Re: MtMan-List: Re:MtMan List: Cast Iron Teapot

["Larry Huber@warnerbros.com" <Larry_Huber@warnerbros.com>]

     Dave, the cast iron kettle you own is a period stove or fireplace 
     item.  It is called a teakettle because it could be used for that 
     purpose.  A tea kettle's function is to boil water...period.  It is 
     not meant to be used to cook anything in, coffee, tea, soup etc.  A 
     tea POT, usually ceramic, silver, pewter etc., was where the tea was 
     brewed by adding the hot water boiled in the tea KETTLE.  The kettle 
     was also used to boil water for that infrequent bath during the latter 
     century.  The cast iron kettle rusted.  End of story...it rusted.  
     Water boiled in it would always contain some rust if the kettle had 
     been used for a while.  Added to a bath...no problem.  Added to 
     tea...added flavor.  Look at antique kettles.  Find any without a 
     rusty bottom?  Use your kettle with pride...to boil water.  Don't 
     waste your time trying to "season" it.  It WILL rust.
     
     LARRY HUBER
     AMM #1517


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Subject: MtMan-List: Re:MtMan List: Cast Iron Teapot
Author:  owner-hist_text@xmission.com_at_~internet at pcworldtalk
Date:    3/20/97 05:23 PM


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In a message dated 97-03-20 18:53:35 EST, you write:
     
> The only purpose of a "cast Iron" teapot in my part of Oregon is
>  to be filled halfway with water and placed atop the wood burning stove to
     
>  act as a humidifier so the air does'nt get so dry when heating the house 
>  with a wood stove.The local discount stores import them from China and
>  they run about $9.95 These imports have a label on them that reads.... 
>  WARNING: DO NOT USE FOR BOILING WATER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION! As far as 
>  "curing" them, it would be nearly impossible if it is to be used for
>  boiling. Every time you boil water in it, the "curing" will come off and 
>  float to the top as any oil or grease would.
     
Dave's post above pretty well sums up all the answers I already knew and 
expected.  My teakettle is a Wagner.  It seems to me that it would have been 

made for some other purpose than as a humidifier or for heating dishwater.
     
For instance, why was it called a tea kettle?
     
Why is water boiled in an iron pot not fit for human consumption?  Wouldn't 
it be like taking Geritol with yer coffee?
     
If the iron is bad for you, and it's soluble; wouldn't you get the same 
effect from cookin chili in a dutch oven, cause the acid always removes the 
seasoning anyway?
     
The only reason I can figure is that you get iron sulfite which ain't that 
good fer ya, but is also used as a preservative.  Is it possible to get some 

type of ferrocyanide which might be toxic?
     
Sorry for all the questions.  It just don't sit right to have a perfectly 
good kettle that ain't no good fer nuthin.  Besides, I've got cast iron 
sauce
pans that don't have this problem.  Is there food-grade cast iron cookware?
 The only difference I see is that cast iron for cooking is ground smooth
inside resulting in little or no porosity, while the inside of the kettle is 

rough.
     
Dave Kanger