Titanium-coated pans: pros and cons, choice and application

Among the huge variety of pans presented in shopping centers, it is easy to get confused. Today, manufacturers offer dishes with coatings not only from popular polymers, but also from some other materials. One of the most common options is considered non-stick titanium coating.

Titanium is a fairly strong, but at the same time light metal, which is able to withstand elevated temperatures. It is corrosion resistant and versatile in use. This is a very expensive material, therefore, in its pure form it is used only in industries where there is no other alternative - for example, in the aircraft industry (some parts for aircraft are made of it) and in medicine (prostheses for heart valves are made of titanium).

The dishes are not made entirely of titanium, since the cost of such kitchen utensils would be so high that only a few units could afford such pots and pans. Therefore, most often in stores tourist dishes made of titanium alloys - it is thin and light, optimal for use in camping conditions, but also for the home will be a good option.

Keep in mind that there are no GOSTs and standards regarding non-stick titanium coating, therefore, each manufacturer independently determines with what additives to combine metal to cover the pan.Some use compositions based on microparticles of titanium and teflon, others make products based on ceramics, and still others associate metal with polymers.

For household use, titanium-ceramic utensils are best suited - the combination of two environmentally friendly materials is optimal both for frying foods and for baking them in the oven.

In any case, you should understand the inscription on the dishes “titanium coating” is a marketing ploy; in practice, the doses of this metal are negligible.

Cookware made of non-stick materials has many advantages, among them the following are distinguished.

• Due to the optimal thickness, frying pans with titanium spraying are characterized by good thermal conductivity, due to which the products are cooked quickly and very well fried.
• The heating of the surface is carried out evenly, which significantly reduces the time of frying and stewing dishes.
• When using a titanium frying pan, there is no need to add vegetable oil or any other fat for frying, since the coating itself has non-stick parameters.
• Products with titanium spraying can be used on any tiles - gas, electric and induction.
• Titanium kitchen utensils are easy to clean, and a dishwasher is allowed for cleaning.
• In dishes with titanium spraying, you can bake - the cooked dish lags behind the surface effortlessly.
• Products of this type are characterized by wear resistance.
• Food prepared in a pan with a titanium coating remains warm for a long time.

However, there were some cons. As a rule, the most practical pans have a thickened bottom and dense walls. Titanium pans are no exception - massiveness makes the product as a whole heavier, and this does not add convenience when working in the kitchen.

Let us dwell in more detail on the rating of the most popular manufacturers of titanium pans.

The world famous French company has mastered the production of titanium pans, which are multifunctional. They allow you to quality fry and stew meat and fish products, as well as vegetables. In addition, the pan produces delicious pancakes and pancakes, each model has built-in special elements that allow you to adjust the temperature of the hob.

This is a product of a domestic manufacturer, which in its technical and user properties is in no way inferior to pans of a French brand. It is important to note that this enterprise produces the most diverse kitchen utensils with a titanium coating, it is distinguished by a thick-walled surface and increased strength. Such products have a fairly high resistance to mechanical damage and serve at least 4-7 years.

A German company that launched the production of aluminum cookware with a titanium heat-resistant coating. Such products are distinguished by light weight and ease of use. Food does not burn on them and does not stick during cooking.

The non-stick coating, including titanium, is a very important fact for the pan and is, without a doubt, one of the basic criteria for choosing. However, this indicator is far from the only one that must be taken into account when evaluating the practicality and durability of a product.

When choosing dishes, you must take into account a number of other factors.

• Bottom thickness. It is well known that the longer a pan has to stand on a heated surface, the thicker should be its bottom. So, for frying meat and fish, the minimum acceptable thickness is 5 mm.
• The size. In this case, it should be based on the features of the burner and the volume of dishes that you intend to cook in your new dishes.
• The bevel of the walls and the shape of the bottom. If you buy a frying pan mainly for frying, then it is better to use products with a flat bottom, and if stewed dishes appear in your menu more often, then it is better to give preference to dishes that are slightly rounded in the area of ​​the sides.
• The form. A classic pan has a round shape, but in the arsenal of a good housewife there are both oval products (they are optimal for cooking whole fish) and square ones (they should be used for frying steaks and meatballs).
• A pen. It is advisable to purchase a model with a removable handle, as in this case you can use your dishes for baking products in the oven.

