Is it possible to wash a hot frying pan with cold water?

The fresher the coating on the dishes, the easier it is to remove. This is why many housewives prefer to wash a hot frying pan as soon as they finish cooking. But can you use cold tap water? No. Too sudden a temperature change will lead to deformation of the product. The pan may become cracked, and the non-stick coating may develop blisters.

Why is cold water dangerous for hot pans?

When heated, the material expands, and when cooled, it contracts. It cannot be seen with the naked eye. But you can observe the consequences of thermal shock. Many have seen with their own eyes how a mug bursts if you take it out of the refrigerator and pour boiling water. The same thing happens with the frying pan.

Tests have shown that a frying pan with a diameter of 25 cm increases by 1.3 mm when heated to 200 degrees. If you remove it from the heat and leave it at room temperature, it will smoothly decrease to its previous size. Sudden cooling causes disruption of the structure of the material. Therefore, cold water is contraindicated for hot frying pans.

In order for the dishes to serve for a long time, they need to be heated and cooled gradually.

Other cons

It is not recommended to wash a hot frying pan with cold water for other reasons:

• Once on a hot surface, water mixes with carbon deposits and then evaporates. Steam filled with toxic substances is released. Inhaling it is harmful to health. At the very least, you may get a headache and a sore throat.
• If there is hot oil left in the pan, adding cold water will cause scalding droplets to fly apart. And if with proper skill it is still possible to avoid a burn, then it is impossible to avoid contamination of nearby surfaces.

Which frying pans are afraid of thermal shock?

Everything. Even grandma's old Soviet frying pans can crack due to temperature changes. But frying pans with a non-stick coating are especially afraid of thermal shock. The base and non-stick layer expand and contract differently. The result is deformation of the spraying. It takes on a lumpy shape and cracks. Example in the photo:

It is strictly forbidden to wash hot pans with cold water:

• with non-stick coating;
• with ceramic coating (stone);

Cast iron, aluminum and high carbon steel pans are not as sensitive. But the risk of damage, although minimal, is still there.

Even if you have been pouring cold water into a hot frying pan for many years, this does not mean that you can do this. The laws of physics apply whether you know them or not. Your pet can crack at any moment. Products with non-stick coatings, ceramic and stone are especially susceptible to deformation from thermal shock.We advise you to give up the habit of washing a hot frying pan with cold water now. Wait until it cools down a bit. Fill it with warm or hot water. The frying pan will “thank you” for proper care and will delight you with delicious dishes for many years.