5 Pans Which You Absoultely Must Have In Your Kitchen

Whether you’re a student, a first time buyer or you’ve just moved into new rented accommodation, kitting out your kitchen is probably one of the most essential jobs on your to do list.

However, as moving house can be expensive, many people have limited cash when it comes to cooking accessories, leaving room for only the most essential kitchen pans in the budget.

Luckily, when it comes to cooking pans, less is more and investing in just a few good quality kitchen pans will see you whipping up tasty treats before you know it.

1. The 12-inch skillet with lid

These large frying pans are incredibly handy in the kitchen and can be used for everything from pan roasting a chicken breast to whipping up a pasta sauce.

If your skillet is stainless steel, make sure that you season it properly to ensure the non-stick surface stays in great condition.

2. The 10-inch non-stick skillet

The non-stick surface on this frying pan makes it perfect for omelettes, bacon, sausages and a whole host of other delicious treats.

As it requires little washing up and is easy to use, you’ll probably find that you turn to this pan for almost every occasion.

3. The wok

Though a wok may seem like an extravagance, it gives you the chance to cook delicious, healthy and cheap Asian dishes like stir fry, pad Thai and even stews.

You can also use a wok to deep fry your food, adding another tool to your kitchen’s arsenal.

4. The griddle pan

Perfect for steaks, chicken and veg, griddle pans are a healthy and delicious way to cook a range of produce.

The ridges on a griddle pan help any fat in your food to drain away, resulting in tasty and healthy dishes.

The attractive chargrilled lines that result from using a griddle pan also help to make your food look more appetising.

5. The egg pan

This tiny frying pan is ideal for those who like a fried egg or two on their toast in the morning.

The perfect size for just one egg, this little pan requires very little washing up and won’t clutter your kitchen.

By investing in these five pans, you can kit out your kitchen with everything that you need for fantastic food. Helping you to eat well, impress your friends and family and make your new house feel like a home.

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How To Buy A Frying Pan: Which Coating Should I Look For?

It's safe to say that most people don't put much thought into the type of coating they have on their non-stick frying pan. When buying new cookware, most of us will look in detail at the design, colour and shape of frying pans, but not usually the specific non-stick coating covering the cooking surface - but this is an important factor to consider. With so many chemical coatings with different qualities, positives and negatives, it really should be a major feature in our decision making. Higher quality coatings will obviously offer a higher quality product and service - but what should you be looking for?

Fluoropolymer coatings

Fluoropolymers are essentially thermoplastics, and are used in a number of manufacturing processes and final products, including wire coverings and industrial fuel hoses - however, they are also used as non-stick coatings on cookware. There are a number of types of fluoropolymer used in non-stick coatings - the most common of these is PTFE, also known as Teflon.

Fluoropolymers are one of the most common types of non-stick coating, and they have a number of advantages over other types. For example, as the coating is fired on to the cooking surface of the pan as temperatures exceeding 800°F, it can easily stand the temperatures encountered in everyday cooking. The chemical nature of the compounds also means that when burned, the fumes are not toxic to humans, but can be so to birds. Due to the hardy and resilient nature of the coating, it rarely scratches or burns off, however, if it does it can be expensive or tricky to fix. The waxy finish of the coating also means that there is no need to use oil or butter in cooking, which can reduce fat intake and promote healthier eating.

Sol-Gel "ceramic" coatings

Sol-Gel do no contain fluoropolymers or thermoplastics, but instead are made of liquids which are then made into a gel by a chemical process. Although not technically ceramics, their finish is similar to the texture and chemical structure. They are becoming more popular due to their lack of fluoropolymers and their excellent cooking performance, resilience and hardiness.

Whichever coating you choose when buying a new non-stick frying pan, the main point to remember is not to scrimp on quality. Better quality pans may be more expensive, but will last longer, be safer, and provide a better non-stick cooking service. The old saying that you get what you pay for is no less true for frying pans than it is for cars or larger electronic items. Do your research first and don't default on quality, you'll notice the difference in your cooking.

