All about grill pans

Kitchenware is very diverse, and every element of it finds its place in our daily life. Our article will tell about this kind of kitchen utensils, like a grill pan. Consider its advantages and disadvantages, let's talk about the manufacturers, find out the nuances of choice and use.

A characteristic feature of a grill pan compared to a conventional griddle is the bottom covered with special ribs. It is a ribbed addition, imitating a full-fledged separate grill, and gave the name to this type of cookware. Whatever products are used, they will only touch the base partially. Therefore, in this case, roasting and steaming are actually combined.

Grill pan may partially replace most different kitchen appliances:

• ordinary pan;
• oven;
• grill;
• toaster;
• B-B-Q;
• Microwave oven.

There are three main goals that are achieved when using a grill pan:

• simplify cooking;
• reduced time costs;
• achieving an optimal balance between taste and health benefits.

This type of dishes can be used not only for processing meat, poultry or fish. It is quite possible to cook both vegetables and fruits. Baked fruits cooked on a grill pan have an extraordinary taste. The refusal to use the oil or the minimum use of it can reduce the energy value of food.

Among the advantages of grill pans are the ease of implementing the most complex recipes. It is much easier in them than to preserve the natural taste of products in conventional pans. Ensures their saturation with excess liquid released to the outside. Carefully selected processing mode does not affect the nutritional and energy value of the prepared products.

Thanks to this design, the products are in contact with the coating only on the protrusions. All the fat and juice, flowing into the grooves separating the ribs, evaporates. As a result, the dish becomes more juicy and it is possible to avoid the formation of unpleasant odors, smoke, and burning.

An important feature of the grill pan is its economy. For roasting food will need a very small amount of sunflower or olive oil. In some cases, they do without it. And if they use it, some cooks moisten the convex parts with a silicone brush, while others spray the product itself.

Also, as already mentioned, heat is distributed as evenly as possible. A heated frying pan longer than usual keeps the temperature. It helps in this and a thick bottom.

It is possible to quickly prepare various dishes without overdrying them. Food sticking to the bottom is excluded, even if the work of a barbecue or high-grade grill is reproduced. Another significant advantage of such dishes is the ability to cook at the same time several different products or dishes. It is not difficult to cook in one pan:

• mushrooms;
• selected meat steak;
• vegetables.

However, the grill pan has obvious disadvantages. It is heavier than ordinary analogs: products made of cast iron weigh 2-5.5 kg, and those made of aluminum - from 1.5 to 2 kg. The weight of the products will also be added to this mass.

Grill pan requires more complex care than ordinary dishes. Just washing it is not enough. You will need to wipe the entire surface dry, and then lubricate it with oil. If you break such rules, you can face intense rusting. And another nuance - grill pans in most cases are delivered without covers.

Talk about the configuration of the grill pan should start with that not only the dimensions of the burners should be taken into account, but also the individual requests of customers.

• Most often they take the traditional round container, but some of the owners prefer other shapes. The round model is good because it is very evenly heated. In such pans cook mainly meat and vegetable food, omelets and scrambled eggs, fry fillets.
• Oval is best suited for cooking fish dishes and pork schnitzels.
• The square shape is also quite common. Its main advantage is increased capacity. In this dish cooked vegetables, steaks. A square griddle can be used for cooking for the whole family or a friendly company.
• The rectangular type of grill pan allows you to handle a large number of products. Dishes are baked very evenly.

Some companies produce rectangular cast aluminum frying pans, but the most practical solution is cast-iron dishes. They perfectly meet the requirements for cooking the grill.

Cast iron has a high thermal conductivity, which allows the entire dish to be heated as quickly and uniformly as possible. In fact, the effect of processing in the oven is reproduced. In a cast iron skillet, you can easily implement almost any recipe. However, overweight is a serious problem.

From the surface will always come a rich "metallic" smell. But the meat can be fried to exceptional perfection. Although the pan is heavy, it is easy to wash it, and over time the appearance does not deteriorate.

