Stainless steel cookware is incredibly versatile, durable, and easy to maintain. Below you’ll find some key tips and tricks on how to best care for your cookware. These tips and tricks will keep your pots and pans looking great and lasting long.
Prevent Scratching Your Non-Stick Pan:
Although stainless steel cookware is highly durable, non-stick pans require more attention and care. Always use silicone or wooden utensils instead of metal or other sharp cooking tools. Also consider using cloth pan protectors when stacking pans on top of a non-stick surface.
Allow Food to Reach Room Temperature Before Adding it to the Pan:
When cooking meat, fish, or poultry, it’s important to make sure those foods reach room temperature before adding them to the pan. If the food is added directly from the refrigerator, it’s more likely to stick to the pan and not cook properly.
*Tip: Allow proteins to sit out for 10-15 minutes before cooking. Also, pat them dry to remove excess moisture, which will make for a better sear when added to the pan.
Heat the Pan Before Adding Oil, Then Add Food After Oil Has Heated:
Make sure that your stainless steel pan is heated properly before adding oil, which will allow you to create an adequate non-stick surface and prevent sticking and burning.
*Tip: To check whether your pan is hot enough for searing, try the water test. Take a pinch of water and add it to the pan – if the water sizzles and evaporates, then the pan is too cool; if the water breaks into pieces and shoots around the pan, then the pan is too hot; but if the water rolls up into a single ball, then the pan is the right temperature.
Stick with Medium Heat to Prevent the Pan From Overheating:
High-quality stainless steel is very effective at retaining heat so there often no need to use high when cooking with your sardel cookware using low-to-medium on what you will prevent pan from overheating and decrease the chances of burning food
*Tip: When the oil in your pan begins to smoke, this typically means your pan is too hot.
Salt Water Only After It Comes to a Boil:
When salt is added to water before it boils, the salt will settle at the bottom of the pot, which can cause pitting corrosion on the surface. This is due to prolonged contact between the salt and the stainless steel. While this won’t affect the performance of the pot, it could change its aesthetic.
*Tip: Adding salt to boiling water is an easy way to add flavor to the food you’re cooking in the water, such as vegetables, beans, pasta, etc.
