One of the most important aspects of enhancing your cooking skills is using good-quality cooking tools. Without the proper cooking tools, it is difficult to bring out the best result no matter how efficient a cook you are. One such important cooking tool is the cooking pan. There are different materials for cooking pans, each serving specific functions. One might be suitable for frying while the other might be for searing.
From cast iron and non-sticks to aluminum and ceramic, understanding their unique properties would help you to make informed choices. The following section of the blog provides a comprehensive guide on different types of cooking pans that will help you elevate your culinary skills.
Types of Cooking Pans and Their Uses
There are different materials for cooking pans available in the market and as a culinary enthusiast, you might be tempted to invest in as many as you can. However, choosing the best one from the pool of available cooking pans is essential. Here are some of the top cooking pan materials and their pros and cons of using them.
1. Non-Stick Pans: Well Known as Easy to Use
Non-stick pans are one of the common cookware in most households. The main benefit of using non-stick pans is frying as the food does not stick to it. The pans come with a coating of non-stick materials such as Teflon which also makes it easy to clean. Additionally, you can reduce your oil intake as non-stick pans do not require much oil. As a result, it is also an excellent material for cooking items for frying different food items.
However, you must choose non-stick pans that are made up of PFOA-free materials. PFOA is a harmful substance that is linked to several health issues. On the other hand, non-stick pans have high heat sensitivity and high-heat cooking destroys the non-stick coating. Thus, it is recommended that you avoid high-heat cooking to maintain the high durability of non-stick pans.
2. Stainless Steel Pans: Famous for Versatility and Durability
Stainless steel pans are also one of the top choices for culinary experts mainly as it allows you to prepare a wide range of dishes and is extremely durable. They are made up of different metal mixtures including aluminum and copper and are resistant to corrosion and rust. Additionally, has a high heat-bearing capacity and facilitates even cooking. This means your food is evenly cooked. Moreover, they are also non-reactive to alkaline or acidic food items. All these properties make stainless steel one of the safest and most efficient cooking cookware that every household or professional kitchen must-have.
However, there is a chance of food sticking to stainless steel. To avoid this problem it is recommended that before you pour oil for frying you must heat the pan adequately. Also, cleaning a sticky pan is difficult and time-consuming. So, make sure you follow the right cooking procedure to avoid cooking and cleaning hassles.
3. Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Pans: High Heat Retention Capacity
Cast iron pans are also popular among professional and household cooking experts. It has exceptional heat retention capacity, versatility, and durability. Its high heat retention capacity allows you to use it for a campfire, stove, or oven.
Additionally, cast iron pans also turn out as non-stick after some time making it even more convenient to cook a variety of food items. However, it requires good maintenance to enhance durability and performance.
If you want to leverage their exceptional durability and non-stick properties make sure you wash it properly after cooking. On the other hand, one drawback of cast iron cooking pans is that it is highly reactive to acidic foods such as tomatoes. As a result, it is better to avoid acidic items for cast iron cookware. Otherwise, it is ideal for high-heat, slow cooking, frying, and backing.
4. Ceramic Pans: Eco-Friendly Cooking Solution
Ceramic pans are a new obsession of cooking experts and are preferred as an eco-friendly alternative to non-stick cooking pans. The manufacturing process also follows sustainability. The ceramic layer made them non-stick without any harmful effects as that of Teflon. On the other hand, ceramics are also preferred for their aesthetic designs and colors.
However, ceramic pans are delicate items and can easily break if colliding with hard objects making them less durable. Thus, it is recommended that you handle ceramic pans with care so that it does not slip from your hand, and also use soft washing soap to avoid abrasive cleaning. Moreover, it is heat-sensitive and cannot withstand high heat. So make sure you use them only for low-heat cooking.
5. Aluminum Pans: Lightweight and Cost-Effective
Aluminum pans are also very common in household and professional kitchens. It is cheaper than other pans and extremely lightweight making them convenient to use. It comes with a coating that prevents food from absorbing the metallic taste of aluminum. Other benefits of aluminum are that it is quite lightweight making it easy to handle and wash.
Additionally, it has a high heat conducting capacity cooking heat evenly in less time. However, it is susceptible to scratches that remove the coating. This explores the metal which leads to a metallic taste of the foods. Thus, try to avoid scratching the aluminum pan.
Endnote
The blog has discussed about different materials for cooking pans. Cooking pans are one of the most essential tools in any household or professional kitchen. The five cooking pan materials discussed above are some of the most commonly preferred pan materials for culinary experts. With the right use, you can enhance their lifespan and cook delicious dishes that are free of any metallic impurities. Purchase cooking pans from the top brands at Top Deal Radar – the place to find shop deals on cookware & bakeware. You will automatically be directed to leading online shopping sites where you can find top brands that offer cooking pans.
