The taste and appetizing appearance of meat, potatoes and even simple fried eggs directly depends on the quality of the pan. A good housewife will always find several pans of various diameters, sides, thickness and material from which they are made.
For example, for frying eggs it is better to choose a non-stick pan, while for meat products it is much more practical to use a corrugated surface with a grill. A good half of housewives do not pay due attention to professional advice and use two or three, or even one pan, in everyday life. But I really want it to be as versatile and high-quality as possible. Therefore, many are asking a perfectly logical question: “What kind of pan is better to choose?”.
The modern market is replete with models from different manufacturers, different in size and coverage. In general, it is very difficult to decide and the eyes just run away from all this diversity.
Let’s try to figure this out by weighing the pros and cons and decide how to choose a good coated pan . User reviews, expert opinions, as well as the appropriateness of buying a particular type of product will be discussed in this article. As the so-called size base, we take the average diameter of the pan, namely - 24-28 cm. Almost all housewives use this option, judging by the same reviews.
How to choose a good pan?
Here you must take into account three main criteria:
- Firstly, the type of non-stick coating. It is this that determines the juiciness of steaks, the beauty of fried eggs and other culinary moments.
- Secondly, the materials used for production. The quality of the prepared products also depends on them.
- Third, the brand. For example, at Tefal, shelves in stores simply burst with a variety of models, and there are always complaints who to present if they suddenly appear. Service centers and brand sales points are located in almost every locality in the country.
Separately, it is worth mentioning unfamiliar manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom. Even looking at the positive reviews, choosing a frying pan from some brand name brand is a big risk. The responses can be trivially invented and bought, and the pan will crumble in a couple of weeks. So choosing a good frying pan while saving a lot of money is not the best option.
We will deal with everything in order. Let's start with the coating, then move on to the materials and finish with the manufacturers.
Coating
There are four main types of non-stick coating. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, therefore, before choosing a good pan, you must definitely weigh the pros and cons.
Teflon coating
The full name of this type of coating is polytetrafluoroethylene. This is the most popular and widely sought after coating. At least among domestic housewives. You can choose a pan with a non-stick coating of Teflon in almost any store, from household goods to the usual network markets, such as Eldorado or Mvideo.
Judging by user reviews, the obvious advantages of Teflon coating are light weight, ease of maintenance and the ability to cook with virtually no fat. Among the minuses, a low maximum heating threshold of 260 degrees can be noted. When the temperature is exceeded, the composition begins to emit carcinogenic and toxic gases, which the press constantly scares us with.
In addition, the coating of such a plan is afraid of sharp objects, so lovers of something to cut in the pan will have to abandon knives, forks and other metal objects, and will arm themselves with wooden or plastic shovels. Before choosing a teflon pan, it is also worth considering that the operational life of the products does not exceed one year. So for super-efficient consumers it is better to find a more durable option.
Ceramic coating
The name does not fully describe the property of products of this group. Because the local non-stick coating is made not of fired clay, like other products of the same name, but of nanocomposite polymers. The composition of the product also includes very small particles of sand.
Before you choose a ceramic pan, we will understand the available pros and cons. Judging by the feedback of users and experts, the advantages of this coating can be written as the absence of at least some harmful emissions during frying, even with strong heating - up to 450 degrees. Ceramics are also suitable for those who like to cook with minimal use of oils and fats. As advantages, one can also note the comparative ease of products and uniform heating of the entire area during the cooking process.
The disadvantage in the ceramic coating is the fragility of the product. The layer itself is afraid of any physical damage, falls from a height, dishwashers or induction hobs. That is, all that can cause mechanical chips. So be sure to pay special attention at this point before choosing a ceramic coated pan.
As for the expiration date, with proper use and careful attitude the product will quietly last a couple of years. Ceramics of such a plan with nanoparticles is not a cup and not a vase, therefore it is not worth saving. Cheap products will last a maximum of a year, or even less.
Marble coating
This is the same aforementioned Teflon, but with the addition of marble chips. Due to the specific coating, from the assortment of this type of product you can choose both a grill pan and a regular tool for making eggs and toasts. Here we are talking about the number of layers. The more of them, the wider the range of dishes. The best and most practical option is a five-layer pan with more than 6 mm bottom.
Among the pluses, experts and users in their reviews note the uniformity of surface heating, the ability to use sharp objects. And also the long life of the product. It is also worth noting that the pan is not afraid of accidental drops and strong temperature extremes.
Marble coating in many ways looks attractive, but before choosing a pan with such a composition, you should know that, without exception, products of such a plan are very expensive. Even the simplest option for 3 layers and a slightly thickened bottom will cost you at least 2000 rubles. Not all domestic housewives are willing to pay such money for marble coating. For this amount you can buy a couple of toasters or add as much to take a good microwave. So pay special attention at this point before choosing the right pan.
The service life of marbled products is very high. The more layers the pan has, the longer it will last. With proper care, an ordinary model of 4-6 layers can live all 25 years. So this point needs to be taken into account if you think that the price of pans with a marble coating is too high.
Nanocomposite Coatings
Here we have compounds called “titanium”, “granite” or “diamond” frying pan. Before choosing a pan with a nanocomposite coating, it’s worth immediately clarifying that products of this kind are very expensive.