Popular and aluminum. It is much lighter than cast iron and passes heat very easily. Aluminum cookware is invariably made with a non-stick coating. Fast warm-up can sometimes even cause inconvenience, and therefore it is advisable to give preference to products with a thick double bottom.

Connoisseurs of delicious and healthy food should opt for stainless steel. It is guaranteed not to enter into chemical reactions with substances that make up the food. Therefore, the loss of useful properties is excluded. However, stainless steel requires constant and very careful maintenance. We will have to abandon the use of steel brushes, abrasives and powders.

A separate conversation deserve frying pans with a ceramic coating. Some experts even believe that this is a kind of peak of the evolution of dishes today. It is these pans, not Teflon and non-iron, that are recommended to supporters of proper nutrition. Contrary to the ideas of some people, the quality of the ceramic coating does not deteriorate for several years. It itself is made from proven substances of natural origin.

The advantages of ceramics consider:

• excellent resistance to mechanical wear (due to the absence of pores);
• hard paddles compatibility;
• a variety of colors;
• minimal risk when using detergents;
• suitability for washing in dishwashers;
• suitability for cooking baby food.

Consider the products of the most popular brands.

• If the choice is stopped on a ceramic pan, then you need to pay attention to the product. Fissler brands. This company manufactures products primarily for professional chefs. However, affordable prices allow you to use it even at home. Each copy has an individual technical passport. The warranty period is 5 years.

Body aluminum base allowed to significantly reduce the weight of the product. The outer layer of the coating has a high wear resistance. Genuine German quality is also expressed in excellent ergonomic characteristics and safety in use. Engineers and designers meticulously think through all these nuances.

• French company Tefal can also offer great pans. In its range there is a wide range of models in the low price range. Branded warranty coverage is 2 years. Due to the rather large thickness of the walls and bottom, the danger to the ceramic coating is minimized. A characteristic feature of Tefal products is also a built-in heat indicator.

• A good choice can be TVS products (Italy). They are equipped with a coating made of sandy nanoparticles. You can easily choose a pan with a diameter of 26 cm or even 28 cm, if necessary. In most cases, the TVS pans are light enough to care for them easily. The manufacturer does not try to save at any cost and therefore makes a reliable thick bottom.

• Lovers of true Swiss quality should take a closer look. to pans Swiss Diamond. The company claims that it uses ceramics mixed with diamond crystals. The design is designed to maximize the conservation of taste properties. The body is made of aluminum-silicon alloy. The handles are securely fastened and not exposed to heat.

• Another popular Swiss Brand - Vinzer. This company specializes in the production of stainless steel cookware.

• German concern Gipfel has another specialization - cast iron frying pans. Consumers rate them very highly.

• In the budget and moderately expensive price group stands out products company Maestro, featuring an attractive design and special comfort of use.

• Attention deserve and products Belgian manufacturer BergHoff. He is considered one of the world leaders in the manufacture of tableware. The main construction material is cast aluminum.

• It is worth looking at the cast iron Lodge Non-stick Pans. The American company produces products of the average price group. In most versions, the size is 26 cm, but it is not difficult to find dishes with a diameter of 30 cm.

There are a few more brands that supply good-quality grilled pans.

• The first one is Risoli. This Italian company has been working steadily since 1965. All stages of production, starting with the production of metal raw materials, occur exclusively in Italy. The company uses granite coatings, and pancakes are made using marble. The main construction material is cast aluminum. The use of lightweight material instead of heavy cast iron was quite consistent with the trends of the 1960s.

In practical terms, this allowed for a number of characteristic advantages. The thickening of the walls and the bottom made warming up much more evenly than before. Risoli products are delivered to various countries around the world.Aluminum alloy is selected individually and, last but not least, the final finish is carried out strictly by hand.

The company declares that its products are suitable for work in the oven, microwave, on a glass-ceramic stove. There are separate models designed for use on induction cookers. Designers took care of the convenience of cooking healthy and tasty food. You can safely carry out all kinds of culinary experiments and get a brilliant result.

