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Question from Bonnie Johnson

I just saw an ad from Williams Sonoma about some new cookware called Komin. It is lighter weight cast iron. I love cooking on regular cast iron but it is so hard for me to lift. It would be nice if it was the same. Any idea if this is safe?

Debra’s Answer

Komin is made of “ductile iron,” a type of cast iron that is up to 50% lighter than traditional cast iron.

The typical composition of ductile iron is

Other elements, including copper or tin, may be added to increase performance. Improved corrosion resistance can be achieved by replacing 15% to 30% of the iron in the alloy with varying amounts of nickel, copper, or chromium.

There are apparently various types of cast iron that could include any of these metals. Even much beloved “plain” cast iron can have various formulas (I just called Lodge and they wouldn’t tell me anything except it is “100% cast iron”). This description of How Cast Iron is Made mentions only iron and steel as the ingredients for cast iron, though other alloys may be added.

But also see Q&A: How Metal Cookware Affects Your Brain before you buy.

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