Kitchenware must perform its main function - to be useful when cooking delicious dishes. Food should not lose its main qualities when using safe utensils for human health. A properly selected aluminum frying pan will help avoid unnecessary waste of money.
Content
- Features of aluminum frying pans
- Benefits and harms of aluminum frying pan for health
- Types of aluminum frying pans
- Shape and size
- Accessories for aluminum frying pan
- How to Heat an Aluminum Frying Pan to Prevent Burning
- How to tell a cast iron frying pan from an aluminum one
- Criteria for choosing a quality aluminum frying pan
- Care instructions
- Famous brands of aluminum frying pans
- VIDEO: How to prepare an aluminum frying pan.
Features of aluminum frying pans
The product in the classic version does not require special care if the kitchenware is used correctly. Its weight is small, and the price wins against the background of expensive goods with a diamond, titanium or marble coating. The listed qualities of aluminum products make it a sought-after product in the consumer market. The difference in price depends on the model of the product, which can last a long time.
What is better - a cast iron or aluminum frying pan? Steel and cast iron can be called a long-term product. Aluminum is not inferior to them in these qualities and is cheaper.
Important! It should be remembered that containers made of this metal tend to burn. Getting rid of the problem that has arisen is not easy. Falling from a height is an additional risk of damaging such products.
Benefits and harms of aluminum frying pan for health
When cooking, it is important to get tasty and safe dishes for the body. A frying pan and saucepan made of aluminum have caused controversy among experts about the advisability of its use. Some of them consider the metal entering the body to be a dangerous phenomenon. The category of skeptical doctors claims the cumulative effect of the negative impact of such a factor on health.
In contrast to this opinion, most scientists believe that aluminum in microdoses is not capable of causing harm to the body. Conclusion - the harm of the said metal to health has not been proven by laboratory studies.
Additional information! Aluminum cookware is not intended for cooking acidic dishes. If desired, you can transfer such food to an enamel container, since the harmfulness of the metal lies in its rapid oxidation.
Types of aluminum frying pans
The range of choice of models of such products is impressive. It is important to evaluate three qualities of the product when buying: practicality, price and its impact on human health.
Aluminum pan materials
Different metals are used as a base for such dishes. However, each of them has its own characteristics. Not everyone knows the difference between cast and forged aluminum.
Cast aluminum
The weight of such a product will have more impressive parameters than its forged version. When producing this frying pan, you should expect a product with a thick bottom with high strength.
Forged
Pressing the raw material is the main technical development for such a product. Under high pressure, aluminum becomes strong. The dense and fibrous texture of the product are its main indicators.
Attention! What is better - cast or forged metal? In this case, it is difficult to choose any option. However, buyers prefer cast products.
Frying pan coated with aluminum
When buying kitchenware, it is important to consider the factor of its practicality and safety. The price parameters of products with a certain type of coating should also not be overlooked.
With ceramic coating
A frying pan with a ceramic inner layer complies with European standards. This coating should be purchased due to its resistance to damage and high temperatures. The ceramic layer does not require time to heat the frying pan. The product will last a long time and will allow you to use a minimum of oil when frying.
Disadvantages of an aluminum frying pan with a ceramic layer.
- Fragility of the material. For this reason, you cannot clean such utensils from dirt in the dishwasher. The exception is models with an additional coating. Temperature changes are also undesirable for them due to the risk of microcracks in the ceramic coating. They are not dangerous in themselves, but they can lead to a reduction in the service life of the utensils.
- High prices. Ceramics cannot be called a cheap material. As a result, an aluminum frying pan ceases to be an affordable product for every housewife.
- Limitations of use. Cooktops with an ultra-thin base are a dubious tandem with an aluminum frying pan with a ceramic coating. It is better to use it to cook food on a gas or electric stove.
Frying pan with non-stick coating
An economical option does not always imply the practicality of the product. Fatty scale can be removed from the non-stick layer. The metal will eventually suffer from careless care. In this case, cast aluminum is better than stamped products from sheets of this metal.
Weight and wall thickness
By itself, such dishes are not heavy utensils. Ceramic and electric stoves do not imply the use of frying pans with thin walls. A gas heater is suitable for dishes with a thick base.
Shape and size
The dimensions of frying pans depend on their intended purpose. The round shape of the pans remains traditional. If desired, you can choose parameters with more creative lines. Functionality is important in the pans, which is worth remembering. A square aluminum frying pan will look impressive, but if you want to turn the food over the fire, this format will create problems for the cook.
The size of the product depends on the number of people living in the family. 28 cm in diameter of such a frying pan is an ideal option for cooking for all people living in the house.
Accessories for aluminum frying pan
It is difficult to imagine dishes that do not have additional elements. Their presence/absence often affects the functionality of the product.
Pen
In this case, we are talking about a removable and non-removable component of the frying pan design. Its choice depends on the need to use the cookware in the oven and directly on the gas stove. It can often be purchased as an additional accessory to the frying pan.
The handle can be made of plastic, which does not make this material less functional. It is impossible to get a burn when using it, because modern models of frying pans do not imply heating the handle.
Lid
Quite often, this accessory is not provided for the frying pan. You can buy it in a separate set. Ideally, the lid should be made of aluminum. Stainless steel or high-quality silicone will also work in this case.
