The comfortable and cozy atmosphere of the house is largely due to the joy of the opportunity to taste delicious dishes, the preparation of which directly depends on the kitchen appliances and utensils. And in this list of necessary utensils, it is the pan that occupies one of the leading places. But in order for a frying pan or a set of pans to bring real satisfaction in the preparation of culinary delights, it is necessary to carefully consider a worthy choice from the whole variety of copies presented.
In order to consciously choose the right pan, you need to consider a few simple rules.
First, you need to pay attention to the bottom. It should never be thin. The most optimal option is to consider the thickness of the bottom within 5-6 mm. In addition, its diameter should ideally coincide with the diameter of the burner on which cooking is planned. And the presence of a raised bottom suggests the maximum volume of its individual fragments. Compliance with these simple rules when choosing a frying pan will evenly distribute the minimum amount of heat on its surface for convenient cooking of your favorite dishes.
Secondly, the quality of the handle is of great importance. The optimal handle should hold comfortably in the palm of your hand. It cannot be thin or thick, light or heavy. A smooth surface and strong mount (applies to the removable version), excluding any loosening, should also be taken into account.
Thirdly, the average weight of the pan is priority, regardless of size and volume, which, in turn, must be appropriate for the purpose.
Selection of a pan by purpose and type of coating
The choice of a frying pan should first of all be guided by its mission. That is, the universal nature or the preparation of certain dishes should in this case determine the parameters of this dish. In this context, a pan with thick walls and a bottom will be an ideal option for stewing and stewing food, and it is better to cook dishes with thin walls and a bottom for frying. Moreover, for frying both meat and vegetables, the best option would be to use a ceramic frying pan. But pancakes, pancakes and other flour products are better to fry on Teflon dishes.
It is important to take into account the covering of the pan, since the quality of cooking directly depends on this.
Ceramic coating provides uniform heating of the surface. It is safe and durable, both when used for cooking and when caring for it.
Teflon has excellent non-stick characteristics. However, it requires sufficient gentle care, since damage to the coating will lead to toxicity of the dishes.
The titanium type of coating is made of an absolutely environmentally friendly material, which is also distinguished by its special durability and wear resistance. However, such a frying pan is an order of magnitude more expensive than the average one, which is fully justified by the duration of use.
Enamel coating is the most traditional and democratic option. However, it undergoes deformation rather quickly.
Taking into account all the above, it becomes clear that it is ceramic and teflon coatings that are most in demand among consumers today.
Ceramic and Teflon Pans
Ceramic coating is usually applied to a cast iron, steel or aluminum base. Since it is made of chemically active substances, safety can only be guaranteed with proper use and care.
It is important to understand that a ceramic pan should not be used in the heat treatment of foods using oil and fat. Their coating eliminates the need for additional surface lubrication. And care must necessarily be gentle, eliminating hard sponges and brushes, as well as cleaning products containing acidic or alkaline components. In addition, the cooking process should completely eliminate sudden changes in temperature, for example, when a cold frying pan is placed on a heated stove.
It is necessary to remember about table accessories that exclude the use of metal spoons and spatulas. Also, a ceramic pan is not suitable for induction cookers and hobs. When choosing a ceramic frying pan, you need to focus on prices, since brand-name manufacturers cannot have cheap "ceramics" by definition. Recognized leaders in the segment include the TVS (Italy), BEKA (Belgium), and Patlon (Japan) brands.
Non-stick (Teflon) pans are very convenient and safe to use at temperatures up to +200 degrees Celsius. If cooking involves more serious heating, then this type of pans should be excluded from use, since in this case Teflon will begin to emit harmful fumes to health. In other cases, this non-stick coating is an absolutely environmentally friendly material, the use of which is practically justified. Care for such pans is exactly the same as for ceramic products. It is important to remember that Teflon cookware with an impaired coating cannot be used.
Among the well-known brands of Teflon pans, Tefal, TVS, Kulinar, Burletti, Epicure and Ballarini should be noted.
Rating of pans and producers
The type and purpose of the pan are the determining parameters for its selection. Despite the fact that today there are universal samples, still orientation to certain types of heat treatment and even to typical dishes is a priority. It is by understanding the varieties of this utensil that you can easily choose the right option.
According to the material of manufacture, the pans are divided into cast iron, steel, titanium, aluminum, ceramic and teflon. But that is not all. There are categories of frying pans such as pancake, grill, and wok.
The former are distinguished by a rather thick and completely flat bottom with low sides. Also, the design feature of this tableware is the presence of a long handle, which makes it very convenient for preparing culinary delights from flour.
The grill pan has a specific ribbed bottom, which does not allow food to soak in oil, which forms a crisp. A feature of this cookware is its quadrangular shape and tangible weight.
The WOK pan has a flat bottom and widened edges, as well as two handles. On it you can cook exotic dishes from Asian cuisine on any hob or stove.
Having made a detailed analysis of pans of various shapes and types, as well as the materials used, you can display a certain rating in descending order.
So, the most popular bases: cast iron, titanium, steel, aluminum.
The coatings most demanded by the market: ceramic, teflon.
The most popular types of pans include the following: pancake, grill, WOK.
The most frequent use is observed specifically for frying and carcasses of products.
Popular matches: the diameter of the bottom of the cookware and burner, the material with the appearance of the pan and the type of stove.
And the necessary additions to this type of cookware are the lid and handle.
Based on the popularity of the brands of pans, the following ranking of manufacturers can be derived:
- Tefal;
- Rondell;
- TVS;
- Kukmara;
- Ballirini;
- Swiss Diamond;
- Neva-Metal;
- Tableware. Biol.
