Iron Appam Maker: Benefits & Cultural Significance

The advantages of using an iron appam maker, especially those made of cast iron, have contributed to its popularity among cooks and enthusiasts. Cast iron is renowned for its exceptional ability to retain heat evenly and efficiently. Let’s explore iron appam maker benefits in detail!

Cast Iron Appam Maker Has Excellent Heat Retention: 

Appams require a specific cooking process to achieve their characteristic texture—crispy edges and a soft, fluffy center. Cast iron's heat retention ensures that the entire appam maker remains uniformly hot, allowing the batter to spread evenly and cook consistently. The benefits of excellent heat retention are as following:

Crispiness: The superior heat retention of cast iron helps create the crisp outer layer of the appam, giving it its distinctive texture. The high heat allows the edges to become golden brown and crispy, a hallmark of a well-cooked appam.

Efficient Cooking: Cast iron holds heat so well that it requires less energy to maintain the desired temperature. This can be advantageous when cooking multiple batches of appams, as you can achieve consistent results without significant fluctuations in temperature.

Consistency: Whether you're making a single appam or a whole batch, cast iron's heat retention ensures that each appam cooks in the same manner, resulting in a uniform and reliable outcome.

Cast Iron Appam Maker Has Natural Non-Stick Properties: 

iron appam makers, especially those made of cast iron, have natural non-stick properties that can be a significant advantage when cooking appams and other South Indian dishes.

How to make an iron appam maker non-stick?

Cast iron cookware is typically seasoned before use, which involves applying a thin layer of cooking oil or fat to the cooking surface and heating it. This process polymerizes the oil, forming a smooth and naturally non-stick layer on the iron.Over time and with regular use, the seasoned cast iron surface becomes more non-stick. This means that appams and other foods are less likely to stick to the cooking surface, making them easier to flip and remove from the appam maker.

Benefits of natural non-stick properties:

Minimal Oil Requirement: Because of the natural non-stick properties, you can use less oil or ghee when cooking appams in cast iron appam makers. This can result in healthier dishes without compromising on taste or texture.

Even Browning: The non-stick surface promotes even browning of appams, ensuring that they have the desired crispy edges and a soft center.

Ease of Cleaning: The non-stick properties make it easier to clean cast iron appam makers after use. You can usually wipe off any remaining residue with a soft cloth or sponge.

Iron Appam Maker Imparts Authentic Taste

Cast iron imparts a unique and authentic flavor to appams, contributing to their traditional South Indian taste. This is highly valued by those who appreciate the genuine flavors of regional cuisine.

Cast iron cookware, including appam makers, undergoes a seasoning process before use. During seasoning, a thin layer of cooking oil or fat is heated on the iron surface, creating a natural non-stick layer. This layer also absorbs and retains the flavors of the foods cooked in it over time. As a result, when you use a seasoned cast iron appam maker, it imparts subtle, enhanced flavors to your appams, contributing to their authenticity.

Iron Appam Maker Is A Part Of Traditional Cooking 

Many South Indian dishes, including appams, have been prepared using cast iron cookware for generations. Cooking with cast iron appam makers follows traditional methods that have been passed down through families, helping to preserve the authentic taste and texture of these dishes.