Cast-iron frying pans of the Russian production

Since childhood, we remember the unique taste of grandmother's pancakes. Such delicious, fragrant, buttery, but non-greasy pancakes cannot be cooked on a modern crepe maker with non-stick coating. Soviet people know the secret of amazing taste, and it consists in using a cast-iron frying pan. Now it is not so easy to find a cast-iron instance, however, the residents of Russia are lucky, because in our country there are quite a lot of manufacturers of cast-iron cookware.

Despite the popularity of modern kitchen utensils, which makes it possible to quickly prepare delicious dishes, the relevance of cast-iron pans does not decrease. Cast iron has amazing properties that cannot be repeated in the manufacture of dishes from another material. Its main advantage is the ability to evenly distribute heat over the entire area, the walls and bottom keep the desired temperature for a long time, and this is not only convenient and important while maintaining the taste of the dish, but also beneficial in terms of saving gas or electricity.

Soviet mistresses know that Before the first use, the cast-iron pan must be thoroughly calcined several times., this process improves the performance of the product without the use of toxic components, that is, the pan remains environmentally friendly.

Cast iron is a very resistant to deformation material, although sometimes this can be a minus. For example, with a strong blow, the pan may crack. But still this disadvantage is compensated by natural non-stick properties, for which a cast-iron frying pan is appreciated not only in simple Russian cuisines, but also in well-known elite restaurants. Other disadvantages of the product include its heavy weight and the inability to store food in the refrigerator. In addition, cast iron requires special care during operation, but, nevertheless, this particular cookware is one of the most popular at the present time.

Russian buyers were lucky, because the relevance of cast iron products became the reason for the spread of production throughout the country. If in many countries of the world a cast-iron frying pan is quite difficult to find in a store, then on the Russian counter this product is quite affordable.

There are several varieties of cast iron cookware made in Russia.

• Pans for induction cookers. These include universal pans that can be used for any type of cooker. Operation is possible in almost any environment. After the dish is removed from the stove, it cools down almost immediately. Such models are more common in the line of Russian manufacturers than among foreign-made items.
• Non-stick varieties. These products are coated with an extra non-stick layer. An additional coating provides protection and prevents the absorption of food odors. The advantage of such pans is that they can be washed with a classic detergent.
• Enamel pan. It is not so common in domestic cookware departments; it is more commonly used in European countries. Not a very popular option in Russia, as it has a short service life, but is easier to care for.

Domestic cast iron cookware companies offer a variety of forms for cooking, including specimens of a narrow focus, for example:

• universal pans;
• cast iron wok;
• grill pans;
• cast iron crepes;
• frying pans.

Before buying a Russian skillet pay attention to the following criteria.

• If a pan is needed to prepare a specific dish, then choose narrowly targeted dishes. If for pancakes, then crepe maker, if for preparing liquid dishes and soups, then a stewpan. Then the product will serve the buyer much longer than the often used universal pan.
• Decide on the diameter. If the food is prepared for one person, then a pan with a diameter of 22 cm is enough. For a large family, choose a container with a diameter of 26 cm. Among domestic products, even models with a diameter of 50 cm are offered. This option is suitable for cooking dishes for a large number of guests.
• Pay attention to the thickness of the bottom and walls. Typically, the thickness of cast iron cookware ranges from 3-20 mm. If a pan is needed for cooking sauces, then a product with a small thickness is suitable, thick-walled copies are intended for cooking dishes on the grill.
• If you choose cookware with non-stick coating, then it is worth carefully studying the composition of each product. Among them there are harmful layers, but there are coatings that allow you to fry meat with a crust without using oil.

Each Russian company presents a wide range of cast iron products. According to customer reviews, there are several most preferred models from various manufacturers.

The products “Dobrynya” and “Balezino” deserve more attention. "Dobrynya" - A fairly competitive company, in many respects superior to foreign analogues, although in this case it was not without minuses. So, as users note, products often go on sale with factory defects, and the cost is sometimes more expensive than that of products of Ukrainian or Chinese manufacture.

Model "Dobrynya DO-3302" has a diameter of 24 cm and rather thin walls and bottom. It would seem that this should also be attributed to the minuses, but in this case the small thickness allows the pan to heat up faster and fry dishes until crisp. The weight is rather big - 2.7 kg, but this drawback is compensated by the presence of two handles at once: long and short. These handles are made of heat-resistant plastic. Users appreciated the ability to work on the induction cooker, as well as the glass cover in the kit.

The pan does not have additional coverage, this is reflected in the difficulty of caring for it, but it is such a product that is as close as possible to the Soviet version that our grandmothers used.

Another popular universal pan is a product. Balezinsky plant. Of the minuses, a large weight is noted - about 7 kg, however, this is due to an obvious plus - a thick bottom. Two side handles make it easy to carry the pan, and the high sides provide the preparation of semi-liquid dishes.

The disadvantages include the lack of cover and grip for safe operation.

Users note that this is a multifunctional product that can simultaneously serve as barbecue and barbecue, pan and pressure cooker, oven and microwave. Customers appreciate the natural taste and aroma of products that are perfectly preserved due to the thick walls and press covers. Also, the pan fully saves the benefits of the products.

This is a suitable specimen for supporters of a healthy diet, since it is possible to use a minimum amount of oil. Due to the thick bottom, all ingredients warm up evenly, and the products do not burn.

The disadvantages include heavy weight - 3.2 kg without a lid; separately, the lid weighs 3.4 kg. Among the shortcomings, there is a need to wash the grill well after each use, you can not wash cast iron in the dishwasher. After each thorough manual washing, the pan should be wiped well and greased with oil.

Great for pancake lovers. The pan has a convenient wooden handle that is comfortable to hold in your hand when pouring dough and turning pancakes. Good buyers speak about the mount. The users also appreciate the preliminary preparation of crepe makers in production and the cleaning of machine oil, which reduces the consumer’s time for preparing a cast-iron frying pan for first use.

Of the minuses, not too high-quality processing stands out, buyers find roughness on the surface, although for making pancakes you need a perfectly flat bottom. Also, as a drawback, users note a small diameter - 22 cm. For simple pancakes, this is a suitable option, but, for example, you can’t wrap the filling in such pancakes, so for cooking pancakes with filling you need a larger diameter.

Basically, the reviews on the products of Russian manufacturers are positive. Many models surpass foreign competitors in quality, price, and even aesthetic properties. Consumers highly appreciate the variety of options presented: these are universal pans and pans for specific dishes, dishes with removable or non-removable handles, sets with and without lids, and much more. Some of the shortcomings are specimens with marriage, as well as the heavy weight of the products, although this aspect for the most part depends on the specifics of the specimen, and not on the manufacturer.

The video below provides instructions on the assembly, preparation and operation of the cast iron pan "BIOL".