Inexperienced housewives may have a question - why do you need a stewpan at all and is there a difference between it and a frying pan? Experienced housewives do not have such doubts. They are sure that even if there are half a dozen pans in their arsenal, they cannot do without a stewpan.

Distinctive features of the stewpan

A stewpan is an absolutely irreplaceable thing in the kitchen. Of course, this statement is more suitable for those who love to cook and spend a lot of time in this activity, who like to experiment, cook dishes of various national cuisines who loves to pamper himself and his family delicious food... If your list of dishes is limited to boiled pasta and fried potatoes, you can do without a stewpan.

So, the stewpan has a number of advantages and features in comparison with a regular frying pan, no matter what brand and quality it is. Let's list them:

1. First of all, the stewpan has thick sides and bottom. Thanks to this, the heat is evenly distributed in it and the food is cooked faster.
2. A stewpan is necessary for dishes, during the preparation of which it is fundamentally important that the liquid is present in the dishes to the end.
3. The stewpan has higher sides, which means that you can cook various sauces and dishes in sauces in it.
4. In a stewpan, unlike a frying pan, there is a wider range of applications: you can cook pilaf, mashed potatoes and even heat soup in it.
5. The stewpan has a very comfortable handle, which pans cannot always boast of.

What is cooked in a saucepan?

So, we figured out what a stewpan is needed for and what are its fundamental features. Now let's turn directly to the dishes that can be cooked in it.

First of all, you will be interested in the question of whether it is possible to fry in a saucepan or is it suitable only for stewing. The answer is unequivocal - of course you can. Indeed, in the cooking process different dishes there may come a time when you need to first fry the product until golden brown and only then start stewing it.

Frying in a saucepan is very convenient because it has a non-stick coating, so nothing will burn for you. Of course, in order not to spoil this layer and allow the dishes to serve it faithfully for many years, you should use special spatulas recommended by the manufacturer. Although modern technologies have already reached such a high-tech level that it is still necessary to try to make scratches on a four- or even six-layer coating.

So, the main purpose of the stewpan is to allow the dish to simmer, which preserves the majority nutrients in food. In such dishes, your food will never burn or dry out.

In the saucepan, you can safely prepare sauces of any complexity, as well as various cereals, vegetables and meat stew, omelets,. There are even special saucepans for the microwave, which further expands their range of applications. They are usually not round, but square or rectangular in shape.

How to choose a saucepan?

If you have come to the conclusion that you need these dishes, you need to learn about the features of the right choice so that you do not have to be disappointed in the future.

So, before buying a stewpan, read its characteristics. First of all, it must be made of a multi-layer material. The non-stick coating should be applied by spraying and not by rolling. Its thickness should not be less than 20 microns. Typically, good quality is evidenced by a coating thickness of 2-2.5 mm.

If you have an induction cooker, then you need a special saucepan, not the usual one, which is designed for use on gas burners and electric stoves.

Pay attention to the pattern or embossed pattern inside the saucepan. Typically, manufacturers do this to improve heat distribution and even better non-stick properties.

Another point: if you plan to cook in a saucepan in the oven, choose a model with removable handles. But at the same time, the handles must be securely fixed so that there are no accidents with burns.

The lid of the saucepan should be made of heat-resistant glass with a stainless rim. Pay attention to the presence of a hole for steam out during cooking.

Evgeny Sedov

When hands grow from the right place, life is more fun :)

Content

The modern housewife has many gadgets in the kitchen that help in preparing hot dishes. One of them is a multifunctional stewpan. This practical cooking container can replace several types with another kitchen utensils e.g. cauldron, skillet, small saucepan.

What is a stewpan

The word stewpan is of French origin Sauté (to jump, bounce) - from one of the cooking methods. In France, mushrooms, vegetables, meat and fish are fried on high fire adding a couple of drops of oil. Due to the high walls of the stewpan, vegetables, meat, fish can be turned over, shaking and without fear that the contents will fly to the floor. The French believe that this way of turning dishes is the key to the appearance of a golden, evenly fried crust.

