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Non-stick pans are a household essential, but with the variety available, selecting a good and safe one is crucial. Here are some ways to make the right choice for your family.
1. Choosing a Safe Non-Stick Pan: 5 Expert Tips
Non-stick pans are a household essential, but with the variety available, selecting a good and safe one is crucial.
The materials used for pans mainly include 3 types:
- Cast Iron Pan: A heavy pan with good heat retention, suitable for long cooking. More suitable for restaurants than households.
- Aluminum Pan: Light, quick heat conduction, retains heat for a long time, and has a relatively high lifespan. You can choose this type for your family.
- Stainless Steel Pan: Moderate weight, lower heat conduction than aluminum pans, but retains heat for a long time and has a high gloss, making it easy to clean.
2. Non-Stick Layer of the Pan
The non-stick layer of the pan is the most crucial factor for its durability. There are 3 main types of non-stick layers:
- Heat-resistant Non-Stick Coating: A special coating with good heat resistance and non-stick properties. However, some pans in the market have a glossy coating that looks similar to the standard non-stick coating of reputable brands but is of low quality and inexpensive.
- Stone-patterned Non-Stick: A non-stick layer coated with granite stone is often layered multiple times. This type of non-stick has a relatively long lifespan.
- Ceramic Non-Stick: A non-stick layer coated with ceramic. If produced to the standard, it is considered the best non-stick type today with various colors, a smooth glossy surface, excellent non-stick properties, and high heat resistance.
3. Types of Pan Bases
After the non-stick layer, the base of the pan is the next crucial aspect. The base comes in three main types:
- Integrated Molded Base: This type has a base molded together with the body into one solid piece, ensuring sturdiness. If the base is coated with enamel or made from magnetizable metal, it can work well on induction cooktops. However, this type of pan tends to be relatively expensive.
- Attached Base: This type has a base attached to the body using welding technology, commonly used for stainless steel pans. It offers good heat transfer, is versatile with different cooktops, and remains undistorted during use.
- Attached Base with Glue: This type has a base attached using standard welding technology and is often used for inexpensive non-stick pans found in markets. While it is cost-effective and comes in various designs, its quality is poor, and it tends to deform over a short period of use.
4. Pricing of Non-Stick Pans
Non-stick pans come in various price ranges. Goldsun advises against purchasing very cheap pans, as price and quality usually go hand in hand. It is recommended to choose a non-stick pan with a price starting from 200 or above from reputable brands to ensure the health of the whole family.
5. Size of Non-Stick Pans
Non-stick pans are categorized into frying pans and sauté pans based on the needs of each family. The common size of pans ranges from 20cm to 30cm. For example, if your family has 4 members with a primary need for fried dishes, you should choose a non-stick frying pan with a size between 22cm and 28cm, which is suitable.
Avoid selecting pans that are too small, as it can be inconvenient when you need to cook for more people.
