5 Foods You Should Never Cook in Stainless Steel Skillets

Stainless steel skillets are a staple in both home and professional kitchens. Known for their polished look and sturdy build, they are suitable for a variety of cooking techniques. However, stainless steel cookware has its limitations. Continue reading to discover five foods you should avoid cooking in a stainless steel skillet, and the reasons why it's better to choose another type of pan. 

Tomato Sauce

Highly acidic foods, such as tomato sauce, can react with stainless steel over time, leading to discoloration. Additionally, nickel and chromium may leach from the skillet depending on its condition. It's best to use non-reactive cookware, such as enameled, cast-iron, or nonstick pans, for dishes like tomato-based sauces.

Eggs

Eggs tend to stick to stainless steel surfaces, particularly if the pan hasn't been properly preheated or seasoned. A nonstick skillet or a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet that has been used previously is often a more suitable choice for cooking eggs. 

Pancakes

Pancakes, especially delicate crepes, tend to stick to stainless steel skillets, making them difficult to flip. For successful pancake cooking, a nonstick griddle or a cast-iron skillet is a much better choice. 

Fish

While fish can be prepared in a stainless steel skillet, delicate fillets are prone to sticking and may fall apart during flipping. To avoid this, it’s better to use a nonstick or a well-seasoned cast-iron pan instead of a stainless steel one. 

Steak

Stainless steel skillets are capable of handling fairly high heat, but for extreme heat needed for searing, grills are the superior choice. Steak is best grilled to achieve that perfect charred, caramelized flavor and a crispy, grill-marked crust. Grilling also eliminates the need for extra fat to prevent sticking. Additionally, grilling steak creates much less mess than cooking it in a skillet.

Other Mistakes With Stainless Steel Cookware

Now that you’re aware of what foods to avoid cooking in your stainless steel pots and pans, here are a few more helpful cooking tips to remember.

• Don’t use your stainless steel cookware on the grill. While cast-iron skillets can usually handle the intense heat of a grill, stainless steel cookware isn’t designed for that and may warp or get damaged.
• Avoid cooking sprays with your stainless steel cookware. These sprays, which often contain emulsifiers and propellants, can stick to the pan’s surface and be tough to clean off, in addition to oil.
• Don’t cut in the pan. It may be tempting to cut into a chicken breast to check for doneness, but doing so can scratch your stainless steel pan, making it harder to clean and ruining its surface.
• Keep your cookware out of the dishwasher. While it’s tempting to toss your stainless steel cookware in the dishwasher after cooking a large meal, it’s not recommended. Many dishwasher detergents can harm stainless steel over time, corroding the material and making it dull and less effective.