What does it look like

A stewpan is a low, heavy, thick-walled saucepan that can be considered a type of long-handled skillet. In appearance, such a kitchen product is similar to a deep frying pan (ladle) with a lid, which is equipped with one or more often two handles. Models with one handle are often confused with a regular frying pan, but unlike the latter, the saucepans are heavier. Compared to a frying pan, a saucepan has sides that slope outward. Key Features:

• relatively high walls;
• massiveness - the bottom and walls are made of thick metal or glass (option for a microwave oven);
• various shapes - round, rectangular, oval;
• functionality, because such dishes are suitable for different types cooking;
• can be used for cooking in the oven;
• most models have a heat-resistant thick glass lid.

What is it needed for

The stewpan is a versatile utensil that is used for stewing, simmering, simmering, and browning. Such utensils are also convenient for cooking dishes that require shaking and a high heating temperature. Thanks to the high walls, the dishes cooked in the stewpan retain their juiciness and evenly warm up from all sides.

Due to the high walls (compared to a frying pan), fish, vegetables and meat are slowly stewed in own juice... Thanks to this, the consumption of fat and oil is minimal, and in the end you will receive useful product... In the stewpan, you can simmer food, i.e. boil them in not a large number water in a closed container.

What is cooked in a saucepan

A frying pan-stewpan, according to novice housewives, is suitable mainly for boiling milk, heating water. In fact, the functions of these kitchen utensils are completely different. It is ideal for sautéing, stewing, boiling and roasting a wide variety of dishes. You can cook fish, meat, vegetable stew, a variety of sauces and even pilaf, using as an analogue of a cauldron. The food in the dishes languishes slowly, gradually gaining a rich aroma.

The main purpose of this wonderful hybrid of a frying pan and a saucepan is still languishing, stewing. It is ideal for making delicious cereals, stews, sauces, omelets. Food does not burn during cooking and does not stick to the bottom. In high-quality containers, meat and fish steaks, stuffed and stewed vegetables, poultry and other products retain most of the minerals and vitamins. The stewpan can also be used to heat food such as soup.

Advantages and disadvantages of using

The advantages of this type of kitchen utensil:

• good taste dishes, which is obtained by uniform heating without scorching;
• quick cooking food;
• good non-stick properties, which are provided by a polymer coating or steel, while it cannot be damaged (for example, leave scratches) with metal spoons and forks;
• versatility, because one stewpan is able to replace at least one frying pan and a saucepan, thanks to which additional free space will appear on the shelf or in the cabinet;
• heat accumulation due to the deep shape, thick bottom and the presence of a lid;
• thoughtful design, comfortable handles, steam outlet;
• expensive models are equipped with a thermostat to control the temperature.

Disadvantages:

• heavy cast iron products are very heavy.
• The non-stick coating often contains substances harmful to the body: cadmium, melamine and lead.

How to choose a saucepan

To choose high-quality multilayer coated utensils that will not deform, pay attention to the manufacturer and the material of manufacture. In addition, when planning to order such a kind of deep-bottomed frying pan, pay attention to the shape, size and volume. If the family is relatively small, a product with a diameter of 20 cm and a capacity of 2.5 liters will do. Of no small importance when choosing a saucepan is the presence / absence of a removable handle. On some models of products, a special additional spraying is applied - a polymer sublayer.

Manufacturer

To choose a durable and convenient model in which it is convenient not only to cook, but also to fry, check out the well-known manufacturers of kitchen utensils. The Belgian containers BergHOFF, which use innovative materials, are of excellent quality. The main thing is that each stewpan of this brand is distinguished by ergonomics and a variety of colors and shapes. Rondell products are distinguished by health safety, thick bottom and sides. Vinzer Swiss products are made from high quality food grade steel. Other brands:

• Berlinger Haus;
• Bergner;
• Flonal;
• Scovo;
• Gipfel;
• Mayer
• Pomi d "Oro;
• Berlinger Haus;
• De Buyer;
• Flonal;
• Biol;
• Dobrynya;
• Neva;
• Kukmara.

The purpose

It is also important for which plates the model of interest is suitable. Not all cookware can be used on induction hobs - in this case, a special saucepan will be required. In addition, there are dozens of models that are suitable for electric stoves, gas burners, ovens. Allocate containers for microwave, i.e. microwave ovens- cast glass products are intended for them. You can find out which type of stove the selected option is suitable for, from the characteristics of the product or from the seller. Examples for an induction hob:

• Rondell Latte RDA-286 with titanium non-stick coating and 26 cm diameter;
• Rondell Vintage RDS-353 with multilayer fused bottom and 26 cm diameter;
• Rondell Infinity RDA-574 Non-Stick Coated 24cm Diameter.

