What is the best pan coating?

Cooking has become by no means a necessity - now it gives many people the opportunity to express themselves or to please relatives and friends. To make the food tasty and healthy, it is important to cook in the right dishes, which does not allow food to burn, stick, and also harm a person with harmful substances released by heating low-quality materials. It is especially important to choose frying pans with a quality coating so that cooking is safe and the care of dishes is quick and easy.

With the development of technology, many things are changing - there are materials that help make life easier and more convenient. One of these technologies was the appearance of a non-stick coating, which prevents food from sticking while cooking to the bottom of the pan. The most common is considered Teflon layer which cover aluminum utensils. This product is easy and convenient to use, as the food does not burn, and you can wash the dishes without much effort.

The next non-stick coating is ceramics. The pan is covered with a nanocomposite polymer substance containing sand microparticles. The material of the pan itself can be different, and the specific weight of the dishes will depend on it.Using a ceramic coating will allow you to successfully cook food without fear of overheating the pan, but care will require only manual cleaning and respect, since the ceramic layer is easily damaged by falling or rough handling.

Another non-stick coating option is marble. It is not much different from Teflon, but marble chips are an additional component here. This coating option is considered the most high-quality and convenient to use, because the dishes are not afraid of overheating, falling and contact with sharp objects. You can use the frying pans that have a marble coating for quite a while without experiencing any problems with them.

Products are considered the most durable and strongest pans with a protective coating. with titanium / diamond / granite layer. This variety has a quick warm-up, it is easy to care for, there is no need to worry about the temperature, the use of knives and forks do not cause significant damage to the dishes. This option is convenient and good for everyone, except for the only nuance in the form of a ban on cooking on induction hobs.

In the process of choosing a pan having a non-stick coating, special attention should be paid to the thickness of this layer, as this will become the main criterion for the duration of service and the ease of use of the pan. The total thickness of the non-stick layer cannot be less than 2 mm, and in high-quality and expensive models this figure is much larger. Each layer has its own purpose, because the presence of each of them in total will give the desired result, and the absence will reduce the life of the product and increase the risk of harmful substances when used.

For coating that protects the product from burning, usually used:

• aluminum;

• cast iron;

• stainless steel.

Most often, it is aluminum products that can be found, since they are light, inexpensive and quickly heat up. However, there are two varieties of material:

• stamped;

• cast.

The first option is made by stamping the pan from a thick sheet of aluminum, the thickness of which cannot be less than 2.7 mm, otherwise the product will turn out to be short-lived. The molded variety is made of a thicker layer of material, the thickness of which is 5 mm, which allows the use of dishes for more than 7 years.

Any housewife in the kitchen simply can not do without a frying pan. On its surface, products are fried and stewed, which means they undergo serious heat treatment. In order for the food to be healthy and tasty, it is important to use dishes that are not harmful to health, do not emit aggressive substances when heated, and do not spoil from the use of shovels, knives, metal forks. As cast-iron pans are becoming less and less popular, non-stick products are gaining unprecedented popularity.

In order to correctly choose such dishes for yourself, you need to know what kinds of varieties are, what are their features and differences.

It is a comparison of non-stick coatings that will make it possible to choose a high-quality and safe product that will last quite a long time. Each coating and material from which the pan is made have certain positive and negative sides, which will be considered.

Teflon non-stick layer is applied to the bottom and walls of the product. Its advantages can be considered:

• it is possible to apply coating on dishes of any size and configuration;
• high quality non-stick coating;
• easy care of the product;
• low cost.

In addition to the positive aspects, obvious flaws were discovered in Teflon dishes, among which:

• restriction of heating the pan (temperature exceeding 200 degrees, stimulates the release of toxic substances);
• do not use dishes without oil;
• there is no way to cook for a long time at high temperatures;
• the integrity of the top layer is easily spoiled;
• when damage to the top layer occurs, the pan cannot be used in the future;
• It is not recommended to create a temperature contrast by pouring freshly removed pan from the stove with cold water.

The most acceptable option for pans, which combine the safety of the material, high quality, ease of use, is considered to be dishes with a ceramic coating. As a result of exposure to high temperatures, the product will not emit any harmful substances, and the layer itself is made of natural components: clay, sand and stone. Ceramic coating can be created by spraying and rolling. When spraying, a layer is applied to an already finished product, which allows it to achieve evenness and uniformity.

Ceramic-coated cookware is more practical and durable, but costs a bit more. An additional advantage is the application of spraying on the inside and outside of the pan. The color of the coating can be different, it is not necessary to look for white ceramics, the color of the product can be changed at the request of the manufacturer, which does not affect the quality. The advantages of ceramic-coated pans include:

• the ability to use products at high temperatures, heating to 400 degrees and above, which allows you to cook meat;
• better tolerates contact with foreign objects, more resistant to scratches in comparison with Teflon;
• ease of maintenance, since the surface remains clean, no effort is required to clean;
• during frying, it is enough to use a minimum amount of oil, you can’t do without it at all: this will spoil the spraying forever.

If we talk about the shortcomings of the ceramic layer, then these include:

• fear of a contrast of temperatures from very hot to cold, which happens when caring for dishes after cooking;
• the risk of damaging the non-stick layer with metal or hard objects;
• do not soak dishes, especially with the addition of detergents, it is recommended to wash the product immediately;
• Do not wash the pan with aggressive detergents, powder formulations, or use hard washcloths.

