The frying pan is one of the most basic kitchen utensils out there. It is used for a myriad of tasks including sauteing, frying, pan-frying, steaming, and even used as a griddle. And any number of foods can be cooked in it, such as red and white meats, and all kinds of vegetables. This is why it is such a versatile and useful instrument in a kitchen.
Technological evolutions added to culinary creativity have promoted the emergence of lots of versions of frying pans, which further diversify their functions. In the market, you can find electric, pressure, non-stick, or large frying pans. We will tell you about these later.
The Important Things
- Pans are kitchen utensils of incredible versatility, in which you can cook any type of food through various cooking methods. This versatility is what makes it an essential tool for any kitchen.
- One of the aspects that define the quality, resistance, and distribution of heat in the pans is the material. There are ceramic pans, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, and many others. Each material has specific characteristics that change the pan and its performance, we will comment on these later.
- There is a huge variety of frying pans available in the market, with various designs intended for different uses. Among them, the electric frying pan, the non-stick frying pans, and the pressure frying pans stand out.
The best frying pans: our recommendations
Lodge L8SK3 Cured Skillet
The Lodge brand has been manufacturing pans for more than a century, generating very good quality products. This particular one is a cast iron pan, a very useful material that withstands very high temperatures. It is also quite useful because it effectively retains heat, distributing it better and preventing food from burning.
The pan measures 26cm in diameter, which makes it handy for cooking many different recipes, such as stir-fries and stir-fries. It can be used both on the stove and over campfires, so it is ideal to take camping. In addition, it does not allow food to stick to the bottom of the pan, making it much easier to wash.
T-fal Nonstick Frying Pan Set
T-fal offers high-quality and affordable frying pan sets. These are 3 nonstick pans that won’t let your food stick or burn. Nonstick also makes for easy cleanup, and these pans are dishwasher-safe. So it is understood that the non-stick represents a great advantage in any kitchen.
The pans include a lid and can be put in the oven, to cook the baked recipes you want. It is also designed to evenly distribute heat and ensure even cooking.
Cook N Home Nonstick Pans
This is a set of 2 pans offered by the Cook N Home brand. The smallest pan is 20cm in diameter and 4cm high, while the largest is 25cm in diameter by 5cm high. Both pans complement each other and make up a very versatile set with which you can cook a complete meal.
They are non-stick, which ensures that food will not stick, heat is better distributed and they are easier to clean. In addition, according to the manufacturers, they do not have lead, in toxic material that is in some non-stick materials. It is dishwasher-safe and has silicone grips.
Frying pans shopping guide
Frying pans are everyday kitchen utensils, so virtually everyone has come into contact with one of these at some point. However, the aspects that characterize a frying pan and the benefits offered by the different types are not well known. So here we tell you about these aspects.
What is the frying pan and what advantages do they have?
The frying pan is a kitchen utensil, which consists of a metal container and is a little deep, with one or more handles. The idea is to place the food inside the container and place it on the fire to cook it. In the pan, you can fry, roast, saute, and use many other cooking methods. And in it, you can cook any food. The pan didn’t change much for several centuries, but a revolution came in the 20th century.
Non-stick technology changed the profile of pans, as it represented a change that made life in the kitchen easier. The first non-stick frying pan was created in the 1960s by a French company.
Pans have been an essential item in kitchens for millennia and will continue to be so for many years to come. In the 21st century, technology has allowed the evolution and optimization of pans, so a huge variety is available.
Advantage
⇒ They allow you to cook a wide variety of foods
⇒ Various cooking methods can be used
⇒ Make kitchen work easier
Disadvantages
⊗ If they are not non-stick they let the food stick
⊗ Some materials do not distribute heat well
⊗ Depending on the material they can be difficult to clean
When did frying pans begin to be used?
This is one of the oldest instruments in human history. They have been used since humanity began to cook their food before consuming it. Of course, these prehistoric pans were primitive and very different from today. The evolution of the frying pan began when man began to manipulate metals, such as copper and iron.
These materials began to be used to make kitchen utensils, including the frying pan. Its effectiveness was much higher, so its use spread and became part of human culture. It is believed that those who started the custom of using copper pans were the Romans, who perfected their manufacture.
Teflon, ceramic, stainless steel, and cast iron – what should you pay attention to with the type of pan?
Several aspects affect the quality of the pan, but the first thing you should check is the material with which it is made. The material will define many aspects, such as flavor, cooking speed, heat distribution, and adherence. There are Teflon, ceramic, stainless steel, and cast iron pans.
Teflon pans: These are covered with a material called polytetrafluoroethylene, which is what prevents food from sticking. This coating is glued to the pan using perfluorobutane acid. Both release toxic substances, which represents a great disadvantage.