Manufacturing material

The stewpan is made of stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, heat-resistant ceramics and glass. It is better to give preference to models made of multilayer stainless steel or aluminum. Products made of heat-resistant glass intended for microwave ovens are outwardly similar to round pots or deep baking sheets if it is a rectangular (square) container without a lid.

Cast iron products are distinguished by the fact that they quickly warm up to the maximum temperature, it is convenient to fry and stew in them. In addition, cast iron cookware can be easily cleaned of residues of fat and oil. Disadvantages are heavy weight and exposure to acidic environments. cast iron is easily oxidized. The aluminum stewpan is light and well warmed up, suitable for boiling and frying meat and vegetables. The disadvantage is the porosity of the material. For ease of care, aluminum cookware of this type is covered with a ceramic layer that can be easily washed from dirt.

Premium products include steel models. Such kitchen utensils are light, their bottom is thickened, and the walls are thin. Polished steel is not subject to mechanical damage and is quickly cleaned of grease. Several models made of different materials:

• aluminum: Regent Denaro 93-AL-DE-2-24, Neva Metal 26 cm, Gipfel VIOLETA 0406;
• steel: Rondell Vintage RDS-353, Tefal Jamie Oliver;
• cast iron: Rondell Noble Red RDI-707, Regent Ferro 93-FE-2-24.

Non-stick coating

Good quality kitchen utensils should have several layers of non-stick coating to prevent the food from burning. It can be titanium, diamond, Teflon, granite chips, marble. The best option the coating is considered to be ceramic or Teflon with granite chips. The thickness of the coating should not be less than 20 µm. Make sure it is done using a roll-to-roll technique, as this option is more reliable than simple polymer spraying.

Pay attention to the interior design or embossed pattern. Manufacturers do this in order to improve the heat distribution process and improve the quality of non-stick properties. That is, the presence of a special pattern is a must if you want the food in the saucepan not to burn. Examples of products with different non-stick coatings:

• titanium: Rondell Latte RDA-286, Rondell Balance RDA-785;
• Teflon: Tefal Tendance black current, Regent Denaro 93-AL-DE-2-28;
• marble: TimA TVS art granit AT-2124, Mayer & Boch MB-25684;
• ceramic: BergHOFF Scala 2307204, Vitesse VS-2265.

Saucepan shape

To make it easier to prepare various culinary masterpieces, decide on the optimal shape of the kitchen utensils. The classic version for cooking, there is a round stewpan, which is presented on the market in a large assortment. No less interesting option will become an oval model. Examples:

• round shape: Seaton Ch2860d, Gipfel TERRA 1447, BergHOFF Cook & Co 2801260;
• oval: Zepter Z-V3060;
• rectangular: WOLL 629SLI.

Cookware diameter

Most of the round-shaped casseroles have a diameter in the range of 12-32 centimeters. The higher this indicator, the heavier and more spacious the option you choose will be. Please note that in too narrow a product it is inconvenient and difficult to fry chops, pancakes. When choosing the optimal diameter, take into account what kind of dishes you are going to cook constantly. Take a closer look at the height of the walls: the low model is suitable for frying, and the high one is universal. Several options depending on the diameter (in centimeters):

• 16: Gipfel PASAT 0540;
• 20: Gipfel VALTERY 0704;
• 22: Regent Denaro 93-AL-DE-2-22;
• 24: BergHOFF Cook & Co 2801260, BergHOFF Neo 3501985;
• 26: Regent Denaro 93-AL-DE-2-26, Scovo Expert SE-016;
• 28: Seaton Ch2860d;
• 30: Kukmara c309;
• 32: Gipfel VIRIDIS 0489;
• 36: BergHOFF Earthchef Acadion 3600039.

