How to choose a frying pan: manufacturer reviews

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The taste and appetizing appearance of meat, potatoes and even simple scrambled eggs directly depends on the quality of the pan. A good housewife will always have several frying pans of various diameters, side heights, thicknesses and materials from which they are made.

For example, for frying eggs it is better to choose a non-stick frying pan, while for meat products it will be much more practical to use a corrugated surface with a grill. A good half of the 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 of high quality as possible. Therefore, many people ask a completely logical question: “Which 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 up from all this diversity.

Let's try to understand this issue by weighing the pros and cons and decide how to choose a good coated pan. User reviews, expert opinion, as well as the feasibility of buying a particular type of product will be discussed in this article. Asthe so-called size base, we will 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 frying pan?

Here it is necessary to take into account three main criteria:

• First, the type of non-stick coating. It is this that determines the juiciness of steaks, the beauty of scrambled eggs and other culinary moments.
• Second, the materials used for production. The quality of the prepared products also depends on them.
• Third, the brand. For example, at Tefal, the shelves in stores are simply bursting with a variety of models, and there are always complaints to whom to present, if any suddenly appear. Service centers and points of sale of the brand are located in almost every locality of the country.

Separately, it is worth mentioning unfamiliar manufacturers from China. Even looking at positive reviews, choosing a frying pan from some no-name brand is a big risk. Responses can be tritely invented and bought, and the pan will fall apart in a couple of weeks. So choosing a good frying pan and at the same time saving a lot is not the best option.

Let's deal with everything in order. Let's start with the coating, then move on to the materials and finish with the manufacturers.

Covering

There are four main types of non-stick coating. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, therefore, before choosing a good frying pan, you must definitely weigh all the pros andagainst.

Teflon coated

The full name of this type of coating is polytetrafluoroethylene. This is the most popular and widely demanded coating. At least among domestic housewives. You can choose a frying pan with a Teflon non-stick coating in almost any store, ranging from household goods to familiar chain stores like 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 little or 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 those who like to cut something in a pan will have to give up knives, forks and other metal objects, and arm themselves with wooden or plastic spatulas. Before choosing a pan on Teflon, it is also worth considering that the service life of the products does not exceed one year. So for ultra-thrifty consumers, it's better to look for a more durable option.

Ceramic coating

The name does not fully describe the property of the products of this group. Because the local non-stick coating is not made of baked clay, like other products of the same name, but of nanocomposite polymers. The product also contains very fine sand particles.

Before you choose a ceramic frying pan, let's deal with the pros and cons. Judging by the feedback from users and experts, the advantages of this coating include the absence of at least some harmful emissions during frying, even with strong heat - up to 450 degrees. Ceramics is also suitable for those who like to cook with a minimum of oils and fats. As pluses, one can also note the relative lightness of the products and the uniform heating of the entire area during the cooking process.

The disadvantage of 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 cookers. That is, everything that can cause mechanical chips. So be sure to pay special attention to this point before choosing a ceramic coated pan.

As for the shelf life, with proper use and care, the product will quietly last a couple of years. Ceramics of this kind with nanoparticles is not a cup or a vase, so it's not worth saving. Cheap products will last a maximum of a year, or even less.

Marble flooring

This is the same Teflon mentioned above, 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 conventional tool for cooking eggs and toast. 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-layerfrying pan with more than 6 mm bottom.

Among the advantages, experts and users in their reviews note the uniformity of surface heating, the possibility of using sharp objects. And a long service life of the product. It is also worth noting that the pan is not afraid of accidental drops and strong temperature changes.

Marble coating looks attractive in many ways, but before choosing a pan with such a composition, you should know that all products of this kind, without exception, 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 ready to pay that kind of money for a marble coating. For this amount, you can buy a couple of toasters or add the same amount to get a good microwave. So pay special attention to this point before choosing the right pan.

