cast iron
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cast iron
An iron-carbon alloy with a high carbon content that is shaped by being poured into a mold. Cast iron is hard and resistant to compression, but also brittle and not forgeable.
Die schwere Bratpfanne aus Gusseisen speichert die Hitze besonders gut.
The heavy cast-iron frying pan retains heat especially well.
The word is made up of 'Guss' (casting, from 'gießen' — to pour/cast) and 'Eisen' (iron). So it literally describes 'gegossenes Eisen' (cast iron), which corresponds exactly to the material's manufacturing process.
Alte Heizkörper wurden oft aus Gusseisen gefertigt.
Old radiators were often made of cast iron.
To describe that an object is made of this material, the preposition 'aus' (of/from) is used. The typical structure is 'etwas aus Gusseisen' (something made of cast iron).
Ich koche am liebsten in meinem Topf aus Gusseisen.
I prefer cooking in my cast-iron pot.
'Gusseisen' (cast iron) is often mentioned in connection with heavy, heat-resistant kitchen utensils or durable structural components. Typical examples are pans, pots, roasting dishes, and manhole covers.
Ein Bräter aus Gusseisen ist ideal für Schmorgerichte.
A cast-iron roasting dish is ideal for braised dishes.
steel
'der Stahl' and 'das Gusseisen' are both materials made from iron and carbon. However, they differ in their composition and use. Steel has less carbon and is usually easy to shape and very strong. Cast iron has more carbon, is poured into molds, and is hard but rather brittle. The words can be confused because both seem heavy, solid, and metallic. For beams, machines, or knives, people often say 'Stahl'. For cast pans, old radiators, or heavy machine parts, 'Gusseisen' is often the better fit.
Die schwere Pfanne aus Gusseisen bleibt lange heiß.
The heavy cast-iron pan stays hot for a long time.
Der Rahmen des Fahrrads ist aus Stahl und hält auch schlechte Wege aus.
The frame of the bicycle is made of steel and can handle rough roads.