WHAT IS A COOKING PAN? ITS TYPES AND WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE
If you are entering the world of cooking or are a more professional chef, having suitable pans for your culinary creations is compulsory. Having the proper types of pans will not make cooking easy for you, but choosing the right cookware will also enhance your food quality, taste, and presentation. If you need clarification on different types of pans, then don't worry. We are here to guide you about other pans types and what they are best used for. Please read our blog article so you can choose the best cooking pan.
What Is Cooking Pan?
Cooking pans, known as frying pans or skillets, are versatile cookware items used for various cooking tasks. They typically have a flat bottom and slightly sloping sides, allowing for easy tossing and stirring of ingredients. Cooking pans come in multiple sizes, materials, and designs to accommodate different cooking techniques and preferences. These pans are commonly used for sauteing, frying, searing, browning, stir-frying, and shallow frying. They are essential for preparing eggs, pancakes, meats, vegetables, sauces, and more. Cooking pans are typically used on stovetops, but some designs are also oven-safe, allowing for versatile cooking options. Cooking pans are made of stainless steel, copper, aluminum, cast iron, and ceramic. It depends on which material is suitable for your use.
Types of Cooking Pan
For those of you who like to cook, try to recognize the following types of pans first so you don't get confused when using them.
Non-Stick Pans:
Non-stick pans have a special coating that helps preserve food from sticking, making ideal low-fat cooking and easy cleanup. This type of pan is made with aluminum or stainless steel with a non-stick coating like Teflon. These pans are suitable for delicate fish, eggs, and pancakes. However, they are unsuitable for high-heat cooking or using metal utensils, as they can damage the non-stick coating.
Cast iron skillet
It is another cooking pan type that delivers heat equally and consistently. Cast iron skillets do not have a hot spot, so food cannot burn, and you can cook food properly. A cast iron skillet is made of solid material which can be put into the oven and served on the table. This cast iron feature makes it faster and more efficient, and these pans are used for frying, sauteing, baking, and grilling.
Stainless Steel Pans:
Stainless steel pans are durable, versatile, and resistant to corrosion. They are excellent for searing, browning, and creating fond. These pans distribute heat evenly, allowing for precise temperature control.
Crepe Pan
Many people think crepe pans are only used for frying eggs. From its name, it's clear that this pan is used to make European thin crepes or pancakes. This type of pan is flat-edged without a crease, making it easy to put the spatula below the pancake when you want to flip it over. Crepe pans also have a coating of non-stick. That's why batter does not stick on it.
Double Pan
The other type of pan is a double pan used for frying with a minimum amount of oil. Their resistant design makes them cook food faster. The manufacturer has made the double pan to make cooking easier for you, so you don't have to bother stirring it anymore. Just by flipping the pan, your food ingredients will mix themselves, and due to the pan's non-stick surface, it is effortless to clean.
Egg Poacher
From its name, it's clear that this type of pan is called an egg poacher, which has many cups that will help you to make poached eggs. In one cup, 4 to 15 cups make your cooking more efficient.
Fry Pan
The Fry pan has a bit of curved wall that makes easy cooking and stirring dishes for you. Due to its design, it makes it easy to transfer food from pan to plate. You can also call the frying pan a Sautee pan, which is ideal for frying, sauteing, and grilling.
Griddle
Griddle has a large flat hob without any sides and edges, or it is used to make breakfast, like frying eggs or pancakes. Now, the griddle is better known as the electric type, so it can be carried everywhere easily.
Omelets Pan
Omelets pan are known as the type of pans that are specifically used only for making egg-based dishes. Their size is made to fit an omelet or regular fried eggs. That's why presenting this egg-based dish can give guests a beautiful and perfect look.
Paella Pan
Many people are unfamiliar with the paella pan because this kind of pan takes its name from typical Valencia, a Spanish rice dish named paella. If you look at the shape of the paella pan, they have a reasonably flat surface, wide but a bit shallow with a sloping wall. So if you want to stir the paella or roast the rice in the bottom pan, it will be easier.
Roasting Pan
Roasting pans have a handle that will make transferring food to and from the oven easy. The design and size of these pans are made to fit large pieces of meat for roasting.
Sauté Pan
Pans like sauté pans have a broader bottom area, so the heat is distributed evenly from the stove. These pans can be used for frying, sauteing, boiling, roasting, defrosting frozen food, and poaching.
Straight-Sided Sauce Pan
Many people think this is a saucepan; it is a type of pan with a deep basin with a diameter of about 14 to 18 cm. This saucepan is used to make sauces.
Grill Pan
It is a flat pan, usually ribbed grilling surface, and can resist high temperatures, as it is made of cast iron. So, a Grill pan is ideal for cooking meats, and vegetables to charred, seared perfection right from the stovetop.
Braiser
If you want to prepare compelling and loving meats or succulent one-dish suppers, then braiser pans are for you. Because it has a collective cast iron and matte enamel interior to expertly retain heat and brown, and it's big enough for more significant cuts of meat.
Choosing the Right Pan:
When selecting a cooking pan, remember your preferences, like what you want to cook, how much heat you want, and which pan is easy to maintain. After knowing all the details, you can choose the right cooking pan. Below we provide four main factors that should be considered before choosing one.
Cooking Style:
Determine the types of dishes you frequently prepare. A non-stick pan might be a good option if you enjoy delicate foods like eggs or fish. For high-heat cooking or searing, consider stainless steel or cast iron pans.
Heat Conductivity:
Estimate how well a pan distributes heat. Look for pans with materials like copper or aluminum cores for better heat conductivity.
Compatibility:
Ensure that the pan is suitable for your stovetop. Some pans, like induction pans, require a magnetic base to work on induction cooktops.
Maintenance:
Consider the level of maintenance required for each type of pan. Some pans need regular seasoning or polishing, while others may require delicate cleaning.
Conclusion
Choosing the right cooking pan is essential for achieving optimal cooking results. Each type of pan offers unique benefits and considerations. Before purchasing, consider your cooking style, heat conductivity needs, material type, and maintenance preferences. You will make the right decision by knowing about different types and their uses. This article will help you to understand your preferences and make a familiar choice.