All about pan diameters

Pan - an indispensable tool in the kitchen. Every housewife is faced with the problem of burnt meat, sticking to the surface of pancakes or poorly cooked vegetables. For the preparation of various dishes requires several options dishes. Each product requires its own degree of roasting, stewing or boiling - it depends on the quality of the material of the dish, the thickness of the bottom, the height of the sides of the pan and the surface diameter. From this article you can learn about what are the sizes of such dishes and how to measure the diameter of the pan.

It is necessary to figure out how to measure the diameter of the pan correctly. Most people measure the diameter of the pan along the bottom or around the circumference, and this is considered wrong, since the size is determined by the top of the inside.

Standard sizes of frying pans vary from 18 to 32 cm - on the label manufacturers indicate exactly these numbers. For example, it is convenient to bake pancakes on a surface with a diameter of 20 to 22 cm. Stewing or frying meat is better in dishes with a surface diameter of 30 cm. Each housewife herself chooses the required size of kitchen utensils depending on the application and cooking of any dishes.

The sizes of dishes can be found below, although they are usually presented in a special table.

• 18-20 cm. Products with such dimensions are designed for cooking per adult. Such dishes are designed to extinguish vegetables, frying pancakes and fried eggs, to heat a small amount of food.
• 22-24 cm These products usually fried meat, scrambled eggs or potatoes. For sauces suitable frying pans with high bumpers. Cookware with a diameter designed for cooking and heating food for one or two people.
• 26-28 cm On surfaces with such a diameter, food is prepared for 3-4 adults. This pan is a universal assistant in the kitchen. On it you can warm a large amount of food, simmer or fry vegetables, meat, cook cabbage rolls or meatballs.
• 30-32 cm The main purpose of products with such a diameter - cooking for a large family. For such frying pans, a hotplate with a size of up to 22.5 cm is suitable. In this dish it is convenient to do absolutely everything: stew meat or cabbage, fry fish, cook vegetable caviar, sauces or treat.

Selecting a frying pan of the desired size is quite simple. The conclusion suggests itself: products of small diameter (18-20 cm) are suitable for heating food or baking pancakes, omelettes or fritters, and dishes 22 to 32 cm in diameter are used for cooking and heating food for a large family or company.

The most common classic product is made with high and low sides - it depends on the type of dishes that need to be prepared. In the pan, you can cook absolutely everything: fish, meat, meatballs, pancakes, scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs. For making sauces and lecho, a conventional frying pan is replaced with a stew pan.

There are also Chinese wok frying pans. In such products, you can fry and stew meat, cook fish and vegetables. The walls of such dishes are concave, the bottom surface is quite wide.

Wok pan fits for cooking pasta, meat, fish dishes, pilau and lecho. Uniform heat and heat will give perfect taste to crumbly products.The only disadvantage is that it is necessary to stir the products on time, otherwise the food may burn or stick to the surface.

Grill pan - This is another kind of such dishes. It has a ribbed bottom. When cooking, the oil spreads over the ribbed surface and fills the gaps between the metal fins. Products are roasted just like on the grill. The food is very juicy.

Another cooking option is chafing dish Such a product has a rather large weight. The bottom of the dish is made of dense metal.

Warming up and cooking occurs evenly. Products retain beneficial properties, and food does not stick to the surface. This dish is suitable for baking and stewing various dishes.

Technology does not stand still: now in the market of household appliances there are quite a few options for stoves for the kitchen. The size of the burners and the properties of the hob also differ.

There are several options for cookers:

• with gas burners;
• with ceramic coating;
• induction;
• electric.

Every hostess is familiar with the gas stove. Cooking takes place on an open fire. Heating is characterized by uniformity over the entire surface.

Plates with a glass-ceramic coating also allow for uniform heating of the surface of the pan. For this type of plate suitable dishes with a flat bottom. It should be borne in mind that when using these plates, it is worth lifting the dishes and moving them from place to place. There is no need to move the pan or other product with sliding movements, as this may damage the glass-ceramic.

Cookware special category is used for cooking on induction stoves. Products must have a bottom with electromagnetic properties - this will ensure the magnetization of dishes to the surface of the plate.

Any pans can be used on electric stoves, but only except those made of uncoated aluminum. An important feature of the choice of the pan for such plates is the compatibility of the sizes of the pan and hob.

Below are the main aspects of choosing high-quality cookware.

• Cover (sometimes included). You should immediately purchase a lid if it is not supplied with the pan. Its dimensions are often the same, but not all models can fit.
• Existence of the valve on a cover for air release.
• Removable handle.
• The heating indicator that reports the start of cooking.
• Figure on the bottom in the form of relief. It will relieve from burning food and ensure uniform heating of the surface.
• A device that measures the temperature on the surface of the dish.

To the above items should add the compatibility of dishes with dishwashers.

Of course, the choice of a frying pan of a certain diameter depends on many factors: the number of people in the family, the preferred dishes, the type of cooker on which the cooking process will take place.

Below are a few nuances that you should know when choosing a pan:

• the size of the burners on the stove;
• cooking surface properties;
• the average size of the diameter of the dishes - 18-22 cm;
• the average height of the sides of the product for cooking - 3 cm.

It is worth paying attention to the thickness of the bottom of the pan. The minimum thickness of the bottom of the product of quality metal should be from 3 to 4 mm. Such dishes are more suitable for baking pancakes, fritters and omelets. Dense metal evenly heats, which contributes to thorough roasting, stewing or boiling without burning products.

When choosing a pan should pay attention to the handle. Many housewives do not attach much importance to her. But the pleasure of the cooking process depends on the quality handle of a convenient form. There are no special selection criteria - each housewife is inclined to her own specific sensations.

Handles pans are divided into several types:

• with rivets;
• with screws;
• cast products.

Handles with rivets are not as comfortable to use. Products with screws are more practical in operation. There are also solid handles that are easy to use and wash.

It is worth noting the options handles made of metal - they have a high service life. But they tend to heat up quickly.

You should also pay attention to removable handles for frying pans. They are very convenient for cooking in the oven - just put the pan in the oven and remove the handle. Tacks for dishes in this case can not be used.

For information on which pans are better and how to choose them, see the next video.