You already own a stainless steel skillet or you would like to buy one but are still hesitant for fear that your food Are your stainless steel pans sticking? No worries, discover our simple tips to prevent your stainless steel pan from sticking!
How to prevent your food from sticking to stainless steel pans?
- Preheat your pan:
Before you even start cooking your food, make sure to preheat your stainless steel pan. Ideally, preheat your pan for 2 minutes over medium heat. This step is crucial. You can time yourself, especially when you first use it, to get a feel for how hot you need to get. This will allow the pan to distribute heat evenly across the entire surface and prevent food from sticking to the bottom.
Then, perform the water drop test to check if your pan is at the right temperature. To do this, pour a few drops of water into the pan: if they don't evaporate and form small balls that roll, it's ready.
We've prepared a short video to show you what it should look like..
2. Cook over low heat to preserve flavors:
If you're used to cooking over high heat, try reducing the temperature. You don't need to cook over high heat with your stainless steel pans.
Overly high heat can cause your food to stick or dry out. This is the case with meat, for example. Too high a heat can cause the outside of the meat to overcook before the inside is cooked. To avoid this, place the meat in the hot pan after the water drop test to sear it first and create a first crust. When you're happy with the exterior crust, reduce the heat to finish cooking the inside. The meat will cook slowly and evenly, and will have time to caramelize slightly on the outside.
Stainless steel is an excellent heat conductor, so there's no need to heat it over high heat. Particularly for the first use, it's best to maintain a moderate heat after preheating. This method allows for even cooking and preserves the flavors of the dishes. Furthermore, if you heat your stainless steel pans too high, you risk seeing yellow or brown overheating marks appear. While they won't affect your pan's performance, they are not very aesthetically pleasing.
3. Add the right amount of fat:
Adding fat helps prevent food from sticking to your stainless steel cookware, although it isn't always necessary. For example, when cooking meat, it's not necessary to add fat. The fat contained in the meat is sufficient. As explained below.
Afterwards, if you're cooking more delicate foods like eggs or fish, then yes, you'll need to add fat. But rest assured, these foods can be cooked in stainless steel pans, and we demonstrate this on our YouTube channel.
As for the quantity, generally, one tablespoon of oil is recommended for a medium-sized pan; adjust according to your needs. Be sure to choose a fat suitable for cooking, such as grapeseed oil, which has a higher smoke point than other oils. If you add too much at first, don't panic. Wipe off the excess oil with a paper towel to avoid any excess oil and continue cooking.
4. Be patient!
Patience is key with stainless steel pans. Give the food enough time to cook and release from the bottom. Avoid turning it too early; wait until a crust forms before trying.
5. Choose the right pan :)
Finally, to prevent food from sticking, choose a quality stainless steel pan, ideally one made of multi-layer steel, such as the Atma's Good Frying Pan 26cm . As we've seen, with the right techniques, you'll achieve beautiful, trouble-free cooking and can say goodbye to your non-stick pans. Your body will thank you!
Atma's Bonne Poêle comes in several sizes, each diameter meeting your different needs.
Atma offers a range of professional-quality pans. These pans are made of 3-ply 18/10 stainless steel, a strong and durable material. They are compatible with all hobs, including induction. The handle is specially hollowed out to limit heat buildup.
Find our stainless steel pan set in our collection.
By following these easy tips and developing good cooking habits, you can maintain the performance of your stainless steel pan and fully enjoy your dishes. Remember that each ingredient reacts differently to heat, so adapt your cooking methods accordingly. Additionally, adjust the seasoning with salt to your taste, as this can also affect how food sticks to the pan, and even how you cook.
Finally, two last points:
- All these recommendations apply to all your stainless steel utensils: sauce pan, casserole dish, saute pan, wok, etc.
- For those who really want to make their pan as non-stick as possible, there's still the option of seasoning it. You can season your stainless steel pan, but once seasoned, you can't wash it in the dishwasher. We've also prepared an article that explains how to season a pan.