• Pans Saporella with folding wooden handles have a size of 28x28 cm. They are suitable for work on any stove (except induction models). Dishwasher safe. Cover not included.

• From pans of other companies should be highlighted Wellberg products. Their characteristic feature is a marble covering. According to consumer estimates, this option is much more practical and convenient than Teflon, and even exceeds ceramics in a number of parameters.

Wellberg products are valued for:

1. significant capacity;
2. convenience pens;
3. minimal risk of sticking to food;
4. suitability to work on a conventional gas and induction stove;
5. general feeling of good quality.

• But this attractive options do not end there. Attention definitely deserves and model AMT Gastroguss AMTE285G. This grill pan is appreciated for the particular location of the ribs on the bottom. Relief allows you to get rid of the traditional dilemma: to put pieces of meat on a diagonal or to agree to the appearance of "wrong" strips. Important advantages are the thickened bottom and the presence of non-stick coating.

The removable handle is long enough and equipped with a single-cast extra ear. This allows you to simplify the process of cooking in the oven. However, due to the absence of a ferromagnetic disk, this model cannot be considered suitable for an induction cooker.

• The next interesting version is Nadoba Vilma 728220. This is a square griddle equipped with a heat indicator. Czech developers have provided notches for draining the fluid, placed at the edges, and not sideways, as usual. The handle is equipped with a thermochromic indicator. It shows exactly when the dishes are warm and you can start work.

The pan works great on an induction cooker. It can be washed in the dishwasher. However, it is worth noting that the fastening handle loose with time.

• From domestic products to the top of the best deservedly falls model "Marusya Standard 3724g". This is a relatively inexpensive product of a round shape. The manufacturer used marble spraying; The internal volume is sufficient for cooking a small amount of food. Frying pan "Marusya" is quite compact, and for non-stick properties, it fully meets the requirements for a ribbed grill.

• But the model BAF Galaxy Induction line 4002 16 28, as the name suggests, it does not have such a problem. This good German-made frying pan looks like, rather, a universal product. The main structural alloy is the best type of stainless steel (18/10). 3 layers of non-stick titan-ceramic coating are not destroyed by the touch of metal cutlery, do not burst when excessively heated.

• KitchenAid KC2T10NRST completes our review. This model is perfect for users of electric stoves.A very thick (even without taking into account the relief part) bottom excludes burning. At the same time, fast warm-up is provided, the handle is fixed firmly and securely. You can use metal cutlery and accessories, as long as they are not too sharp.

• Choosing dishes for a gas stove, you can use containers of any material. But the imperative requirement will be strict compliance with the size of the griddle and hob. If an induction cooker is installed at home, it is advisable to check the dishes for it with a magnet. Such verification should be carried out even with special markings. Sometimes (although very rarely) it can be forged.

Correctly choose the pan to work on glass-ceramic surfaces, taking into account such requirements:

1. correspondence of the bottom section and the section of the burner;
2. the presence of handles with heat-resistant coating;
3. cast iron or aluminum layer, reducing the likelihood of burning.

• While giving preference to a ceramic corrugated pan, it is important to realize that it is not easy to handle. Positive properties are saved only in one case - if the pan is protected from prolonged contact with water. In addition, ceramics are easily destroyed with significant temperature changes.

• It is necessary to immediately clarify one more thing: a number of pans with a ceramic coating is not suitable for washing in a dishwasher or may be damaged by separate detergents.

• If the consumer chooses the choice in a pan with a ceramic layer, you will have to pay attention to the method of its application. Spraying is much better and more durable than the knurling technique, but it turns out to be more expensive, and manufacturers of budget products do not like it.

• It is important not only to look at the material from which the pan is made, but also with what type of lid it comes. For some people, light, transparent lids are preferable, and for others - heavy, holding steam and juice inside. You only need to focus on your own tastes.

