How to cook in a stainless steel pan without your food sticking
It should be clear by now: non-stick pans are out of fashion. The reason? PFAS. By now, we know that it’s extremely unhealthy and that we’re taking in too much of it. We’d rather cook in stainless steel pans. But yes, then you do miss that bit of ‘non-stick’… Or do you?
Fortunately, there are ways to cook in your stainless steel pan without your food sticking to the bottom. Some time ago, we already told you how to season your pan step by step.
Tips from chef Ramon Brugman
In the programme Alles op tafel , chef Ramon Brugman explains how to fry an egg in a stainless steel pan without having to scrape the egg off the bottom later. And without ending up with a pan that is impossible to clean. What should you do? First of all, the pan needs to become scorching hot. So hot that if you drip water onto the bottom, the drops immediately start moving. ‘Dancing’, as they call it on Alles op tafel. The water trick is the perfect way to check whether your pan is hot enough.
Have you passed the water test? Then grab a knob of butter or a splash of oil and let it spread completely across the bottom of the pan. Think of it as a protective layer that you place on the bottom. Your egg will float on top of it in a moment.
Frying an egg: easy as an egg
Time to fry your egg. Crack the egg into your pan and let it slide across the bottom. You may now—out of habit—be inclined to shake the pan back and forth so the egg definitely doesn’t stick to the bottom. This isn’t necessary. The layer you’ve just created in the pan is enough to keep your egg loose in the pan. Finally, turn the heat down a little. You’ve created enough heat to cook the egg gently.
You can of course also apply Ramon’s tips to other food you cook in a stainless steel pan. Such as a piece of meat; another thing that can easily scorch on the underside. Or a pancake. Well, that last one is always a failure on the first attempt anyway.
Also read:
- Strange eggs: can you actually eat them?
- Get filthy rich? Open a pancake restaurant?
- Do you need to buy new pans when switching from gas to induction?
Source: KRO-NCRV
