Features of a stainless steel frying pan

Today, every home has a stainless steel frying pan. Every self-respecting housewife has acquired this essential household item. Beautiful and functional stainless steel saves cooking time and delights all family members with delicious dishes prepared in it.

Features of a stainless steel frying pan

Steel frying pans stand out from other cookware. The growth in demand for them is associated with the emergence of induction cookers and new technologies with higher thermal conductivity of the metal.

Pros and Cons of Stainless Steel Frying Pans

The benefits of stainless steel pans are proven and undeniable.

• Lightness. Low weight is often the first and most important factor influencing the choice of cookware.
• Durability. Scratches and dents are extremely rare on such dishes even after years of long-term use.
• Resistance to acids and alkalis. Stainless steel never corrodes.
• Ability to withstand contrasting temperatures. Frying pans are not afraid of sudden temperature changes, they will not be harmed by high positive or negative temperatures.
• Long service life without damage. Such an acquisition will please the owner for many decades.
• Adaptation to different types of cookers, including induction, glass ceramic and gas.
• Unpretentiousness. The material is easy to clean both manually and with automated equipment. There is no need to be frugal during operation. In addition to silicone or wooden spatulas, you can safely use metal objects without harming the dishes.
• Hygiene. Perfect polishing of steel gives the pans shine and gloss.

There are some disadvantages, but their list is less significant and longer.

• Low thermal conductivity. It will take longer to heat up such cookware, and it is impossible to wait for the required temperature for frying. Don't forget! If the steel is overheated, the frying pan will smoke and burn.
• It is not possible to cook food in a dry frying pan (without oil or fat).

What to look for when choosing stainless steel

The choice of a stainless steel frying pan should be approached seriously and prepared. It is worth studying the technology of their production and learning how to decipher the characteristics.

What you need to know about steel grades

The best material option for a frying pan is chromium-nickel steel 304. It is used in the premium segment, is more expensive, but having undergone special hardening, it has the highest properties of strength and resistance to corrosion.

Stainless steel grades 201 and 202 (or 18/10) are often found in the budget segment. The fact is that expensive nickel in these models is replaced by manganese and nitrogen.

The bottom can be covered with nickel-free ferritic steel grade 430, which is characterized by high plasticity and strength at the same time.

Steel polished to a mirror finish requires careful maintenance and dryness after each use.

Wall thickness and bottom type

A special layered structure technology and encapsulated bottom allow manufacturers to produce three-layer or five-layer frying pans.

Thin pans with a single-layer bottom are ideal for stewing and preparing simple dishes.

The triple bottom is a sandwich of two stainless steel plates, and between them a layer of aluminum or copper. According to GOST, the thickness of aluminum should be at least 3 mm, the optimal option is considered to be 4.5-5 mm, in the case of a copper plate - 1.5 cm.

The five-layer and thicker bottom includes carbon steel disks. The advantages of such a bottom are that the food will not burn, after turning off the stove the heat will remain inside the pan, which means you can save on electricity. In addition, for gas stoves it is recommended to use a stainless steel pan without a coating with a thick bottom, due to their special strength.

The bottom surface can be smooth, ribbed or honeycombed. The ribbed coating allows you to cook more dietary dishes, reducing the amount of fat during cooking.

What handles and lids fit stainless steel metal pans

Stainless steel cookware handles must be comfortable to use and not heat up at high temperatures for safe operation. The following materials are used in the production of products:

• Stainless steel is a practical but very hot material.
• Bimetals – combine several types of metal, due to which the handle does not heat up.
• Thermoplastic – the handle is coated with a plastic layer to prevent burns.
• Pressed wood does not deteriorate and is not afraid of water.

The handles are attached to steel cookware using welding or riveting methods. The rivet option is too noticeable, but reliable, spot welding is invisible and gives a more aesthetic appearance to the product.

A stainless steel frying pan usually comes with a glass lid with a metal rim for reliability and durability. A hole is provided in the glass for steam to escape. Special requirements for the lid include its tight fit for proper cooking and the absence of extraneous noise and rattling.

Types of professional stainless steel frying pans by shape and purpose

The range of stainless steel frying pans is huge. According to shape and purpose, the following are distinguished.

• Classic stainless steel frying pan professional is designed for daily cooking of ordinary dishes. The edges of the frying pan are slightly beveled, there is one handle and a lid.
• The pancake maker has a large diameter and slightly beveled sides.
• The saucepan is characterized by high walls and is convenient for stewing vegetables and meat, preparing sauces and soups.
• The roasting pan has lower edges and a thick bottom, ideal for roasting and stewing.
• Wok pans have a rounded narrow bottom and wide walls. The ribbed bottom allows you to fry food in a minimum amount of oil.
• A gas grill is a grill with a hole in the middle.
• A paella pan is a round pan with low sides and handles. It is made of carbon steel for cooking over an open fire, or stainless steel for cooking on the stove at home.

Types of non-stick coating for stainless steel pans

The main advantage of steel is its anti-corrosion property. When choosing frying pans with a non-stick coating, do not forget that it is vulnerable. In this case, choose thicker walls. This option is quite expensive for an ordinary person, but the service life of this cookware will cause a feeling of surprise.

Types of non-stick coating:

• teflon;
• ceramic coating;
• marble;
• diamond;
• titanium.

Range of sizes

It is not difficult to determine the size of the required frying pan, as it usually depends on the standard sizes of the burners on which it is preferable to cook. Thus, the main sizes of frying pans are distinguished:

• small – 14.5 cm;
• average – 18 cm;
• large – 22.5 cm;

Please note that recently stores have begun to actively offer a diameter of 28 cm, which is undoubtedly convenient and practical for a large family.

What to do before using a stainless steel frying pan for the first time

A new professional frying pan does not require long-term calcination, as is the case with cast iron or aluminum. There are several simple steps that are mandatory before using the cookware.

1. Wash the pan thoroughly with dishwashing liquid.
2. Coat the bottom of the pan with any oil. Don't overdo it!
3. Set the stove to medium power.
4. Place the pan on the burner and leave for a few minutes.
5. Wait until a light smoke appears and remove the product from the stove. Now you need to give it time to cool.
6. Pour any remaining oil down the drain and wipe the surface of the pan with a paper towel.

How to Properly Use a Stainless Steel Frying Pan

To prevent food from burning, it is worth heating the frying pan well before pouring in the oil. Cooking should be done on medium heat, otherwise the food will start to stick or burn. It is recommended to warm up very cold food in the microwave before frying.

Useful tips for proper care

With proper and adequate care, the cookware will last for a long period of time.

Do not clean the frying pan with a hard metal sponge or use cleaning agents containing abrasives.

Regular baking soda will do a great job of removing burnt-on food, and a vinegar solution will add shine.

Popular manufacturers

The range of stainless steel cookware manufacturers allows you to choose a frying pan to your taste and color from the most budget to expensive options. Among the manufacturers, popular brands stand out:

1. Tefal – France;
2. "Neva-metal tableware" - Russia;
3. "Biol" - Ukraine;
4. Rondell – China;
5. Kukmara – Russia;
6. TVS – Italy;
7. Swiss Diamond – Switzerland;
8. Ballarini – Italy;
9. De Buyer – France;
10. MACO – China;
11. Pintinox – Italy.

VIDEO: How to prepare a stainless steel frying pan.