For a small picnic, it is not necessary to go to nature. You can diversify your menu at home. To do this, it is enough to buy a grill pan, which will allow you to cook juicy steaks. Fans of vegetarian cuisine will be able to treat themselves to vegetables with mouth-watering stripes on the sides. This review will help you choose the best model in 2022.
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Cooking delicious vegetable, fish or meat dishes becomes more pleasant if you have high-quality dishes at hand. When choosing the right option, you need to take into account some important points, which include the base material, internal spraying, volume and shape.
The frying pan allows you to cook delicious, juicy and healthy foods, and the ribbed surface is necessary for the fat released during frying into special recesses. Such dishes allow you to forget that something can stick to the surface. The peculiarity of the device lies in Teflon, which allows you to fry without oil.
The material of the product affects the durability. That is why manufacturers offer various types of grill pans. Products made of cast iron, aluminum and ceramics are in great demand. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages, which must be considered when buying.
Cast iron pans are strong and durable. They are ideal for grilling as they heat evenly and cool very slowly. The negative point can be considered heavy weight and an unpleasant metallic smell that can come from the surface.
Aluminum pans are lighter than cast iron pans. A prerequisite for choosing is the presence of a non-stick layer. This is the main advantage of aluminum cookware. The material has excellent thermal conductivity, so the pan heats up very quickly. A significant drawback of aluminum products is instability to high temperatures. This is manifested in the fact that heating above 260 ° C can lead to the destruction of the non-stick layer.
The latest innovations in scientific progress are ceramic frying pans, which have good resistance to high temperatures. The main advantages are excellent thermal conductivity and the absence of the release of harmful substances when heated. The disadvantages include fragility and fragility.
Grill pans are round, oval and square. The choice of form depends on the taste and preferences of the buyer. Each option has its own plus. For example, a square frying pan is good for a large family, and one person can get by with round dishes. In the arsenal of the hostess, there can be models of different sizes: one pan is suitable for cooking vegetables and steaks, while the other one can fry an omelette.
For baking meat or fish dishes in the oven, a rectangular grill pan with a ceramic coating is suitable. When choosing a product, you should pay attention to the thickness of the walls, since thick-walled dishes are needed to create strong heat inside the pan.
When buying a large diameter frying pan, you can rely on the fact that it can cook a large number of foods at the same time. If you have an induction hob, the diameter of the frying pan must match the size of the burner. If this condition is not met, then an adaptation disk is required. The quality of the cooked food depends on the height of the sides. If you follow the advice of experienced chefs, then you need to buy deep frying pans, because in this version the food is fried much better. Shallow dishes are more suitable for frying fish or fresh vegetables.
The inner coating of the grill pans has a characteristic feature - a ribbed bottom. This difference allows you to cook juicy steaks with stripes. The height of the ribs separates the ingredients of the dish from the bottom.That is why excess fat, as well as the juice released during cooking, accumulates between the gutters and does not touch the food.
Meals that are cooked on the grill are considered dietary.
Teflon coated pans make cleaning easy. When buying cookware with a non-stick bottom, it is important to immediately purchase silicone spatulas. They will help keep the Teflon coating intact. It is also necessary to observe the temperature regime, because heating the pan above 200 ° C increases the likelihood of the release of harmful substances from the surface.
When choosing a grill pan, it is advisable to check with the consultant the compatibility of the product with the stove. Usually, the manufacturer indicates this in the instructions for the product. If you plan to cook on a standard gas stove, then you can not suffer with the choice and purchase any grill pan you like. It is better for owners of glass-ceramic stoves not to use cast-iron "heavyweights" and to give preference to aluminum cookware with a smooth bottom. For an induction cooker, pans with a flat steel bottom are suitable. Double-sided pans with iron inserts in the bottom also fit well here. If the house does not have a stove at all, then this becomes a reason to buy an electric grill pan. It will become a reliable assistant in the preparation of large volumes of dishes.
The handle of the grill pan must be of high quality, otherwise all the advantages of the dishes will come to naught. A cheap product quickly erases the non-stick coating, and the handles melt and crack. This is the whole catch and a clear confirmation of the saying that the miser pays twice. Grill pan handles are usually made of heat-resistant plastic, silicone, or wood. Heavy cast iron models often have reliable solid cast handles.Products with folding handles are also practical, since their compactness allows you to save kitchen space.
The advantage of the grill pan is the ribbed surface, thanks to which they cook juicy and healthy food, without soot and the need to add oil. A meat or fish steak is fried for about 5-7 minutes thanks to hot ribs. Another pleasant advantage lies in the resulting golden crust and unsurpassed aroma. Grilled food is appetizing, nutritious and healthy. Perhaps someone considers grill pans heavy and bulky, but all doubts about the uselessness of these kitchen utensils are swept aside after the first use.
There are many companies that produce a huge range of grill pans. The following manufacturers are popular:
To cook on a grill pan and get delicious food at the exit, you need to remember a few simple rules:
Pro Tips:
When buying a product, you also need to pay attention to some nuances. As you know, the grill is recognized by the inner surface, which has a specific corrugation. It should be remembered that these ribs were created for a special cooking technology, and not for beauty. They must be of sufficient height. Small ribs leave even and beautiful stripes on the products, but this does not affect the taste and quality of the food. That is why, if the pan is purchased for steaks, the grooves should be as high as possible.
It is preferable to choose pans with a spout for draining fat. This prevents it from accumulating and burning on the sides of the pan. When purchasing a cast iron pan, it is better to choose a model with solid handles.For an aluminum grill, the handles should be made of high-quality heat-resistant plastic or silicone.