“Outside” are pans on which the non-stick layer is made of stone, granite and marble. Such dishes are sprayed with appropriate crumbs, which are distributed along the bottom and walls of the product. This option is considered safe, since it does not contain the fluoropolymer substance that is in Teflon models. The marble coating is easily recognizable, as the pans have a dark color, a heterogeneous surface and white blotches. The advantages of this coating include:

• good resistance to sharp objects, but with the systematic action of forks or knives, the coating can quickly deteriorate;
• fast, uniform heating rate;
• it keeps heat well and for a long time;
• there is the possibility of use with strong heating;
• when frying meat with a lot of fat, you can do without oil;
• Shelf life is more than two years.

Granite coating has obvious disadvantages:

• high cost in comparison with similar products;
• poorly tolerate a sharp change in temperature;
• Do not use abrasive compounds and metal scrapers;
• if the dishes fall or receive a mechanical shock, the integrity may be damaged;
• not every pan can be washed in a dishwasher.

A pan with a titanium, granite or diamond coating is considered very strong and wear-resistant. Such products do not deteriorate, do not exude chemically hazardous substances and odors. This dish can serve up to 25 years, which is an undoubted advantage. When choosing a pan, it is worth examining the composition and checking it for nickel, which is considered dangerous for such products. The disadvantage of such pans is only in high cost.

To find a suitable frying pan with a non-stick coating that will last quite a while and only bring positive impressions of use, you need to choose the right product of a domestic or foreign company. The best products can be formed into the top of the most sought after positions.

• Tefal - French brand cookware with which the mass production of non-stick pans began. To provide the widest range of products, Tefal uses in its manufacture all the materials from which pans can be made. Every day the company improves its technology, looking for new forms, design. The main feature of this brand is the Termo-spot indicator, which helps to determine how much the pan has warmed up. On sale you can find goods of medium and high price category.

• "Biol" - Ukrainian-made pans that have appeared on the market since the beginning of the 2000s. The main materials from which the products are made are aluminum and cast iron. A feature of this brand is the presence of silicone and wooden handles, which can be removed if necessary. You can buy such a pan immediately with a lid, which is much more convenient. The average cost of this product is about 1.5 thousand rubles.

• Rondell - These are pans of German quality, but made in China. This company is the most popular among professional chefs. The feature of the products is that their bottom has a three-layer structure, which makes it possible to quickly and evenly warm the bowl. This brand produces pans with all non-stick coatings, but the most popular and sought after are ceramic.

• "Neva-metal tableware" - These are Russian pans, a feature of which is the reinforced thickness of the walls and bottom, as well as a non-stick coating of ceramics and titanium. High-quality samples are patented for a two-year product warranty. For a wider audience, ordinary Teflon pans with a cost of 1 to 2 thousand rubles are produced.

• TVS - pans from Italy, which are popular in many countries due to their properties. On sale you can find dishes with different non-stick coatings. It was this brand that was one of the first to produce pans with a titanium layer, as well as granite. Due to the high quality of the products and the adequate price, which ranges from 1-3 thousand rubles, this brand occupies a leading position in the ranking.

• Swiss diamond - These are Swiss pans with very high quality indicators for these products. It is this dish that is considered the most durable and durable among similar products. Thanks to constant innovation, the company is always in trend and provides quality products to its customers. It was this company that began the production of pans with diamond non-stick coating. Despite the obvious advantages, this brand has a significant drawback - this is a price that can range from 7 to 25 thousand rubles.

The choice of a frying pan with a non-stick coating always remains with the buyer, but knowing the main trends, the characteristics of each brand, the advantages and disadvantages of this or that nonsense, the country of manufacture, you can consciously make a choice and get a quality and durable product.

To choose the right pan for yourself with a non-stick coating, you need to understand what it is worth paying attention to. Before considering the advantages or disadvantages of certain models, it is important to clearly understand which stove the pan will come into contact with. Dishes for gas, electric stoves, as well as induction stoves can radically differ from each other.

If opportunities allow, it is better to purchase several pans at once in order to cook various foods on them and not be afraid for the result:

• plain teflon - for cooking fries for soup and borsch, scrambled eggs, omelet, fritters and pancakes;

• ceramic coated - to be able to fry potatoes and meatballs, cook vegetables;

• stone coated - so that at any time there is an opportunity to cook meat, chop or steak.

When choosing a teflon product, you should pay attention to the bottom: better to take the one where it is the thickest. In addition, it, as well as the walls should be even and smooth, without chips and marriage. To prevent food from contacting the entire bottom surface, it is better to buy products with a corrugated surface, like grilled pans. If there is a choice between aluminum and steel Teflon dishes, it is better to choose the second, as it will last longer.

When choosing a ceramic frying pan, you should pay attention to the cost: the lower it is, the worse the quality. Before use, read the instructions for the proper operation of the product. The bottom of such a pan should not be less than 4 mm. When choosing a product, it is worth checking the integrity of the ceramic coating, which should be smooth, even, without spots and damage.

When focusing on pans with a stone coating, it is important to inquire about such a parameter as the number of spraying layers: the more they are, the longer the dishes will last. The optimal thickness of the lower part should be within 6 mm, and the walls should be 3-4 mm. Each product has its own characteristics, and therefore it is worthwhile to first learn as much as possible about the model of interest, to evaluate whether it is suitable for the particular stove and food that is supposed to be cooked on it.

See the next video for tips on choosing a pan.