Lucky Iron Leaf: how to use it, what to cook with it, and how to care for it

The Lucky Iron Leaf is a small, reusable iron cooking tool you drop into a pot of boiling soup, stew or water to add iron to what you're making. Here's how to use it, what to cook with it, and the simple care that keeps it working for years.

It isn't a pill or a powder, which is exactly why people like it: you cook as you normally would, and the Leaf does its job in the pot. If you're looking for a simple way to get extra iron from your everyday diet, or you've seen the Lucky Iron Fish and wondered how the Leaf compares, this guide covers the lot.

What is the Lucky Iron Leaf?

The Lucky Iron Leaf is cast from food grade electrolytic iron, an FDA-certified iron powder approved for food fortification worldwide, and shaped like a tulsi (holy basil) leaf. It works exactly like the better-known Lucky Iron Fish: same material, same method, different shape. Added to boiling liquid with a little acidity, it releases iron into the liquid, so the soup, stew or water you're making carries more iron.

It comes from Lucky Iron Life, a social enterprise and certified B Corporation. The company grew out of doctoral research in rural Cambodia in 2008, looking for an affordable, lasting way to get more iron into everyday meals. The first version was a fish, because the fish is a symbol of luck in Cambodian culture; the company took the name Lucky Iron Life in 2023, and a portion of its revenue goes to donating units to communities in need.

Lucky Iron LifeLucky Iron LeafA reusable iron cooking tool for soups, stews and water. Lasts about 5 years, roughly 1,800 uses. Vegan.Shop →

How does the Lucky Iron Leaf boost iron intake?

When the Leaf sits in a slightly acidic boiling liquid, tiny iron particles come off its surface and into the liquid. Used as directed, it's designed to release 6 to 8 mg of iron per litre (4 cups) of liquid, a significant portion of the daily required iron intake. Iron helps the body form red blood cells and helps carry oxygen around the body, and many of us look for easy ways to get more iron from food.

Think of it as food fortification at home: a way to make the meals you already cook richer in iron. It isn't a replacement for an iron supplement your practitioner has recommended, but many people who'd rather not take more pills like getting some of their iron this way, and one Leaf serves the whole family's pot.

The Leaf is made in an ISO-certified facility that specializes in high-purity iron, and every batch is tested for how much iron it releases and for contaminants. When used as directed, it doesn't change the taste, colour or smell of your food.

How to use the Lucky Iron Leaf

1. Wash it. Scrub the Leaf with soapy water and rinse.
2. Bring the liquid to a boil. Use about 1 litre (4 cups) of water, soup, stew or another liquid-based meal.
3. Add a little acidity. About half a teaspoon of lemon juice, lime juice or vinegar per litre helps the iron release. Broths made with tomatoes or stock cubes don't need extra.
4. Boil for 10 minutes. Keep the liquid at a rolling boil with the Leaf in it for ten minutes.
5. Take it out, wash and dry. Lift the Leaf out, scrub it with soapy water and dry it straight away with a towel.

What to cook with your iron leaf

Anything with boiling liquid works. These are the favourites:

For rice and other starchy grains, make the iron water first and cook the grains in it, rather than boiling the Leaf with the rice; starch tends to stick to it. A stovetop kettle works too, as long as it's at a rolling boil for ten minutes, but not an electric kettle, and don't leave the Leaf sitting in the kettle afterwards. Don't use it under pressure in a pressure cooker; the simmer or boil setting is fine.

Ten minutes in a pot you were already making. That's the whole routine.

How to care for the Lucky Iron Leaf

Iron rusts when it's left wet, so care is mostly about drying.

• Every time: scrub with soapy water before and after use, even if you're only making water.
• Dry it right away with a kitchen towel. Never let it air dry or sit wet in the sink.
• Add a drop or two of oil after drying to protect it from moisture.
• If you see orange rust, rub a little lemon juice on it and scrub with the rough side of a sponge, then wash with soap and water, dry well and oil it again.

Darkening is normal: the Leaf will look different as you use it, because it's natural iron at work. The Leaf's electrolytic iron is a high-grade iron, less prone to rusting than the original version.

How long does it last?

With daily use, one Leaf lasts about five years, over 1,800 uses, the same as a Lucky Iron Fish. As iron is released, the surface slowly wears down. When the stems on the Leaf have faded, it's releasing less iron and it's time to recycle it and replace it.

Lucky Iron Leaf, cast iron or iron supplements?

A cast-iron pan can add some iron to food too, but the amount varies with what you cook and how long. The Leaf is designed to release a consistent amount each time it's used as directed, in any pot. Iron supplements are a different route: measured doses of iron in a capsule, liquid or tablet. Our iron supplements guide compares the forms, and you can browse our iron section. If you already take an iron supplement, your practitioner can help you decide how the Leaf fits in.

Questions we get a lot

What is Lucky Iron Leaf?

A reusable cooking tool made of food-grade electrolytic iron, shaped like a leaf. Boiled for ten minutes in a litre of slightly acidic liquid, it's designed to add iron to your food or water.

Is the Lucky Iron Leaf the same as the Lucky Iron Fish?

It works exactly the same way and is made of the same iron. Only the shape differs.

Does the Lucky Iron Fish really work?

Used as directed, the Fish and the Leaf are designed to release 6 to 8 mg of iron per litre of liquid. The key is using it regularly, at least a few times a week, in meals you already cook.

Where can I buy the Lucky Iron Leaf in Canada?

We carry the Lucky Iron Leaf from Lucky Iron Life at both of our stores in Bedford and Dartmouth, and online with shipping across Canada. It works the same way as the Lucky Iron Fish.

Why does a Lucky Iron Leaf cost what it does?

It's a one-time buy for the whole household. One Leaf lasts about five years, roughly 1,800 uses, and everyone eating from the pot shares it.

Will it make my food taste like metal?

Not when used as directed. A metallic taste usually means it wasn't washed before use, or too much lemon or vinegar went in.

Find the Lucky Iron Leaf at either store

The Lucky Iron Leaf is in the supplement aisle at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.

Sources: product listing for the item shown; Lucky Iron Life FAQ. This article is general information, not medical advice.