The lid can be selected for any model that matches it in diameter. Its dimensions usually vary from 18 to 28 cm.
How to Heat an Aluminum Frying Pan to Prevent Burning
Frying utensils will not cause any trouble if they are properly prepared for use from the start.
"Grandma's" method using salt
Our ancestors did not like to spoil the taste of products that they had already worked so hard to obtain. When buying an aluminum frying pan, you should initially pour salt on its bottom. In this case, any kind of salt will do. Next, you need to heat the salt for 10-15 minutes. The used material should be removed, and the frying pan should be greased with vegetable oil. In a couple of days, it will be ready for use.
Option with water without salt
You can do without this organic substance. First, boil water in an aluminum container for five minutes. Drain the hot liquid and leave the pan itself for half an hour to dry. Then grease the inner walls of the dish with any vegetable oil. A fatty base such as lard will not work. In a day, the aluminum pan will be ready for use.
Calcination with vegetable oil
In this case, we are talking about calcining salt together with an oily liquid. The recipe for such preparation of an aluminum frying pan is simple.
- Using oil: It must be evenly distributed over the entire bottom of the frying pan.
- Adding salt. 1 teaspoon of this substance is enough to mix it with vegetable oil.
- The final stage. The container needs to stand for a couple of hours, after which it can be used.
How to tell a cast iron frying pan from an aluminum one
Cast iron products are hard to confuse with any other products. They have an impressive weight and are considered a product for long-term use. Aluminum has a much lower weight, which is worth focusing on.
Both metals tend to burn food on them without stirring. However, cast iron is more resistant to cleaning than aluminum. For this reason, it can serve the housewife for an unlimited number of years.
Important! The difference in weight will be the main criterion in such a comparison. In addition, the color of aluminum is difficult to beat. Counterfeits of this metal are rare, so in terms of price it is not an expensive material.
Criteria for choosing a quality aluminum frying pan
Non-stick cookware for frying and stewing should be selected taking into account the following factors.
- Bottom. Its maximum thickness is a guarantee of long-term use of the frying pan. It is necessary to pay attention to the multi-layer non-stick coating. Plasma spraying can raise the price of the product, which will serve as an additional guarantee.
- Risk in saving. Roller kneading is not the best option to buy if you want to use the product for more than a year. Aluminum cookware is not an unaffordable product. It is better to buy a more expensive frying pan so that it lasts longer.
- Prudence. You can't save on quality cookware. However, when buying consumer goods, the risk of using a pseudo-aluminum frying pan a couple of times increases. If you have a small family budget, you should pay attention to domestic brands with excellent products at affordable prices.
Care instructions
Maintaining aluminum pans in good condition does not require much effort.
- Cleaning. It is necessary to do it after each use of kitchen utensils for frying. Many models imply cleaning the aluminum frying pan in the dishwasher. There is a wide range of detergents for this product in specialized stores. You can get by with grandma's advice if you use it correctly. It is better to refuse abrasive preparations when washing such dishes.
- Caution. It is best to forget about the idea that food in such a dish can be stirred with a sharp object. You can try to carry out this experiment, but the frying pan will definitely go to waste. It is best to resort to a wooden spatula, which will not damage the bottom of the aluminum dish.
- Fighting old carbon deposits. Daily cleaning may not bring the desired result if it was done incorrectly. If carbon deposits have formed, use citric acid and vinegar. The proportions of these ingredients are as follows: 2 l of water/200 ml of vinegar/100 ml of citric acid. The above components should be boiled for 10-15 minutes, and then wipe the surface of the dishes with this liquid.
Additional information! You can clean an aluminum frying pan with ammonia. 1 glass of water/10-15 drops of ammonia will rid the cookware of fresh stains. It is enough to pour the bottom of the frying pan for 20 minutes to clean its interior.
Famous brands of aluminum frying pans
Each company that manufactures such goods focuses on the use of a specific material.
- Ballarini. The Italian company specializes in the production of ceramic-coated frying cookware. Buyers also noted the stylishness of the products, which implies their elegance with high durability. Ballarini offers to purchase aluminum containers in the form of frying pans, saucepans, and lids for these utensils.
Want to buy a quality frying pan? Then pay attention to the Ballarini brand. - Kukmara. The foreign word implies a domestic manufacturer. With a removable handle, the cookware can be used in the oven. The set includes a pair of handles, which make the model itself a practical purchase.
Kukmara frying pans are in great demand among customers. - Tefal. The well-known company offers aluminum frying pans with high-quality non-stick coating. Ecologically safe materials allow you to cook food with benefit for the body. When choosing a cast aluminum frying pan, you can end your search with the Tefal 04081100 model.
The French company is considered the "parent" of cookware with non-stick coating. - Rondell. The German manufacturer offers models with a three-layer coating at a price acceptable to domestic consumers. The silicone handle is not subject to heating, so there is no need to be afraid of burns.
Rondell – models are reinforced with a fused bottom, which improves the thermal conductivity of the product and speeds up the cooking process. - Neva metal tableware. Again, we will talk about a domestic manufacturer. The company from St. Petersburg offers products in the form of cast aluminum structures for use.
The kitchen is an important part of the home, and you shouldn't skimp on its improvement. Its equipment should include at least one aluminum frying pan in the housewife's arsenal.
