills provide a suitable surface upon which to cook a wide variety of foods. Iron grills provide the most traditional of cooking surfaces, imparting food with the classic dark char lines many people associate with grilling. A stainless steel finish provides a non-stick surface upon which to cook, offering cooks a chance to prepare food without the risk of leaving chunks on the grill in the process. Cooks must carefully oil iron grills before heating to prevent food sticking to the surface.
Heat Properties
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Iron takes a longer time to heat than stainless steel does, retains heat longer than stainless and takes a longer time to cool down. Stainless steel heats up more slowly and dissipates heat much more quickly. The heat retention properties of stainless allows cooks more room for errors. For example, a cook who uses a stainless steel gas grill can quickly turn down the flames if the temperature is too high, causing the grill to quickly cool down. A cook on an iron grill cannot do this as easily and runs the risk of burning the food even if the heat source is dampened.
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Clean Up
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After you've grilled the last burger and cooked the last pan of vegetables, there is always the inevitable chore of clean-up. Iron grills stand up to a lot more punishment than stainless steel, and users have the option of using strong, steel-bristled brushes to scrape and clean iron grills. Stainless steel grills require more care to keep clean. You can use specially made stainless steel cleaning liquids and tools that both clean the grill and maintain the stainless surface.
Other Factors
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There is a significant price difference between iron and stainless steel grills. All other factors being equal, stainless steel grills are typically much more expensive than their more traditional iron counterparts. Also, iron grills have the added side effect of boosting the iron content of food. Iron is an essential nutrient, and iron deficiency can cause anemia.
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References
- Photo Credit steaks on grill image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
