How to choose a frying pan?

Frying pan is one of the popular novelties of kitchen utensils, which every day is gaining more and more fans. To fully enjoy the merits of this invention, you need to know how to choose a grill pan.

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What is a grill pan?

This frying pan is just a find, not only for barbeque lovers in nature, but also for connoisseurs of healthy food. The difference between this utensil and a conventional frying pan is that there are bulging ribs on its bottom, due to which the food cooked rises above the bottom rather than floats in the oil.

In addition, the food is prepared much faster, retains its juiciness and has mouth-watering strips-the same as those left after grilling in nature. Actually, thanks to this feature, this frying pan got its name - "grilled pan".

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Why is it worth choosing a grill pan?

• The inner surface has non-stick properties, and in addition, the ribs do not allow food to touch the bottom surface. The oil should only lightly oil the food and the bottom. Thus, the pork steak or fish will not stick to the frying pan or be buried in fat.
• During cooking, the fat emitted by meat or fish is collected between the grooves, respectively - the dish comes out dietary.
• It should be noted that it is possible to cook on it a large number of dishes: meat, fish, vegetables, mushrooms and even hard sorts of cheese, for example suluguni.
• In addition, the food is prepared without an abundance of soot and smoke - it does not have this burnt greasy crust, like after cooking in a conventional frying pan.
• The juiciness of products is kept to the maximum, they acquire a special taste and aroma. About the recognizable striped appetizing crust, we have already mentioned above.
• Thanks to the special shape, the grill in the frying pan is prepared more quickly.

Important! For cooking chicken meat and fish, you will spend 5-10 minutes, and for pork, beef - 10 minutes or slightly more, depending on the thickness of the piece.

• Another undoubted advantage is that several products can be cooked at the same pan, for example steak with vegetables and mushrooms, potatoes and fish.

Important! The only drawback may be the solid weight of the frying pan, but with all the advantages this disadvantage is not so significant.

Of course, you will get all these nice bonuses in case the dishes are chosen correctly. Therefore, you need to know the grill pan - which is better. We will deal with all the nuances.

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Compatibility of the grill pan with your

This moment should be taken into account first of all, no matter how you choose a frying pan for the material, size, shape - it may just be incompatible with your stove.

Usually on the package frying pans write, for what type of plates it is suitable. Let's take a closer look at this issue:

• The grill pan for a gas cooker can be made from any material: aluminum, cast iron or ceramics.
• Ceramic or aluminum frying pans are suitable for glass ceramic plates, the main condition of which is a smooth and even bottom. In addition, the size of the product should not exceed greatly the diameter of the burner.

Important! Cast iron frying pans for glass-ceramic plates are not suitable, because they have a lot of weight.

• For an induction cooker, those grilled frying pans that have either a flat steel bottom or a flat, flat bottom are suitable.
• The electric cooker gives a high temperature, so the best option for it will be a cast-iron grill pan.

Important! There is also an electric grill that works from the mains and does not need a stove.

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How to choose a frying pan in size and shape?

It's hard for an inexperienced customer to decide which grill is better, because the various shapes and sizes presented in the store are simply amazing. On which product is it worth to choose?

Grilled frying pan. Which is better in form?

The choice of the form of this kitchen invention depends on what you will cook more and for how many people:

• If you are a big fan of fish, and the rest will be cooked occasionally, then buy an oval-shaped frying pan. It can be conveniently equipped with two handles.
• For a large number of people it is better to cook in a square or rectangular frying pan. It is more spacious, and in addition, it is more convenient to cook different dishes in one set.
• Steaks, mushrooms, vegetables, cutlets, omelettes for a small number of eaters are best cooked in a round grill.

What size should I choose?

The size should, in the first place, depend on the burner:

• There is not much difference for the gas cooker, but for the rest of the plates, the size of the frying pan and the burner is of great importance.

Important! The diameter of the container should not greatly exceed the size of the burner. Otherwise, the dish can not be evenly prepared.

• Note also the height of the sides. For roasting meat and fish, it is better to have beads higher, so that splashes of fat do not fall on the stove. In addition, the high side during cooking creates the effect of the "oven" and the food is evenly fried. The low walls of the frying pan are more suitable for cooking vegetables.

Important! Separately, it should be noted the following nuance of such dishes: when buying, choose that pan, where there is a special "spout".It is needed to make it easier to drain off residues of fat and other liquid.

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Choose the material

How to choose a grill pan so that it lasts as long as possible?

The material from which the frying pan is made can be: cast iron, aluminum or ceramics. Consider the pros and cons of each of them.

Cast iron

The best option for a grill pan is this alloy.

Advantages:

• Durable and durable.
• Resistant to mechanical damage.
• Evenly warms up and slowly cools.
• Does not emit harmful substances during cooking.

Important! The non-stick film is created on the inner surface of this porous metal by itself during the cooking process, provided that the frying pan is washed without detergent chemicals and abrasives.

Disadvantages:

• Impressive weight( a couple of kilograms).
• Impossibility to store food in a cast-iron frying pan, as it will not acquire an entirely pleasant metallic taste.

