Things to Remember When Using Nanbu Tetsubin (Japanese Cast Iron Kettle)

Japanese Cast Iron Kettle is handy, but you should take care of a few things while using it.

1. Pour water into the kettle and place it on the heater for boiling water when using a cast iron kettle for the first time. Once the water is boiled, put it out of the kettle and fill the tetsubin with fresh water. Again put the kettle on the heater and boil the water; repeat this whole process a few more times. This process will remove the interior odor of the new cast iron kettle. If you use an induction heater, you just need to set the heater with a lower output until the whole kettle is heated up. Using stronger heat to heat the tetsubin at the beginning will cause stress and cracks in the tetsubin.
2. Put ginger or tea leaves in water and boil them if the interior odor does not vanish after boiling the cast iron kettle a few times. These food items contain several antioxidants, which remove the odor of the new tetsubin and save it from rusting.

Forging Handle

Tetsubin (Cast Iron Kettle) uses two different types of handles one is hollow and the other is solid. Handle making process is completely different from casting. The forging process is used to form handles while the cast iron kettle is produced by casting.

1. Hollow Handle

The hollow handle is made from an iron plate and used for making super high-end cast iron kettles. This type of handle is rolled and forged into the desired shapes. A few holes, known as "insect bites," are present in the hollow handles. These insect bites cool down the handle and enhance its physical appearance. The holes in the handle are the symbol for a hollow-type handle. The cast iron kettle made with a hollow-type handle has much more worth and can be sold at high rates.

2. Solid Handle

The solid handle makes a low to intermediate e-model of cast iron kettles. It is made from the iron bar and can be forged into the intended shapes. Most hand-made Cast Iron Kettles have a solid handle because it is much cheaper than the hollow handle. A kettle with a solid handle has cheaper production expenses and can be sold at reasonable prices. The solid handle will never get hot, even made from solid material. This type of handle is a fashion and plays an important role in determining the price and superiority of the cast iron kettles.