Buying a new frying pan

[Alastair]

This may seem to be a rather mundane post but it's made me think seriously about my kitchen equipment.

When I first got my house in Canada I had no kitchen equipment at all as it was still sitting in Scotland awaiting my instructions to ship it. That meant I had to at least purchase a few pots and pans and some other items.

Well the frying pan I was using was a non stick one and to be frank it really wan't that good. Over just a few years the non stick had gone and it just wouldn't sit horizontal on my stove top so the right hand side was always a wee bit up in the air.

I kept meaning to purchase a new one but just didn't get around to it.

Well the other week I was talking to an ex chef who was talking about kitchen equipment and how in his view it was important to buy quality as in the long run it pays of.

He mentioned a store in Chatham that specialised in Kitchenware so I decided to look in when I got the chance and so last week I managed to visit and indeed I did purchase a new 11.5" frying pan.

The thing is that it is way better than my old pan and as it also has a metal handle I can also put it into the oven. It's also much heavier so that means it will sit horizontal on the stove top. Its got a granite ceramic coating so will last for years and take more punishment.

And as it's a bit larger in size than my old frying pan I can actually get more bacon into it for my favourite bacon sandwiches.

So all and all it was a superb purchase that will make my life a wee bit easier.

However that purchase made me think that you get what you pay for. The other issue I have is keeping my kitchen knives sharp as to me they are always somewhat dull so slicing up vegetables, etc is always a wee bit difficult. I've just lived with that situation but now I'm thinking about heading back to see what they can offer on knives.

And perhaps its time for me to get a blender?

Alastair

[Euan]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

Couldn't agree more Al, we only use high quality kitchenware. We replaced our oven and cooktop with a new induction oven and cooktop. in doing this we had to replace all our stainless steel pots and pans for ones that had a special base that work on induction cookers.The benefits of the new oven and cooktop are many.. Firstly, the oven self cleans, so you only have to wipe out a small amount of residue after the cleaning cycle. Also, the cooktop heats and cooks so much quicker, and it's safer, if you remove a pot it automatically turns the heat off. And the pots all go in the dishwasher afterwards.
We also had the problem of blunt knives, so we purchased a chef quality knife that doubles as a carving knife and a general use knife, included in the purchase was a special sharpener,the knife is so sharp it's scary.
We have nearly eliminated all the cheap quality appliances, usually because the only lasted a short time.
Having said all this the original oven was supposed to be high quality european stuff, and the dishwasher we had gave us no end of trouble, but i think it was just a lemon, as the new one we got was the same brand and has worked perfectly now for a couple of years.

[sandyc]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

remember not to use metal implements on the non-stick pans...
Sandy

[Alastair]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

The girl in the shop mentioned that but they'd just run out of the flipper but were getting new stock in 4 weeks so I'll be back to get that. She said she had the same problem in that the flippers were usually too flexible and so wouldn't actually do a decent job in flipping food and so she found this one which is a bit more rigid.

Alastair

[Alastair]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

I'll definitely be getting new knives next week Euan and will be looking at my pots and pans. No sure about getting a new cooker though.

Alastair

[Glesgalass]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

It's true about good pots & pans lasting a long time. I have a full set of stainless steel, copper based which I bought nearly 35 years ago and am still using today, even the frypan. If you buy the knives which come housed in a sharpener which sharpens it every time you take it out and put it back in, they will last too. One the the best buys I ever made was my stainless steel electric frypan......God knows how long I've had it but it has to be at least 20 years and it's still perfect. Blenders are cheap here. You can buy one for $25.

I haven't cooked vegetables on the stove top for more than 20 years. I do them all in the microwave with just a sprinkling of water (cover with plastic wrap). It's equivalent of steaming them.....much better for you. In fact, there are plastic bags you can get now in which you can cook vegetables in the microwave like those ones you can buy in the freezer section of the supermarket only you use your own vegetables and they only take minutes.

I rarely use my oven as I cook things like roasts as pot roasts. They don't shrink the same and you get the gravy to thicken plus you don't need to clean ovens. About the only things I cook in the oven are cakes or baked vegetables.

Elda

[Euan]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

Al, i believe we have good knives that can be sourced in Canberra Aust...there is a particularly sharp one still embedded in the back of our ex Prime Minister Kevin Rudd..:sly:

[Alastair]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

I never really learned to do oven cooking as the time of my life when I was learning to cook the furnished flat I rented came with a cooker but the oven didn't work.

I usually cook my vegetables along with potatoes. So if the veg needs 5 minutes then I pour them in within 5 minutes, or whatever length they need to cook, of the potatoes being ready. I also do that with boiled eggs, cook them along with the potatoes.

I also prefer pot roasts but that's the oven thing again. Mind you I will do a leg of lamb in the oven but wrapped in tin foil.

And their was some mention of Australian politics in the BBC World news the other day suggesting knives were out <grin>

Alastair

[Rick]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

Nothing beats a properly seasoned and cared for cast iron frying pan. Those non-stick, Teflon marvels never seem to last more than a couple years and who knows what they impart into our food. I have three cast-iron pans of different sizes that have been in constant use for as long as I have, and that's getting to be quite awhile! Just be sure never to use soap when you clean them or to grab the handle when they're hot!

[FriedaKateM]

Re: Buying a new frying pan

Hey, I agree with Rick. I have a large square cast iron skillet, in which I used to do up a whole frying chicken, cut into pieces. I also used it to make a crusty corn bread, very good browning. I don't cook that way much anymore, as I can't eat all that much. But I also have a small cast iron grill skillet, & a slightly larger grill skillet, that I do pancakes on. Tonight I cooked salmon patties on the one. Great taste. Also have a very old cast iron pot with a bail, & a lid. I got that at a yard sale years ago. I make soups, etc., in that. The cast iron actually adds iron to your food, especially if you are making something like chili, with tomatoes in it. When the heat finally goes out of them, I used a dish cloth, with a bit of the dishwater, & wipe them off, rinse slightly, & dry, & put it on the stove, on minimum heat for a few mins. Then turn it off. Let it lose the heat, & put away. It is important with a new one, to "season" it, with oil or shortening, but there's directions on the new ones to follow. Let us know what you do purchase.