The service life of products with marble coating is very high. The more layers a pan has, the longer it will last. With proper care, an ordinary model with 4-6 layers can live all 25 years. So this is a point to consider if you think marbled pans are overpriced.

Nanocomposite coatings

Here we have compositions called "titanium", "granite" or "diamond" frying pan. Before choosing a pan with a nanocomposite coating, you should immediately clarify that products of this kind are very expensive.

Experts andusers in their reviews note the following advantages of such a coating: resistance to almost any mechanical damage, uniform and fast heating, the absence of any carcinogens or other harmful vapors 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 main disadvantage here is the cost. This type simply does not have other critical shortcomings. Some experts do not recommend using products with a nanocomposite coating on induction cookers, but most models of such pans work fine with them. A corresponding indication should be in the instruction manual for the cookware. So keep this point in mind before choosing a gas or induction pan.

Materials

In addition to the non-stick coating, the materials from which the dishes are made also play a significant role. Here, too, each type has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be considered before choosing a pan. Grilling, for example, is not possible on copper utensils, while cast iron cookware is great for this.

Cast iron

When it comes to versatility, cast iron pans are the best. You can even bake pies in the oven in it. It is from cast iron that the highest quality grill pans are made. The material cools down for a long time and warms up evenly. 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 he alth and do not emit any carcinogens at any temperature. Judging by the reviews, some experts even consider it useful, because in the process of frying the food is filled with accompanying 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, as such, the cookware simply does not have a service life - it is eternal, in the truest sense of the word.

As disadvantages, many users in their reviews note the severity of the pan and troublesome periodic care: calcining with s alt, lubricating with oil, etc. But all the existing shortcomings pay off with a more than affordable price for cast iron products.

Stainless steel

One of the main distinguishing features of a stainless pan is the minimal interference with the taste of the product. It is she who most accurately preserves the taste and color of all ingredients. But this only applies to cookware without any non-stick coating.

Stainless steel utensils are not afraid of knives or forks, and with a good coating, you can grill on it. It is picky in maintenance and does not require specific care. It can be noted a high indicator of durability of dishes.

Of the minuses, users in their reviews note the specificity of the cooking process. If, for example, the ingredients are not mixed in time, they can stick to the pan. eggs onstainless steel is also very difficult to cook.

Copper

The visual part of copper pans is beyond praise. Designers can work with the exterior of the dishes to their heart's content thanks to the malleability 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. The frying pan is more or less tolerant of sharp forks and knives, but it will 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 dish. It requires increased attention, and you just can’t move away from the stove, otherwise the ingredients may deteriorate. The disadvantages 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, in principle, are durable. If you properly care for it and do not test it for strength, then the pan can last for five or ten years. It all depends on the intensity of cooking and gastronomic preferences.

Producers

Manufacturers of frying pans in the domestic market are very, very many. Even more or less significant entrepreneurs manage to make such dishes, not to mention products from the Middle Kingdom. Almost the only thing that attracts consumers to these pans is the price. And here's everything elseleaves much to be desired.

It is better to look after such things with a corporate 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 far from useful gases is not the most rosy prospect. Therefore, it is much more interesting, and more practical, to pay attention to well-established brands. We will discuss a few of the most notable representatives.

Tefal

The French brand rightfully occupies a leading position in this segment. He, as they say in the advertising slogan, "takes care of us", releasing really high-quality products that are enviably respected all over the world.

On the shelves of the brand you can find exactly what you need, because the brand's lines are distinguished by 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 a non-stick coating. The brand's dishes do not deform even at the highest temperatures, plus they retain 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 Neva-metal pans, so the products are also enviably popular with Russian housewives.

Rondell

Despite the fact that the brand's main production facilities are located in the Celestial Empire, the headquarters itself is located in Germany, and the quality of products is from there. The release is monitored by meticulous OTC controllers, so it’s hard to call Rondell pans 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 presented in the budget segment, but the buyer clearly knows what he is 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, both from users and experts, were from the above three brands.