It is important to keep in mind that An induction cooker will require a pan with a magnetic bottom. To select the desired product, it is enough to pay attention to the corresponding designations, pictograms on the bottom or packaging.

Pay special attention to the titanium coating itself. If it is not of high enough quality, it will simply crack in a month. To avoid the wrong choice, carefully inspect the spraying and make sure its integrity and uniformity of application.

As we have already mentioned, various alloys of metal and all kinds of materials are used to produce titanium cookware. Each has its own characteristics of use.

Pans with non-stick spraying made of aluminum - this is a pretty heavy meal. Usually it is made with a thickened bottom and dense walls, most often their thickness varies from 5 to 10 mm. Due to its high versatility, the product can be used every day to prepare a wide variety of dishes. It does not change its shape, retains its operational characteristics when working on cooking surfaces of all types, including gas and electric.

The coating of titanium particles greatly simplifies the cooking process, since the products never stick to the surface and do not burn.

The main advantages of aluminum pans include:

• increased strength;
• simplicity in leaving;
• resistance to corrosion;
• dishes can be taken for the preparation of various products;
• the term of use is 10-25 years;
• ability to withstand heating up to 400 degrees.

Such dishes have their drawbacks, in particular the high price, especially when it comes to products with a thickness of about 10 mm. In addition, after cooking, be sure to transfer the contents of the dishes to another container.

Stainless steel has a fairly quick warm-up and good wear resistance. Moreover, the product is expensive, and in addition, is not suitable for cooking on induction surfaces.

A titanium coating significantly increases the life of these products, some manufacturers even claim that the pan, if handled properly, will last about eight decades.

However, keep in mind that if, along with titanium, the deposition contains nickel additives, it is better to refuse to buy such dishes, because when it is heated, oxidative processes occur, which makes food unsafe and can cause harm to health.

Cast-iron pans are now common, as in Soviet times. The quality of food cooked in such a dish is exceptionally high. Such products can be used on any plates.

Cast iron pans have their drawbacks. They are heavy and more suitable for stewing than for frying. But their cost, even with titanium spraying, is relatively small.

Pans are often made of alloys, the best material is considered to be composed of 72% steel, 10% nickel and 18% chromium.

In order for the pan coated with titanium to serve you as long as possible, it is worth sticking to some recommendations.

• It is undesirable to use the dishes in high heat mode. It is optimal for the flame to be weak or medium.
• When cleaning a pan with a titanium coating, it is not recommended to use metal sponges and abrasive products, since in this case the non-stick layer will partially erase.
• Do not scrape with a fork or knife to remove pieces of adhered food. Such mechanical action quickly destroys the surface of the material.
• In order for the food to be fried evenly, you need to cook it with the lid closed.
• The product must be cleaned thoroughly with a dry soft cloth.
• Immediately after purchase, before first use, wash the dishes under running water with the addition of a gel-like detergent, after which it must be dried and wiped with a little warmed vegetable oil. This treatment is preferably repeated once a month.
• To mix the food in the container during cooking, you need to use wooden spoons and spatulas.

Applying all these tips in practice, you can keep the performance of dishes for several decades.

Owners of titanium pans primarily note their high cost - the price tag for quality dishes starts from 3 thousand rubles. The larger the pan, the more expensive it is. For example, according to last year, a pan with a height of 7 cm with a removable handle cost 4-5.5 thousand rubles, and a product with a diameter of 20 cm and a height of 5 cm cost a little less than -3-3.5 thousand.

At the same time, according to reviews, titanium utensils are, first and foremost, reliability, practicality and durability, and most importantly - a guarantee of high-quality cooking. Overpaying for a pan today, you make significant savings in the future.

On how to choose a frying pan, see the following video.