Encyclopedia of frying pans: how one differs from another

With the abundance of kitchen utensils, it is difficult to know which frying pan is best to choose. When buying a frying pan, you need to consider the material of manufacture and coating, whether it will fit on the stove and whether the food cooked on it will be healthy.

Types of frying pans and their purposes

When choosing dishes, you need to take into account the composition of the family; based on this, the size of the bottom and the height of the walls depend. For one person, 18-20 cm in diameter is enough, for a family of two people 20-24 cm, and for a large number of guests you need to purchase a frying pan 26-28 cm. It is also worth paying attention to the wall thickness, which should be at least 5 mm for a universal models and 3 mm for pancake.

The type of kitchen utensils determines the dishes you prefer to cook. The stores offer a wide range of products that can be useful in the kitchen, but most housewives make do with a standard set of 2-3 items.

What types of frying pans are needed in the house:

the universal one is made with one long handle, suitable for everyday cooking and should always be in the housewife’s arsenal;
the roasting pan has two small handles on the sides, used for cooking pilaf, meat and baking dishes in the oven;
a pancake pan with thin walls and a long handle, specially made for frying this beloved delicacy;
a high-sided stewpan, ideal for stewing meat and vegetables, making sauces and jams;
A grill with a ribbed surface on the bottom will help you fry any food using a small amount of oil.

You can also choose non-standard types of frying pans: oval, square and rectangle, but in the kitchen a universal shape, a saucepan and a roasting pan will suffice. Each housewife herself determines the number of utensils and sizes that she needs for cooking.

Material of manufacture and coating

The choice of the base of the frying pan and the type of non-stick coating must be taken responsibly; the speed of cooking, the juiciness of the dish and ease of use depend on this. Some coating materials, if slightly disturbed, can release harmful substances when heated, which will affect the taste of prepared foods and their safety.

What are frying pans made of:

Cast iron – the most durable and heaviest metal used in the production of frying pans. The cookware is stable on the stove, retains heat for a long time and retains nutrients in food. If there is no non-stick coating, then cast iron frying pan is rusting: what to do in such situation? Either fight or always keep the pan dry
Stainless steel does not require any coating and cooks any food perfectly. The metal is not subject to oxidation when heated and does not require special care.
Titanium – the best choice for preparing any dishes. It has all the positive qualities of cast iron, but is lighter, does not rust or deform when heated. A titanium frying pan is quite an expensive purchase, but the service life of such utensils reaches 100 years.
Aluminum – is a budget purchase. The metal is lightweight and relatively durable.Pure aluminum is not used in modern cookware; the pan is sprayed with a non-stick coating on both sides, which eliminates severe deformation when heated and preserves the taste of the dish.
Ceramics - The safest material when cooking, but a stone frying pan requires careful handling and can break if dropped.

Among the non-stick coatings, Teflon can be distinguished, which copes with its task perfectly. Stores also sell frying pans coated with titanium, stone and enamel; these products are more expensive, but are not susceptible to scratches.

When purchasing, pay attention to the material of the handles; ideally, it should not heat up, as well as the presence of a lid. They are usually made of tempered glass and are sold complete with cookware.

Which frying pan to choose for different types of stoves

The choice of cookware depends on the type of heating of household appliances. Hobs are made from different materials that may not interact with the cookware, so when purchasing, you need to know whether a regular frying pan will do or whether you need to purchase a special one.

What kind of cookware is needed for the stove:

Any type of cookware is suitable for gas heating, regardless of the material of manufacture and coating;
An electric stove is also not demanding on frying pans, but for uniform heating you need to select the appropriate diameter of the pan for the burner;
a ceramic hob does not tolerate a lot of weight, so you should choose stainless steel frying pans with a multi-layer bottom;
An induction cooker is the most capricious surface, and utensils for it need to be purchased from stainless steel, cast iron or ordinary steel with a non-stick coating.

When choosing a frying pan, the main thing is that the diameter of the bottom matches the size of the heating element. Otherwise, if the heat is unevenly distributed, deformation of the cookware may occur, the only exception being cast iron.

What to look for when purchasing

If you have decided on the type of kitchen utensils you need, then before making a purchase, you should know a few subtleties that will help you choose a quality frying pan.

What do professional chefs look for:

Thickness of walls and bottom. The higher this indicator, the more evenly the dishes will heat up, and the dishes will turn out more juicy and tasty.
Handle material. The best choice is removable elements made of non-flammable plastic that is not subject to heat.
Availability of a cover. Products cook faster in sealed containers and retain more nutrients.
Covering material. Teflon-coated frying pans are the most affordable, but are prone to scratches. Enamel is safe when heated, but requires careful handling and is susceptible to cracking and chipping. The most durable coatings are stone and titanium.

If you plan to buy a frying pan for a long time, then it makes sense to overpay a little and choose not the cheapest option. The stores offer a wide range of kitchen utensils in different price categories.

Manufacturers and their products

The safety of the prepared food and the durability of the utensils depend on the manufacturer. You can purchase kitchen utensils from European manufacturers who guarantee the quality of their products. Global brands include TEFAL, TimA, Winner and many others; the main thing is that a quality certificate is provided upon purchase, otherwise you can purchase a fake.

Among the Russian companies producing the best frying pans, we can highlight: “Kamskaya Posuda”, “Neva Metal Utensils” and “Lyubava”. These manufacturers produce models that are no different in quality from foreign brands.

Knowing the specifics of choosing a frying pan, you can buy a decent copy that will delight the housewife and the whole family with delicious and healthy dishes.