Frying pan lid

The presence of a lid will help speed up the cooking process, and a stainless steel edging (rim) will protect it from damage in the form of chips and cracks. In addition to the metal rim, there is also a silicone one. To prevent the contents from spilling out during cooking, the product must have a valve. As for the lid material, the most convenient option is heat-resistant (heat-resistant) glass. Some cookware models are additionally equipped with a temperature indicator.

Removable handles

Thanks to the removable handle, you can easily put the saucepan in the oven or fold and put it on the shelf - in this case, it will not take up much space. The most important thing is that the handle can be easily fixed and removed with the same ease - this will exclude the possibility of burns. Pay attention to the reliability of the fasteners. Ergonomic parameters are of great importance, many modern products have a handle with recesses for fingers, which increase the convenience of using the dishes - it will not slip during cooking and frying. Models with removable handles:

• Kukmara c303;
• Kukmara c306;
• Neva Metal utensils 26;
• Regent Ferro 93-FE-2-24;

Which stewpan is better to buy - top-10

When you decide to add a durable, safe, and unique four- or six-layer saucepan to your kitchen arsenal, check out our list of popular options. Please note that the non-stick coating should be safe and stable, the handles (preferably two) are comfortable and removable, and the container should be optimal for cooking at once for all family members. TOP-10 popular models:

Nowadays, cooking has become a popular hobby from being the daily duty of any housewife. Behind the stove you can now see both women and men, and freelancers, and bank employees. It has become fashionable to master dishes of different cuisines, and along with these skills, new words have firmly entered into everyday life, for example, a stewpan. What is it and how do you use it? This will be discussed later in our article.

Among the kitchen utensils, the stewpan stands somewhat apart. Everyone knows, for example, what a frying pan is. And what a saucepan looks like is also known to many. But here's a strange object - a stewpan. What is this beast? By and large, it is a kind of hybrid of a frying pan and a saucepan. From the first, the stewpan borrowed the shape of the bottom. It should be flat, thick enough so that the heating occurs evenly and gradually, the food does not burn. And from the pan, the stewpan got high sides, which prevent the cooking food from spilling over the edge.

What material should such dishes be made of? The saucepan is usually made of cast iron, dense aluminum, copper, or stainless steel. Its walls should be thick, like the bottom - this is how the state of food will be achieved, for which you need a stewpan. It will heat up evenly and not stick to the walls. For convenience, saucepans are usually equipped with a long handle. This feature makes them similar to frying pans - with very strong heating, it is convenient to remove such dishes from the fire, there is no risk of getting burned.

What is cooked in a saucepan? Such dishes are ideal for dishes that involve stewing, simmering or simmering as a way of cooking. Due to the high walls, drops of liquid during cooking will not splash outside the saucepan, and therefore it is very convenient for cooking all kinds of sauces. Also, such utensils are good for dishes in which you need to save taste qualities food during prolonged cooking.

Small size is another feature of such dishes as a stewpan. What does it mean? That it is great for a small family where cooking in large portions is not necessary. Due to the thick walls and long handle, even a child can cope with such a container, which makes this one suitable for warming up ready-made food. Due to the fact that the stewpan can be sautéed, like in a frying pan, it is convenient to use it for cooking thick soups as well as various stews and roasts.

Most often, a considerable thickness is used in such dishes. Therefore, it does not require special care: the stewpan can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher, use chemical cleaning agents and sufficiently hard sponges for washing. Most often, there is no need to scrape burnt food from the bottom of such dishes, since the thickness of the material prevents burning. And when cooking in it, you can use metal cutlery - they will not damage the bottom and walls of the stewpan. Those who still did not know about such dishes as a stewpan (what it is and how to use it) can now safely add it to the list of necessary kitchen utensils - this small but handy assistant will come in handy for every housewife.

Every experienced housewife knows why a stewpan is needed. And even if they already have a lot of pans in their kitchen, they will not deny themselves the pleasure of purchasing this piece of kitchen utensils. So what is it and what is cooked in a stewpan?

Why do you need a stewpan

For housewives and professional chefs, saucepans are attracted by their versatility. If you need to fry something, you can use it like a regular frying pan. Modern models of saucepans have a multi-layer non-stick coating that is difficult to damage. However, despite this, when frying or stewing in it, you still need to use special blades.

