Bottom diameter
The diameter of the bottom of a pan that has a round shape.
This parameter is necessary first of all in order to assess the compatibility of the pan with a particular burner on the stove. It is especially relevant if the product is planned to be used on an electric stove: the diameter of the burner must be at least not less than the diameter of the bottom, otherwise the heating will turn out to be uneven and inefficient. And in induction electric stoves (see "Functions and capabilities — Induction bottom"), these diameters must match at all. The selection of suitable frying pans is somewhat simplified by the fact that modern
electric stoves usually have burners of different diameters, and in some models the heaters can even be adjusted in size — up to autofocus in separate induction cookers). However, even in such cases, it's ok to clarify whether the pan fits into the range of suitable sizes.
Handle material
— Metal.
Metal handles, usually, are made of the same material as the pan — steel or aluminium (see above). Their main advantages are high strength and resistance to heat — in fact, the handle can withstand the same temperature as a frying pan. This ensures maximum fire safety: if you unsuccessfully leave the pan with the handle over the fire, the metal will only heat up, but will not catch fire, and you can put such a pan in the oven without problems. At the same time, this material is characterized by high thermal conductivity — in other words, the handle heats up very much along with the pan itself. Because of this, it is possible to remove the dishes from the fire only with the help of special devices (for example, rags — "grabbers" made of thick fabric) — holding the handle with bare hands, you can get burned.
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Cast iron. The material used for the handles in cast iron pans (see "Pan Material"). It has all the characteristic advantages and disadvantages of metal handles (see above).
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Bakelite. A kind of plastic; was created a long time ago, but is still widely used due to a number of advantages. In the case of frying pans, the main one is low thermal conductivity: Bakelite handles heat up so little that they can be fearlessly taken with bare hands when the pan is hot. In addition, this material is fireproof: even if you accidentally leave the pen ov
...er an open fire, it will not catch fire, at most it will char. For added safety, many handles of this type have a combined design: a small part, directly at the pan, is made of metal, the rest is Bakelite. In terms of strength and brittleness, this material is somewhat weaker than metals, but it can withstand most shocks and shocks without problems, and is insensitive to scratches, moisture and chemicals. As a consequence, handles of this type have become widespread in modern frying pans. The most striking disadvantage of bakelite can be called poor suitability for use in the oven; however, dishes with removable handles can correct the situation (for both points, see "Additionally").
— Wood. The wooden handles have a nice "classic" look, but they conduct almost no heat, which allows them to be handled with bare hands. At the same time, this material is quite sensitive to moisture, dirt, prone to cracking and relatively short-lived; and its fire safety is very low — a handle carelessly placed over a fire can easily be charred, or even catch fire. In addition, such handles are not suitable for ovens, they must be removed (if such a possibility is provided, see "Additional") or other dishes should be used in the oven. As a result, wood is quite rare in modern frying pans and is a kind of image material intended for lovers of traditional design.
— Silicone. By itself, this material is too soft for use in the handles of pans in its pure form; therefore, in this case, a metal handle with a silicone overlay is usually meant. Silicone provides good thermal insulation, such handles, usually, can be safely taken even when the pan is heated; besides, they are softer and more pleasant to the touch than, for example, bakelite. Among the shortcomings, it is worth noting the sensitivity to strong heat, which is why in pans compatible with ovens, silicone handles have to be made removable.Non-stick coating
The type
of non-stick coating used in the pan (if present — some pans
are not specially coated).
If the characteristics simply indicate the presence of a coating, without specifying its type, it should be assumed that this is most likely Teflon (functional, but short-lived and requiring careful handling — see below for more details). This will give the maximum guarantee against various troubles. And here is a detailed description of the different types of non-stick coating:
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Teflon. Coating based on polytetrafluoroethylene, also known as Teflon. One of the most popular options in modern frying pans is relatively inexpensive, very convenient to cook, and easy to clean. At the same time, this material has its own characteristics in use. First of all, it should be protected from scratches as much as possible: when cooking, you should use a wooden or silicone spatula (not metal, not to mention knives), and when washing, you should not use abrasive products and metal sponges (however, this is usually not required). If a scratch or some other damage still appears, you can’t use a Teflon pan — it starts to release harmful substances, the only option is to replace the dishes. This coating is sensitive to overheating (the release of harmful substances also begins, cracks may appear), it cannot be used on high heat and is not recommended for use on electric stove
...s. In addition, it is believed that the thickness of the Teflon pans was at least 5 mm, preferably a multi-layered bottom(see "Additional"). Also note that even the highest quality Teflon, with the most careful handling, has a limited service life — usually about 5 years.
— Ceramic. A coating created as an attempt to eliminate some of the shortcomings of Teflon. Its main advantage is complete harmlessness: ceramics do not emit harmful substances at high temperatures and scratches. At the same time, it is rather difficult to scratch it, and therefore you can use spatulas made of any material with a frying pan, wash it with abrasive products, etc. In addition, this coating looks quite aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, it is a type of glass and, like any glass, is quite sensitive to shock. Another drawback is the delicacy in washing: hot ceramic pans cannot be placed under cold water (otherwise cracks or even chips may appear), and they are poorly compatible with dishwashers.
— Stone (marble). This category includes all coatings reinforced with interspersed stone chips. The material of such inclusions can be different: marble, granite, other minerals, including their combinations. Such solutions are usually more stable and durable than Teflon, however, the specific properties may be different, so the operation features must be specified in the instructions for the dishes.
— Titanium. Titanium-based non-stick coatings are remarkable primarily for their high strength. So, if it is recommended to use wooden spatulas on all other varieties, then titanium surfaces often allow work with metal appliances (however, this point still does not hurt to clarify according to the instructions for the pan). On the other hand, such coverage is quite expensive.
— Enamel. Enamel-based coatings are notable for good strength and scratch resistance, they normally tolerate contact with forks and even knives, and are not afraid of overheating. The non-stick properties of such coatings may be somewhat worse than other varieties, but it all depends on the specific type of enamel. Of the unequivocal disadvantages, one can name a relatively weak thermal conductivity and the likelihood of chips during impacts and falls. In addition, some types of enamel have a microporous structure and require more oil when frying than other types of coatings. Therefore, this option is relatively rare.
— Is absent. The lack of a non-stick coating in the design of the pan is not always a clear disadvantage. Firstly, additional coatings inevitably affect the price (and the better the composition, the more expensive it is); secondly, many of them require careful handling (see above). Thus, uncoated pans are less expensive and easier to clean (although the cleaning itself can be quite a laborious process). It should be noted that some materials themselves have non-stick properties; a typical example is cast iron (see “Frying pan material”).
