Teflon frying pan

In the modern household there are a lot of irreplaceable things, and one of them is a frying pan, because you can cook with it a huge number of dishes, starting with pancakes for breakfastand ending with delicious home-made cutlets. We use them daily, just like our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. But before it was much easier to choose suitable dishes, only its size was taken into account, and today the assortment of such utensils is so great that it is easy to get confused. In addition to the usual products made of cast iron, not least is the Teflon frying pan and pottery from ceramics. But not all the landladies know them well enough, so sometimes it's very difficult to choose one. In this article, we will try to determine how to choose the right dishes.

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What is Teflon?

This material was invented by the Americans in the thirties of last century. Initially, in the conditions of one of the laboratories, a polymer was created, called polytetrafluoroethylene. It was too slippery, but incredibly resistant to acids, alkalis and heat.

Today Teflon frying pans are melted from aluminum or steel. This material is very popular among professional chefs and experienced housewives. And this is understandable, because frying on a dish with such a coating can be anything - not just ordinary scrambled eggs, but also more complex and delicious dishes.

Important! Producers, of course, try to assure us that it is possible to fry on such frying pans without oil, but this is not entirely true, because fish or meat will still begin to pester. But nevertheless, such dishes are really comfortable due to the relief pattern and smooth surface.

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How harmful is Teflon to human health?

It is worth noting that Teflon frying pans are made with the addition of one chemical compound, namely, the acid that accumulates in the body, can adversely affect the state of the immune and endocrine systems, as well as the work of the liver. Naturally, in the process of production, a minimum dose of this acid falls into the Teflon frying pans, but this moment can not be overlooked, in particular to people caring about their health.

Important! If the manufacturer's temperature regime of operation of such dishes is observed, the harmful effect is excluded or there is a risk, but in a negligible dose. If the heating of Teflon occurs over 260 degrees, the harmful substances begin to stand out - this is a fact.

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Advantages and disadvantages of Teflon cookware

This variety of kitchen utensils has a number of advantages and must be considered:

• Teflon frying pan almost instantly heats up, so you can start cooking on it without waiting a long time.
• You do not need to add too much oil to the dishes, because due to a smooth surface, the food will not burn. And as you know, the less oil is added in the process of frying, the more useful the dish will be.
• Washing such utensils is very easy, and it concerns even the most difficult contaminants in the form of oil and fat. Remains of products are washed without any problems for a few seconds without the use of special detergents.
• Weigh such dishes much less than, for example, ceramic. Cooking for them is a pleasure, and even easier to take care of them.

The negative sides of Teflon products include:

• During cooking, it is not allowed to mix food with spatulas, spoons, metal forks - only with wooden or plastic ones. Failure to comply with this rule leads to the formation of scratches, as a result - heavy metals, harmful to health, will fall into food, and Teflon will no longer provide such convenience of cooking - the products will stick to the bottom and walls.
• Do not overheat the frying pan. The main reason for this rule is set out above. In addition, overheating affects the integrity of the coating, so cook better on medium or low heat.

To ensure that consumers do not forget about the possible overheating of the frying pan, steel producers intend to label the center of the product with a special red indicator that gets darker when heated. As soon as you see that it has completely warmed up, you must immediately start cooking.

Important! If the non-stick coating is accidentally damaged, then the product can no longer be used. To give preference to models with a double thick bottom, so that it lasts as long as possible.

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What is the difference between other types of pans?

Teflon pans, of course, are good, but in some moments they are inferior to their counterparts. Therefore it will be reasonable to get acquainted with other types of this cookware:

1. Aluminum frying pans stand out with minimal weight, but they do not last long. Products with a bottom thickness of less than five millimeters can be deformed on electric plates. They weigh almost as much as Teflon.

Important! Molded models weigh more, but also, respectively, last longer.

1. Stainless steel cookware has been used for a long time in the kitchen. This metal is completely safe for health, does not release toxic substances, in contact with food. But if you put an empty frying pan on the fire, then divorce will instantly appear on its walls, but this does not happen with Teflon models. Another "scourge" of such utensils is a permanent deposit, which is formed even from too much flame.
2. Frying pans made of cast iron perfectly retain heat and warm evenly. But that the surface has warmed up enough, it is necessary to wait a little. This metal has natural non-stick properties, which increase with the years. A huge disadvantage of such dishes is a large weight, a high probability of splitting in the event of a fall and a tendency to form rust.

Important! Keep the cooked dish in a cast-iron frying pan. If the food will be in contact with the cast iron for a long time, it will turn into a dark color and will be saturated with harmful metallic substances.

1. Ceramic frying pans are quite popular today. They outperform their counterparts from Teflon in terms of safety, because they produce them from environmentally friendly materials. Also, they heat much faster and are more resistant to damage. But pottery can darken if it is not washed immediately after cooking, or cracked due to a temperature drop.

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How to choose a quality Teflon pan?

1. The first thing you should pay attention to - a teflon frying pan should not weigh too much. That is, it should be lighter than cast iron, but at the same time it is quite weighty. Otherwise, it will quickly deform.
2. Be sure to check the thickness of the bottom - as mentioned above, it should not be less than five millimeters. If you have a gas stove in the kitchen, you can buy a model with a thin bottom.
3. Then carefully inspect the coating so that it does not show cracks, chips, holes, bumps and bulges. The material must be dense and even.
4. Be sure to pay attention to the handle, so that it is cast, and not bolted to the product, otherwise - it may one day just fall away.

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Service life of Teflon cookware

Typically, teflon products serve no more than four years with daily use. By the way, manufacturers indicate a longer warranty period, but the main thing is to use it correctly and follow the recommendations for care.

Important! Before using this frying pan for the first time, thoroughly wash it with soap, or rather - pour a little water into it and boil it. Then drain the liquid and apply a small layer of fat to the surface.

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Rules for the care of Teflon pans

In order for your favorite Teflon pans to serve you as long as possible, it is necessary to look after them properly and regularly, namely to take into account such recommendations and rules:

1. Never clean them with metal sponges and abrasive particles, otherwise- they just damage the surface.
2. Remove metal blades that could damage Teflon.
3. Do not heat dishes more than two hundred degrees, so that it does not begin to separate and release hazardous substances.

Important! Such frying pans can be washed even in a dishwasher, but at a temperature of no more than fifty degrees.

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The most famous manufacturers of Teflon pans

Now we will look at some of the most popular brands that supply such utensils to the modern market:

• Rondell is a German brand that produces not only Teflon frying pans but also quality pans, knives and french presses. All products without exception are excellent quality, affordable for many consumers worth.
• Tefal - this brand can rightly be called a standard of quality cookware for the kitchen. Even though the products of this manufacturer are not expensive, they still remain popular and do not concede to anyone their position as a leader. The manufacturer of Tefal also produces utensils for induction furnaces, stainless steel and non-stick coating.
• Tescoma is a Czech brand, no less famous than the previous ones, and the range of its products is also quite wide and diverse, in particular, it includes frying pans with ceramic and Teflon coating.

From this article you got a complete idea of ​​the Teflon pan, you understood how it differs from ceramics, aluminum, cast iron, stainless steel, and also learned what is better and how to choose the dishes for the house so that it is comfortable and durable. Now it remains only to experiment with dishes and to please their loved ones with tasty and useful home-made food.