Iron pot is pretty but awkward to manage

[witches brew]

I have an iron teapot that I bought because it was supposed to hold the heat well. It's a two-cup pot and I thought I would be able to pour one cup now, enjoy it at my leisure, and then pour a second cup that was hot and equally delicious.

The second cup is always bitter and strong.

Last night, I decided I would take the infuser out after pouring the first cup. Dang, the lid was HOT HOT HOT. Burned my fingers and dropped the lid on the table.

So, what's the graceful way to do this? Leave the lid off until the tea is steeped and the infuser is out?

[scruffmcgruff]

Well, you can either develop asbestos fingers , find some other way to pull out the strainer (try a fork, maybe), or decant all of your brewed tea into another pre-warmed vessel when you are done steeping.

[Mary R]

Heh...I hear ya. I keep a dish towel around when I use my big pot. I also use my nails a bit more than my fingers when I am sans towel.

[RussianSoul]

The way I solved this with my two tetsubins is to lift the lid with kitchen tongs and pick up the strainer with my nails.

When I want to steep the leaves the second time, I decant the remainder of the first brewing into a different container.

[witches brew]

Well, you can either develop asbestos fingers , find some other way to pull out the strainer (try a fork, maybe), or decant all of your brewed tea into another pre-warmed vessel when you are done steeping.

That would be more graceful that dis-assembling everything. I'll have to see if I can keep the second cup warm enough.

[Buzz Fledderjohn]

I grab an oven mitt to take off the lid. But, like others have said, I lift the infuser basket out with my nails.

[witches brew]

Thanks, everyone. I think I'll be using my teapot more often, now.

I might finally have a use for my sugar tongs (since I don't use cubed sugar) and if that doesn't work, it's an excuse to buy some pretty tea towels to use as a pot holders.