• Wanting to purchase the most durable product, you must give preference to cast iron products. However, we must bear in mind that for fans of pancakes and pancakes, they do not fit very well. In this case, you have to make a choice in favor of aluminum or steel. The molded case lasts longer than the one produced by stamping, however, and it costs much more expensive.

• When buying the first pan in life, you should make a choice in favor of the model of a well-known company in the middle price segment. If the decision turns out to be unsuccessful, there will not be much regret about excessive expenses. Purchasing a very expensive and very cheap frying pan is undesirable.

• You should choose not so much the manufacturer as the specific model. Each brand, even the most prestigious, may have unsuccessful modifications of dishes. Weed them out by reviewing reviews on independent sites. Of great importance are those accessories that are included in the package.

• When these moments are studied, it is time to pay attention to the ergonomic properties of specific models. Experienced housewives always check the pans "in hand", see if their handles will not heat up too much.

• Even if there is relatively much space in the kitchen, it is advisable to choose models of dishes with retractable or folding handles. For some reason, it turns out that there is always not enough space.

• It is worth making sure before purchase that the package includes instructions.

• Special requirements are put forward when buying grooved barbecue dishes. In this case, it is recommended to give preference to ceramic products.

Regardless of whether the pan is supplied with a removable handle or not, it can be made from such an unusual material as granite. And his singularity does not mean that he is something bad. Of course, nobody does a completely stone kitchen utensil.

Accidentally leave scratches on a granite pan is almost impossible. However, you should not undertake all sorts of radical experiments, test the product for strength. Another feature of this dish is fairly fast, uniform heating. Heat is stored for a long time. And the dishes themselves will last a very long time.

But it is important to understand that granite has certain weaknesses:

1. high cost (in comparison with teflon products);
2. risk of damage due to temperature fluctuations;
3. the inability to clean with abrasives or aggressive substances;
4. mechanical destruction during shocks and falls.

Regardless of the brand and model, it is important to use the grill pan correctly. It is completely reliable, but illiterate treatment can harm even such an unpretentious thing. Before first use the pan should be washed with warm water, then all the dust will leave. Washing is required not only after purchase, but also after long storage.

The products themselves are placed on the grill pan only after cutting into thin slices. The more important the effect of the coal grill, the thinner you will have to cut everything. Slices of food must be coated with vegetable oil. If you put it in the pan, the products will start to stick, and smoke may appear. Given the characteristics of cooking in the grill mode, olive oil, steaming at low temperature, will have to be abandoned.

Before starting cooking, the grill pan will have to be heated a lot. Even if the burner or burner is working intensively, you must wait at least 5 minutes. Then the surface will warm evenly, and the cooking process will proceed uniformly. Even with strong warming, characteristic traces of the ribs become clearer. If steaks are fried, coarsely chopped chicken or something similar, the distance between the pieces should be about 1.25 cm.

In the absence of a cover in the package, you still need to buy it and be sure to use it every time. Alternatively, a metal bowl is sometimes used. To get a characteristic nice picture, the products after the bookmark do not touch at least 1 minute. When this time passes, you can move the pieces with tongs to eliminate burning or uneven roasting.

Each type of product is inverted after a strictly defined time:

• pieces of pork in 6-7 minutes;
• patties - 3 minutes;
• chicken slices - 5-10 minutes;
• pieces of sausage and sausages - 5 minutes;
• vegetables - 3 or 4 minutes.

Any product can be reversed ahead of time, if it began to burn strongly. It is recommended to stock up with a thermometer to measure the temperature inside the piece of meat. If not, you will have to rely only on culinary intuition and luck. Mollusks, pork, veal, lamb should be heated to 63 degrees, poultry to 74. All types of minced meat warmed to 71 degrees.

If it is necessary to store the cast-iron skillet without using it, it is carefully covered with sunflower oil (a paper towel is used for this). Then put the dishes on the middle shelf in the oven and set the temperature to 190 degrees. Having kept the pan in this mode for 60 minutes, the heating is turned off, and then they wait until it cools.

How to choose a grill pan, see the video below.