Ceramic pans: They have a ceramic coating on top, which makes them fairly non-stick. Two huge advantages of ceramic pans are that they are non-toxic and distribute heat perfectly. The disadvantage is that to extend their useful life they must be used in low temperatures and always washed by hand.
Stainless steel pan: It is made with this same material and is quite practical in several ways. This does not have toxic coatings, does not require special care, and does not rust, which represents several advantages. But the problem is that these are not even slightly non-stick and do not distribute heat well.
Cast iron pans: They are among the most popular and oldest. These are very resistant, withstand very high temperatures, can be used on different heat sources, maintain and distribute heat effectively and once cured they are non-stick. The disadvantage is that they tend to weigh a lot.
| Teflon | Ceramics | Stainless steel | Cast iron | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-stick | Alta | Alta | Bass | Medium |
| Toxicity level | Alta | Bass | Bass | Bass |
| Bottom thickness | Delgado | Delgado | Delgado | Thick |
| Temperature resistance | Media | Alta | Media | Alta |
There are also pans made from titanium and aluminum, but they are less common and not as practical. The material defines the effectiveness of the pan. But you also have to consider the size, the non-stick, and other particulars that we will talk about.
How much does a frying pan cost?
The huge variety of pans causes there to be a huge range of prices. Cost includes aspects such as material, adherence, and resistance, with the best material, more adherence, and greater resistance being more expensive. The cheapest pans can cost at least $35, they are the simplest, and some smaller ones can cost $20. The most expensive ones cost around $150, much more money but in general, they are pans that, among other things, have very high resistance and great compatibility with different sources of fire.
It is certainly a very large range in which many aspects intervene. But this can become an advantage if you think that with a higher range, there are more possibilities of achieving the ideal balance between the quality you are looking for and your budget.
Where to buy a frying pan?
One of the most practical ways to choose and acquire a frying pan is through online shopping. This way you have the facility to investigate the models that catch your attention and see if there are better options for you. You can use online shopping platforms such as Amazon, Mercadolibre, Linio, and eBay.
Perhaps it is Amazon that offers the greatest variety. You can also buy a frying pan in stores specializing in kitchen items, where you will have specialized attention. But it’s such a common item that you can find it in many places, including supermarkets and the kitchen and home sections of department stores like Walmart and Cotsco.
Compare and qualify the different models of pans
To choose the right frying pan, we recommend you consider the following criteria:
Size
Size is a very important aspect when choosing a frying pan. Both the diameter and the height must be considered since both affect the use that can be given to it. High pans are ideal for making sautés, stews, or frying that require a lot of oil, while lower pans are ideal for roasting, using as a griddle, or frying with little oil.
The smallest ones are usually 13cm, although some are even smaller that are not very practical but very cute. While the largest ones can measure 36cm, these are usually used professionally in restaurants or food places.
The regular and most common size is between 18cm and 22cm in diameter and between 3cm and 5cm high. This is because it is a practical size that works for a greater variety of recipes. So our recommendation if you are looking for your first frying pan is to opt for one of this size.
Thickness
The thickness of the pan greatly affects the quality of the food and its durability of the pan. Thick pans hold heat longer and distribute it more evenly. On the other hand, thin pans tend to focus the heat on specific points and cause the food to burn in sectors.
Generally, cast iron pans are thick, one of the reasons why they distribute heat very well. While aluminum, stainless steel, and Teflon are usually very thin. If you are going to choose one of these, make sure they are not too thin to improve heat distribution.
Non-stick
When talking about the frying pan, it is essential to talk about non-stick. Non-stick pans are the ones that can prevent food from sticking to the pan. This also means that the food will not burn, and it will be much easier to clean.
Cast iron pans have a high non-stick capacity, as do ceramic and Teflon pans, which makes them very advantageous and highly sought after. While stainless steel and aluminum pans have very little non-stick which makes them less popular.
Electric pan
Electric frying pans were developed from new technologies that were implemented in kitchen utensils. These work with a resistance that works by electricity and that heats up. These are located under the bottom of the pan, and many have several levels to regulate the temperature to your liking.
These are useful on many occasions as they are easier to use. But they have the disadvantage that they consume a lot of electrical energy and do not distribute heat evenly. However, they are a very popular and practical tool for any kitchen.
Steam pan
The steam pan is a variation of the steam cooker, and it works by the same mechanism that the steam cooker works with. These are ideal for preparing meat stews since they soften the meat and cook the vegetables in a few minutes. In addition, the type of cooking creates a sauce that goes very well with the stew.
