Table of Contents
- Are frying pans supposed to be flat?
- Why a flat frying pan?
- But why frying pans are not supposed to be flat?
- Related Question
- Conclusion
Are frying pans supposed to be flat?
The debate has been around for many years: are frying pans supposed to be flat?
The answer is no. Frying pans are not supposed to be flat. This is because metal expands when heated. The base of the frying pans is designed in a way (mostly kept concave) that can accommodate expansion on heating. If the base were flat, there are good chances that the pan would warp on heavy frying.
Although the general public prefers 100% flat frying pans because they have many advantages, the fact is that frying pans come in many different shapes and sizes with various features.
In this blog post, you will get to know why people prefer flat frying pans, and why they are not supposed to be flat.
Why a flat frying pan?
A frying pan is a cooking utensil with sloping sides that is used to fry food. It usually has low sides that allow oil or butter to drip off as food cooks. People think of frying pans to be flat because the flat ones are the most easily available ones. But why flat and not another shape? Let’s see the reasons
Even spread of oil/butter
Flat frying pan ensures a more even spread of oil or butter because it has a larger surface area. The oil also gets distributed horizontally which makes cooking easier and better.
Some people think that the slope sides give you access to cooking food without sticking your hand in it, but these days frying pans come with lids for easy flipping and tossing.
Even spread of ingredients
If you are adding liquid ingredients to the food being cooked, a flat frying pan will save you from a lot of work. The liquid ingredient i.e. yogurt, milk, water e.t.c will be easily distributed horizontally in large quantities without sliding to one side or center.
Even Cooking
A flat shape facilitates even cooking. The thickness of any food is directly proportional to the time required for cooking. Even heating ensures that all parts of the food are cooked equally, without under-cooked portions or burnt sections.
Easy Storage
Frying pans with flat shapes are easy to store because they can easily stack on top of each other and occupy less space in your kitchen cabinet. If you have a large family then this becomes an important factor.
But why frying pans are not supposed to be flat?
The old adage that “the pan should be flat” might have been true at some point in history but today there are many different shapes available for pots and pans. With the passage of time, people realized that they can cook their favorite meals in more than one way. With the need, rose the invention of different frying pans. Let’s see what the different frying pans are and what do people prefer them:
Angles sauté pans
The most popular shape is called an angled sauté pan because its sloped sides help to trap food within corners of the pan while cooking, minimizing messes and maximizing flavor.
With a flat base and sloppy slides, this pan looks really unique. The depth is greater than the width of the pan which facilitates easy sautéing or pan-frying of food.
Why do people choose them?
There are many different reasons for this which you can see below:
– Food release and toss: The angled sides make it easy to work food around the pan and flip, toss or slide the food out of the pan. Perfect for sauces.
– Integrated handle: The handle on this sautéing pan is designed with a slight bend so that the pan can be easily lifted and moved.
– Versatility: Angled sauté pans can do it all: fry, sauté, stir-fry, and roast foods at home or in a restaurant or cafe environment. It has a large cooking surface which is perfect for searing larger cuts of meat and seafood
Convex pans
This is a pan with sloping sides, but it is flatter than a saute pan. It has a wider base and the sides are not as angled, so less oil needs to be added for cooking.
Why do people choose them?
– Shallower cooking surface: People who like a thick fond on their meats or sautéed vegetables might prefer the convex pan for its slightly shallower cooking surface.
– Easily handled: Also, it is easier to transfer food from the stovetop to the oven with a convex pan than other frying pans like sautéing pans and flat frying pans, as there is greater surface area and less fat which makes this easy.
Stovetop grill pans
A stovetop grill pan has raised ridges on the bottom of it which are made up of metal or ceramic. They are not flat like other frying pans and they usually come with an attached handle.
What do people choose them?
People usually choose to use stovetop grill pans for searing-type foods, but these days people also use them for grilling (which is actually what they are called).
So, now you know why frying pans are not supposed to be flat. This is because non-flat ones have the ability to solve the purpose of any other pan. You don’t have to spend loads of money buying different cooking pans for different jobs, you can do it all with one cooking pan. Non-flat frying pans will also help you in saving time and money. They function and help you cook when flat frying pans fail to.
Related Question
Are non-flat frying pans more expensive than flat ones?
When people get to know about the non-flat frying pans, the first question they ask is: ”are they more expensive?” The answer is ”yes”. Some of them are expensive than the simple, flat frying pans. But the price is always justified. They are made up of high-quality materials so they last longer.
Another thing, you don’t have to buy different cooking pans for different purposes which saves your money. So, it is totally worth the price!
Conclusion
To sum it up, frying pans are not supposed to be flat. If you are living in the past then you can continue frying your food on flat pans, but if you want to live in the present (and future) then it is time for you to upgrade yourself. So, what do you think? Have we convinced you enough that non-flat frying pans are better than flat ones?
If yes, then hurry up and try one today! You’ll not regret cooking with them in your kitchen.