Cast iron products are recognized as the best among grill pans. They warm up perfectly, and such heating is ideal for frying meat. Cast iron is also durable, retains its attractiveness for many years, and special tools are not needed to care for it.
This solid square-shaped product, manufactured by an American company, has a solid handle made of durable material. The grill warms up quickly, which ensures even roasting of food. The pan is suitable for use with induction and gas stoves, and will also be an excellent option for the oven. We can note the durability and good wall thickness, as well as the fact that the model does not require additional care. Several years of active operation do not spoil the attractiveness of the product. The ribbed surface allows the fat to flow out of the food and also gives attractive streaks to the steaks. The pan provides excellent heat distribution and retention for even browning of food.
This very convenient model has a spout for draining fat and sauce. The 2 removable handles with wooden coating are almost not heated, which creates additional comfort. The thin bottom (only 4 cm) makes the structure less heavy, but the products do not burn due to the high-quality coating.
This beautiful cast iron skillet has a square shape. The design includes a spout for draining, as well as two handles - one long folding, and the other shorter. The handles are covered with wood, but despite this, it heats up. The model is suitable for cooking on gas and electric stoves. The inconvenience lies in the fact that the non-removable handle does not allow cooking in the oven. Contradictory reviews indicate some disadvantages: on the one hand, this is a comfortable and high-quality model, while on the other hand, the fragility of the handle makes you act extremely carefully, and some products stick to the surface.
This pan is square in shape. The product is made of high quality cast iron. Instead of one long handle, there are two short ones. The cast iron lid is included, and its tight closure speeds up the cooking time, while maintaining maximum juiciness of the meat. The cookware is suitable for working with any types of stoves and oven. The pan weighs 7.4 kg. Some users complain about such heavy dishes. There is also a strong heating of short cast iron handles, but these shortcomings do not cause claims regarding the quality of the prepared products. Many people like the quality and durability of the product.
This unusual hexagonal model has non-standard dimensions of 35x21 cm.A large working area allows you to easily place a lot of meat and vegetables on it. All the charms of a grill pan are provided: large volume, high-quality casting and spout for draining, comfortable steel handle, as well as compatibility with all types of stoves.
All the excellences of German quality are combined in this frying pan, which can be called eternal. No buyer will ever regret such an acquisition. This heavy round cast-iron pot with a diameter of 30 cm weighs 4.2 kilograms. The expressive relief of the bottom leaves clear stripes on the meat, and solid solid handles will never break.
The cookware is compatible with all types of cooking surfaces.
An alternative to cast iron fixtures are aluminum. There are quite competitive options on the market. Grill pans should certainly have a non-stick surface, but in addition to Teflon, many high-quality coatings have appeared. This marble, and granite, and titanium, and even ceramics. Cast iron cookware is good without an additional layer, but non-stick coating must be present on an aluminum surface.
The size of a square grill pan from a Czech manufacturer is 26x26 cm. A thermochromic indicator located on the handle helps to determine the degree of readiness of the dish. Drain recesses are provided, which are located not on the sides, but in the corners. Four layers of spraying increase non-stick properties.The design has a removable handle, which allows you to cook food in the oven. It is suitable for induction ovens and features a premium ILAG Ultimate finish with mineral reinforcement.
The German company produces aluminum cookware under its own brand, and its products have long been loved by European buyers. The square-shaped frying pan has dimensions of 26x26 cm. Users note its successful design and low weight compared to cast iron. The model differs from competitors with a durable non-stick coating and is suitable for induction hobs.
The square-shaped aluminum grill pan of the well-known manufacturer Tefal has both a branded pan and an indicator of the degree of heating. The non-removable handle is made of bakelite, and a modern titanium non-stick coating protects food from burning. The model is compatible with all stoves - induction, electric and gas. Machine washable and easy to care for. Many users noted such a negative point as the high cost.
This frying pan is made of die-cast aluminium. High-quality titanium non-stick coating allows you to cook without oil.The large height of the ribs and the high rate of heating of the metal provide excellent quality of the finished products. The convenient removable bakelite handle provides additional comfort and is quickly removed if you need to put the pan in the oven. The product is easy to care for: it can be washed in the dishwasher. The model is compatible with induction cookers.
This inexpensive round grill pan of domestic production will be a good gift for any housewife. Product diameter — 240 mm. Compact cookware does not take up much space. Marble and granite coatings make its surface resistant to mechanical damage. The bottom thickness is 6 mm, which ensures good non-stick properties. High sides protect against splashing.
Stainless steel is durable, easy to clean and can be used on all types of cooking surfaces. Stainless steel pans do not spoil the taste of the ingredients with unwanted odors, do not corrode and heat up quickly, which affects the frying speed. One way or another, when cooking, you need to be careful and turn over, for example, pieces of meat in a timely manner to avoid burning.
This German-made stainless steel round pan has a diameter of 280mm. The three-layer non-stick coating, consisting of ceramic and titanium, withstands contact even with metal spatulas.The thickness is 7 mm. The height of the sides is 60 mm. This prevents the fat from splattering while cooking. The plastic handle can withstand heat up to 280 degrees, which does not interfere with use in the oven.
This chic grill, made of quality stainless steel, has a Teflon coating. The thickness of the model is 3 mm without taking into account the corrugated surface. Standard dimensions are 26x26 cm. The presence of such a pan in the kitchen guarantees a very high speed of cooking. Coating up to 35 microns provides high non-stick properties.
Given all of the above, it becomes clear that it is best to buy cookware with non-stick properties, a thick bottom and massive walls. Such models warm up more and give off heat evenly. Square models are considered the most versatile, as they can accommodate a large number of products. In any case, guests will be delighted with aromatic dishes that can remind you of summer picnics even in winter.