Things to Consider Before Buying a Sauté Pan

You have likely heard of a cooking technique called “dry heat.” Sauteing employs minimal oil and moderate to high heat to brown food quickly. And, not to mention, food cooked this way is both healthy and tasty.

With smooth flips and tosses, those who have perfected this cooking method can keep the food in the pan moving. They employ an intriguing wrist flick that involves quick, jerky, and backward movements.

If you want to try this cooking method, you must get yourself the perfect Saute pan. These days, infinite and endless options make it challenging to select one. They are big, with a wide, flat base and the best part is that they are versatile, as you can use them for various dishes.

Here is a list with six tips to keep in mind while selecting the right pan for sautéing in style.

Keep These Points in Mind Before You Select the Perfect Pan for Sautéing

While buying a pan might seem like a thoughtless decision, there are actually some things you need to think about first. Listed below is everything you need to consider before buying the pan; doing so will make the process much quicker.

1. The Cooktop

When choosing your pan, consider the cooktop you will use it on. Flat cooktops, such as electric ones, work best with pans that have flat, multi-ply disc bases. Pans that are rounded may wobble or spin on a flat cooktop and cook unevenly.

2. The Handle

A long handle on the pan would be extremely helpful to assist the movements required for sautéing. Some handles are designed with ‘traction,’ which is very helpful in handling hot, heavy, and slippery pans. You can also look for a ‘helper handle’ on the opposite side of the long handle. These assist in pouring contents out of the pan.

Handles may also require to withstand oven heat if the pan is to be placed in an oven after the initial stovetop sautéing.

3. The Metal

Anodized aluminium, lined copper, or stainless steel-wrapped aluminium pans are metal pans that conduct heat quickly, efficiently and evenly and are always preferred. Heavy bottom pans are always more expensive.

4. The Lid

Whether the lid is metal or tempered glass, it should be sturdy and snugly fit the pan. There is not much difference between metal and glass because even a glass lid fogs up during cooking and becomes opaque, and you wouldn’t be able to see what’s cooking.

5. The Size

To come as near to a frying skillet as possible, get a mid-size athletic sauté pan. Select a medium-weight pan that is simple to lift and move for the sauteing tossing motions. It must have enough width to fit the ingredients without crowding them.

It is usually measured in quarts and is available up to a 7-quart capacity. 3 to 5-quart pans are usually preferred.

Summing Up

With the above tips, it is easy to select the right pan for sautéing, whatever your requirements.

Getting the perfect pan is relatively easy. If you follow these points, you will certainly get the right one. Remember that it would be good to consider what you enjoy cooking or what you’d like to cook more of. And then select the pan; it will help you get one that’s more reliable.