Pans for cooking steaks are very different. However, many cooks, even those who specialize in cooking Japanese cuisine, strongly recommend cooking steaks on a cast-iron skillet. How to choose the best of them, consider in the article.
Varieties
For the preparation of steaks using frying pans, which can be classified depending on the material, shape, configuration.
Material
Ceramic Pans considered the safest. Cooked food on them is less harmful.
But such a pan for the hostess creates a lot of trouble. As it cannot be dropped, and also needs to be cleaned only with the sparing means and soft sponges.
Stainless steel with impurities copper are widely used in restaurants. Excellent steaks are created on such dishes, but it costs a lot. Yes, and copper in its composition does not speak in favor of the device, because it fades and quickly deforms.
Such pans should be recommended only to those who very rarely cook steaks or are ready to change dishes every few months.
Cast iron pans are very difficult to deform. They are usually not so easy to raise. They are not afraid of metal devices and will react normally to the fact that the user turns the meat over with a metal spatula. The surface of the pan is non-stick, so do not be afraid for the meat - you get an appetizing and crisp.
Choosing a cast iron pan, tap on its surface. If you hear a deaf sound, it is of high quality.
Aluminum frying pans have a non-stick coating, affordable price, easy cleaning, but they are not too durable. And they quickly cool down, and create a glow with them will not work. Namely, it is necessary for the preparation of juicy and tasty meat.
Equipment
Do not focus on the presence or absence of the lid, as the meat is fried without it. If you plan to cook other dishes on the same pan, it is better to choose a model with a lid. And it is desirable that they were made of transparent glass, so that it was easy to follow the dish. But professional chefs are advised to have a separate griddle especially for steaks.
Shape and size
Pans vary in shape and size. Round is best used for cooking beef medallions and vegetables. With it you can cook the perfect steak to taste and color using a grill pan. But a large square pan universal.
Its main advantage is the possibility of cooking more food at a time.
Features pans with a corrugated bottom
If the bottom of the dishes corrugated, it is called - grill. The presence of this feature allows fat to accumulate between the grooves at the bottom of the pan. Therefore, the products that are prepared, do not swim in fat.
Using a griddle with a grill function to cook any dish, you can be sure that the fat content of the dish will be much lower.
The food that is roasted on these ribs is cooked by the heat, not the fat. But the liquid that accumulates between these grooves steams the product. And, of course, the dish has a beautiful pattern on the surface in the form of strips. It should also be noted that grill dishes do not require a lot of oil for cooking, saving money.
The advantage of cast iron
Cast iron pan retains heat much better than other dishes with the same dimensions.Cooked food on it enriches the human body with iron.
Such a frying pan is a profitable investment of money, since the dishes from this material are famous for their long service life.
And the longer it “functions”, the higher its quality indicators. Many cast-iron dishes got from the grandmothers, and they keep it as a relic, passing from generation to generation. Since cast iron cookware does not create difficulties in the manufacture, it is characterized by a budget value.
Professional chefs note that they failed to achieve such excellent taste of meat after using a cast-iron pan in any other way.
If you handle this pan correctly, it retains non-stick properties for a long time. On it you can cook meat with a minimum amount of oil. As well as steaks, roasted in such a pan, less harmful substances are absorbed in comparison with the use of analogues.
Rules for selection and use
A good frying pan should have the following qualities:
- be durable;
- with a thick bottom and walls;
- warm up quickly and efficiently;
- keep warm;
- not be too heavy in weight;
- versatile and multi-functional;
- give in well to cleansing.
Steak pan should have high walls. This not only protects against hot splashes, but also contributes to the rapid formation of high temperatures. After all, there is heat from the walls, which helps speed up the cooking process.
If large volumes are planned for cooking, then it is rational to choose models that have a special drain for pouring juices and fats, which are formed during frying. It’s extremely inconvenient to do this with a spoon, it’s better to buy a griddle that already has a special “spout”.
For different plates
Remember that the choice of pans affects not only its shape and material, but also the type of plate. Gas to this day is considered the most used type. On the gas stove, you can cook in a bowl of any material. Experts only recommend carefully choose the thickness. After all, the more this indicator, the more uniform the heating will be.
Electric cookers require certain dishes. It is recommended to purchase kitchen utensils, which coincide in diameter with the heating surface of the stove, and that the surface itself is as even as possible for uniform heating.
Induction furnaces additionally require the presence of special magnetic disks on the bottom of the dish.
Brand, brand
There is a special rating of companies that produce these dishes. One of the most popular brands is considered Lodge. This is a company from America that produces cast iron pans.
The peculiarity of the pans of this brand is that before cooking it does not need to be ignited. It is highly durable and durable.
Next brand by popularity Tefal. This brand is most popular among domestic buyers.
It is distinguished by the presence of a non-stick coating, as well as various additional indicators that indicate the level of heating dishes.
The wide model range allows to pick up a griddle for any type of plate.
And, of course, it is important to mark the brand’s products. Gipfel. These are German products, made of aluminum. But there are also cast iron cookware, as well as coated. Most products are equipped with special removable handles.
The form
It is known that the shape of dishes affects the ease of use. If we talk about the pan, it can also be of different shapes, namely:
- round;
- square;
- oval.
And also always choose the form depending on the amount of food that they plan to cook. For example, for a large family often use a square griddle. And if you need to cook a dish for one or two people, you can choose dishes of a round shape and with a small diameter.
Experts advise to have several pans for cooking various dishes.
Another important role is played by the model of the plate used. For example, for a gas stove does not need to buy a wide griddle, otherwise the dishes will take up much space on the surface. But for the induction you need to choose a device with dimensions that correspond to the diameter of the burner. If we are talking about a glass-ceramic surface, it is better not to use cast-iron dishes, otherwise there will be dents.
In the next video, you will learn how to prepare a cast iron skillet for use.