Aluminum

Aluminum is a lighter metal, respectively - a frying pan will in the literal sense be easier to use.

Pluses:

• Slight weight of the dish.
• With proper use, a frying pan made of this material will last several years.

Disadvantages:

• Unlike cast iron, food can stick to aluminum, so the pan is covered from the inside with a non-stick layer.
• Aluminum can not be exposed to temperatures above 260 degrees, otherwise the layer will collapse and carcinogens will enter the food.
• When cooking, use only silicone or wooden appliances.
• When cleaning such frying pans, do not use abrasives or hard chemistry.

Ceramics

Ceramics - a fairly convenient and environmentally friendly material.

Advantages:

• Withstands high temperatures and does not emit any harmful substances.
• Ceramic grill pans are stable, beautiful, they are easy to wash by any means.

Disadvantages:

• A significant drawback is fragility. Like all ceramics, these pans are afraid of blows and sudden changes in temperature. From this they crack or even become unusable.

Important! When choosing a grill pan, give preference to those whose bottom is thicker.

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Type of coverage. How important is this parameter?

The type of coating is relevant for aluminum frying pans. As it was written above, pig iron, due to its porosity, does not need coating. Ceramics also has its own non-stick properties. But aluminum requires a non-flammable top layer.

The options for the non-stick layer can be as follows:

• The most common coating is Teflon, a long-thought-out universal spraying that will not allow food to stick to the bottom and does not react with it. Cons - it is undesirable to scratch with metal instruments and clean with abrasives, and in addition, Teflon can break down at temperatures above 260 degrees.

Important! In many grill frying pans for convenience in the center there is a "thermospot" - an indicator of optimal heating. If it became bright red - it's time to prepare a dish.

• There is also a marble covering. It is much stronger, withstands high temperatures, preserves heat for a long time, but the price of such frying pans is an order of magnitude higher.
• Not so long ago in the market of dishes appeared products with a coating of thermolone. It is similar in appearance and properties to ceramics, but is much stronger, withstands temperatures up to 450 degrees.

Important! When buying, beware of imitations of Chinese production. They from scratch claim this coating on the product, taking advantage of the fact that people still do not know much about it and have not been seen in the eye.

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Handle and lid in a frying pan. Which are better?

Covers do not always come with a grill pan, sometimes they are sold separately and are selected for the shape and size of the product.

Important! If the lid is on sale and is not included in the package, then you can simply cover the prepared dish with foil if necessary.

And here's the handle in the frying pan pay special attention. A low-quality frying pan is often given by the handle - it will be metal, covered with ordinary plastic, bolted to the wall of the frying pan.

On a good product:

1. The handle must be covered with silicone, wood or bakelite - a material that can withstand temperatures of up to 200 degrees.
2. At the same time, it must be screwed or be solid-cast. This is especially important if the grill pan is cast iron and weighs a lot.

Important! There are also products with folding handles. This is convenient if you cook in the oven, as well as when storing. Then the frying pan takes up less space.

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Manufacturer

How to choose a grill pan according to the manufacturer? Several brands have proved themselves in the market of this product:

• Tefal( France).Produce pans and other products with Teflon coating.
• Berghoff( Belgium).Impeccable quality and reasonable price.
• Ballarini, Risoli, Pensofal - Italian brands that produce grill frying pan of decent quality with non-stick coating.
• Biol is a domestic producer, mainly engaged in cast iron frying pans, with a thick bottom. In the range of products there are models and with removable handles. Price - available to most buyers.
• Gipfel( Germany) Manufacture of cast iron frying pans with a three-layer non-stick coating.
• Lodge( United States).They produce quality frying pans made of cast iron at an affordable price.
• Vinzer( Switzerland).Specializes in the production of good quality aluminum cookware, inexpensive for the price.
• Home Club is also a domestic manufacturer engaged in the manufacture of grill pans, braziers and accessories for barbecue.

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How to use a frying pan? Tips cook

Finally give you some valuable advice experienced chefs on how to cook in a frying pan:

• Before the first use, fry the pan with salt, then shake it, and do not rinse. This will increase the non-stick properties.

Important! This is especially true for cast iron products.

• During cooking, use a minimum of oil. It is enough just to brush the bottom and the surface of the dish that you will fry with a brush. Products are lying on the already heated frying pan, so as not to stick.
• For a quality roast, the thickness of a piece of meat should not exceed 2 cm, and if you want to speed up the cooking process, pour a little water between the ribs of the bottom. For taste, you can pre-soak the meat in the marinade.
• Fish are getting ready quickly. Try not to overdo it, otherwise - it will fall apart, especially fatty grades. Sufficient to 3 minutes on each side on average fire. For convenience, lay it diagonally with respect to the bottom strips.
• Vegetables sprinkle with salt and pepper beforehand, and not during cooking. Fry them for 5-10 minutes. Young potatoes must be boiled beforehand until half cooked.
• Chicken chops fry enough for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Now, knowing how to choose a grill pan for a gas cooker, electric, induction and glass-ceramic, you can confidently go to the store. Thanks to the useful information in this article, the acquisition will help to prepare tasty useful food and will facilitate the process itself, make it less laborious and more pleasant.