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Ideas For Father's Day: Get Your Dad Into The Kitchen!

With father’s day fast approaching, offspring up and down the country will be racking their brains to think of the ideal gift for their long-suffering dad.

A great idea for those still looking for that perfect present is some goodquality cookware. Allowing your dad to flex his culinary muscles in the kitchen and whip up some tasty treats, cookware sets and kitchen accessories can be a fantastic gift for the whole family.

If your dad is a complete novice in the kitchen, invest in some good quality basics to get him started.

Most cookware sets come with everything you need to create tasty meals so once your dad is kitted out he can really start experimenting in the kitchen.

Generally, non-stick pots and pans are better for beginners, allowing them to try out their dishes with less chance of burning the ingredients and making life a lot easier when it’s time to do the washing up.

If your dad already has a cookware set or is more advanced in his culinary skills, a good set of kitchen knives always comes in handy.

Alternatively if your dad already owns a wide range of knives, you could invest in one really good specialist knife for those all-important finishing touches.

For any fathers who like their gadgets, kitchen appliances are heaven with a huge range of technology-based kitchen aides available.

From bread makers to ice cream makers and juicers to waffle machines, the kitchen has an enormous potential when it comes to gadgets.

Another good addition to the cookery arsenal is the cookery book. Providing invaluable inspiration, guidance and reassurance, cookery books are a must have for any amateurs chef.

If your dad has a favourite cuisine or a favourite chef, why not invest in the relevant cookery book and fire up his passion for food. Cook books that feature great quality pictures are especially good for providing inspiration, so keep your eyes peeled for any that fit the bill.

Once you’ve kitted your dad out with everything that he needs to create a Michelin starred meal, one thing that can make father’s day even more special is for you to get into the kitchen and create it with him.

By working together to cook a delicious meal or indulgent pudding, you can share some fantastic quality time together, create some great memories and enjoy and tasty treat at the end.

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From Stainless Steel To Non-Stick: How To Season Your Steel Cookware

From stainless steel to non-stick: how to season your steel cookware

 

Whether you’re in the kitchen every day or just dabble in a bit of home economics at the weekends, you’ll know that good quality pots and pans can make a huge difference to the cooking process.

Helping you to cook your food perfectly and preventing sticking and burning, good quality steel cookware is an absolute kitchen essential.

However, once you’ve invested in your pots and pans, it’s important to look after them properly in order to get the best out of them. So whether you’ve chosen stainless steel or non-stick, here’s how to season your cookware and transform your food.

By seasoning your stainless steel cookware correctly, you can create a fantastic non-stick surface that will last for months. This can completely alleviate the need for butter or oil when cooking and make the resulting food taste fantastic.

The first step in creating a non-stick stainless steel surface is to wash your cookware thoroughly using soap and water to remove any packing residue.

Once the pans have dried, coat the surface right up to the rim with oil. For the best results use oil with a high smoking point like peanut or coconut oil.

Next, you need to heat the oil. You can either do this on the hob or by placing the pan in your oven at a high temperature for about an hour. If using the hob, remove the pan from the heat when the oil starts smoking.

Wait for the pan to cool completely and then simply wipe away the excess oil using a kitchen towel.

Once you’ve seasoned your stainless steel cookware, you should only need to use hot water when cleaning it. If you do have to use soap, use the mildest brand that you can in order to preserve the non-stick surface.

Though many people don’t realise it, non-stick pans can also benefit from being seasoned.
Though their existing surface should already be effective, seasoning non-stick cookware can increase the lifespan of the pots and pans and provide better results whenever you use them.

The technique for seasoning non-stick cookware is the same as for stainless steel, though it’s normally best to heat non-stick pots and pans in the oven rather than on the hob.

By looking after your stainless steel cookware properly, you can enjoy years of easy cook and fantastic tasting food all while putting minimal effort into the washing up.

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