The main purpose of this type of dish is stewing or stewing. It makes excellent stews, sauces, cereals, pilaf or omelet. The food will not stick to the bottom during cooking and will not burn accordingly. Thanks to the special design of the saucepans, the food inside is warmed up evenly and stewed in its own juice. In this case, there is practically no need to add oil. Therefore, food cooked in a stewpan is distinguished not only by its excellent taste, but also by its benefits.

Outwardly, the saucepan resembles an ordinary frying pan with a deep bottom. There can be one or two handles. The saucepan is also much heavier in comparison with a regular frying pan. Among other distinctive features of the stewpan, you can highlight:

1. Massiveness. The bottom and sides of the saucepan are made of thick metal, less often of glass. These utensils can be used to cook food in the microwave.
2. The walls are high and straight. On some models, they may be slightly tilted outward.
3. The saucepan can be round, square, rectangular or oval.
4. The lid is made of heat-resistant glass.

Materials (edit)

The saucepan is used for cooking food on all types of stoves (from gas to induction), in ovens or microwaves. Usually, stainless steel, cast iron, aluminum, and sometimes copper are used for their manufacture. Microwaves can be cooked in sturdy glass models. Most often, there are saucepans made of multilayer materials, covered on top with several layers of polymers.

In a cast-iron cookware, food very quickly heats up to the required temperature, so it is customary to use them for stewing or frying food. Such dishes are easily cleaned of fat. The only drawback of such models is that cast iron is susceptible to an acidic environment in which metal oxidation occurs.

Aluminum models are lightweight and warm up quickly. Therefore, they are suitable for frying or cooking vegetables and meat. Due to the fact that aluminum is a rather porous material, a ceramic coating is usually applied to it, which is easy to clean from any contamination.

The stainless steel casseroles can be used for cooking cereals or making sauces.

The premium class includes saucepans, made of steel, they are relatively light, easy to clean from dirt and resistant to mechanical damage.

Advantages and disadvantages

Knowing what a stewpan is, you can determine its positive and negative sides... The advantages of such dishes include:

• fast food preparation;
• high taste qualities of the dish, since they do not burn and are cooked evenly;
• high non-stick properties;
• thick bottom, high walls and the presence of a lid allow you to accumulate heat;
• versatility - you can boil, fry, stew and bake in a stewpan, so it can be used instead of a saucepan, frying pan and baking sheet;
• perfection of design - functional handles, a lid with holes through which steam comes out, expensive models have a thermostat.

There are not so many disadvantages of stewpan:

• the non-stick coating of some models may contain harmful substances (melanin, lead, etc.);
• cast iron models are quite heavy.

Stewpot selection rules

Due to the fact that there are a huge variety of different saucepans on sale, many may get confused when choosing the best of them. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. The type of stove on which you plan to use the stewpan. As a rule, they are suitable for any stove and oven. For the microwave, you need to choose glass models.
2. Crockery material. Experts recommend choosing those dishes that are made of multilayer steel or aluminum coated with polymers.
3. Cookware diameter. It can be from 12 to 32 cm. It is worth paying attention to the fact that it will be inconvenient to fry many products in a narrow model.
4. The capacity of the crockery will depend on the height of its walls. On sale you can find saucepans from 0.5 to 3 liters. The low-sided models are convenient for frying, while the high-sided saucepans can be used for all types of cooking.
5. The lid ensures fast food preparation.
6. To protect the glass cover from damage, a metal edging is used, and the presence of a valve makes it possible for excess steam to escape.
7. The best non-stick properties are Teflon or ceramic. The thickness of such a coating must be at least 2 cm.
8. Due to the presence of a pattern on the bottom of the stewpan, the food in it will not burn and will heat up evenly.
9. To use the saucepan in the oven, choose models with removable handles.
10. To control the cooking process, especially the temperature, go for models with a thermostat.
11. The instructions for the stewpan should contain information in the absence of harmful substances in the materials.

An easy-to-use cookware hybrid known as a stewpan has long been appreciated by professional chefs. And, if some housewives who do not like to experiment with the home menu, the purchase of a stewpan raises great doubts, then with the catering kitchen the situation is completely different - the owners of the establishments are trying to complement kitchen utensils saucepans.

This convenient and practical cooking container can replace several types of other dishes at once. For example, a saucepan, boiler, etc.