Experts and users in their reviews note the following advantages of such a coating: resistance to almost any mechanical damage, uniform and fast heating, the absence of at least any carcinogens or other harmful fumes and gases released during strong heating, as well as the durability of the structure. In addition, you can cook in such a pan without using oils or fats.
The disadvantages here are primarily the cost. This type simply has no other critical flaws. Some experts do not recommend using products with a nanocomposite coating on induction cookers, but most models of such pans work quietly with them. The corresponding note should be in the operating instructions for the dishes. So keep this in mind before choosing a pan for a gas stove or induction.
Materials
In addition to the non-stick coating, the materials from which the dishes are made play a significant role. Here, each type has its advantages and disadvantages to be reckoned with before choosing a pan. Grill, for example, cannot be cooked on copper products, while cast-iron cookware is perfect for this.
Cast iron
As for versatility, cast-iron pans are the best in this regard. It can even bake pies in the oven. It is from cast iron that they make the highest quality pans for grilling. The material cools for a long time and evenly warms up. Moreover, not a single cast-iron product is afraid of knives or any physical damage.
It should also be noted that such pans are absolutely safe for health and do not emit any carcinogens at any temperature. Judging by the reviews, some experts even consider it useful, because during the frying process, the food is filled with related minerals and iron. And its main advantage is a completely natural non-stick coating. The latter is formed due to the ingress of oil into the porous structure of cast iron, therefore, utensils simply do not have such an operational period - they are eternal, in the literal sense of the word.
As minuses, many users in their reviews note the severity of the pan and troublesome periodic care: calcination with salt, oiling, etc. But all the existing shortcomings pay off more than the affordable price of cast iron products.
Stainless steel
One of the main distinguishing features of a stainless pan is minimal interference with the taste of the product. It is she who preserves the taste and color of all ingredients as accurately as possible. But this applies only to dishes without any non-stick coating.
Stainless steel utensils are not afraid of knives or forks, and with good coverage it can be grilled. She is not picky in maintenance and does not require specific care. It can be noted a high indicator of durability of the dishes.
Of the minuses, users in their reviews note the specificity of the cooking process. If, for example, you do not mix the ingredients on time, then they can stick to the pan. Stainless steel eggs are also very difficult to cook.
Copper
The visual part of the copper pans is beyond praise. Designers can freely work with the exterior of the dishes due to the flexibility of the material. Copper utensils are great for those cases when you need to cook dishes periodically changing the temperature. Copper heats up quickly and cools down just as quickly. For sharp forks and knives, the pan is more or less tolerant, but it can not withstand serious physical exertion, as is the case with cast iron or even stainless steel.
Judging by user reviews, not everyone can get used to the specific cooking process on this cookware. It requires increased attention, and you just can’t get away from the stove, otherwise the ingredients may deteriorate. The minuses also include the high cost of copper products. The material is noble, so lovers of quality and exotic dishes will have to pay a considerable amount of money.
As for the service life, copper utensils are, in principle, durable. If you should take care of it and not test it for strength, then the pan can last five and ten years. It all depends on the intensity of cooking and gastronomic preferences.
Manufacturers
There are a lot of manufacturers of pans in the domestic market. Even the most significant entrepreneurs manage to make such dishes, not to mention products from the Middle Kingdom. Almost the only thing that attracts consumers in these pans is the price. But everything else leaves much to be desired.
It’s better to look for such things with the company logo on board. So you will be sure that the dishes will not crumble in a couple of weeks and, importantly, will meet all sanitary standards. Still, the cooking process is a high temperature along with fumes, and inhaling carcinogens and other gases that are far from useful is not a very promising prospect. Therefore, it is much more interesting, and more practical, to pay attention to well-established brands. We will discuss some of the most notable representatives.
Tefal
The French brand rightfully occupies a leading position in this segment. He, as stated in the advertising syllable, “takes care of us”, producing truly high-quality products that are enviable throughout the world.
On the shelves of the brand you can find exactly what you need, because the brand lines have a chic assortment, and for any category of customers, from budget models to premium frying pans.
Neva Metal
A domestic company from St. Petersburg produces very good cast pans with non-stick coating. The brand’s dishes are not deformed even at the highest temperatures, plus they preserve the natural taste and color of the products.
The manufacturer offers a wide range of products for all price categories. Consumers do not note any critical shortcomings in the Neva-metal frying pans, therefore the products are also enviable among Russian housewives.
Rondell
Despite the fact that the main production facilities of the brand are located in the Middle Kingdom, the headquarters itself is located in Germany, and from there the product quality. The release is monitored by meticulous OTC controllers, so the language does not turn out to name Rondell pans a typical Chinese consumer goods.
All products of the company receive a high-quality scratch-resistant non-stick coating. It should also be noted the use in the production of environmentally friendly materials that meet all European standards. Products are not represented in the budget segment, but the buyer clearly knows what they are paying for, and the products fully and completely meet the requirements specified in the specification.
There are other smart manufacturers on the market, such as the Ukrainian Biola or Kukmara from Tatarstan, but the most flattering reviews from both users and experts were from the above three brands.