Michelin Star Meal From Home: A Guide to Saute Pans and Their Uses
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It’s easy to get lost in the world of kitchenware. Pots, pans, skillets – all these tools are meant to make our daily lives simpler, but sadly, the countless choices we have can get overwhelming even for professional chefs.
Sometimes all you need is a piece of cookware where you can throw all of your ingredients in and end up with a perfectly delicious meal, with time to spare for an episode of your favourite show before you hit the housework grind. And that’s precisely what a saute pan is – versatile, simple, and just the thing you need for a quick meal.
Stir up some fried goods or make some delicious ramen in just a couple of minutes by adding a sautepan to your kitchenware collection!
What Is a Sauté Pan?
source: kitchenwarehouse.com.au
A sauté pan is a fancy name for a fairly simple cookware tool. The term comes from the French phrase “to jump”, which is a reference to the way food jumps in the pan when it’s cooked at a high heat.
Sauté pans are a type of cooking utensil with a flat bottom and straight, vertical sides. They’re often used interchangeably with skillet; however, the two aren’t the same. But they do possess some similar qualities.
They are both circular pans with a long handle that provides a gripping surface while cooking. Skillets and saute pans also share their versatility and the materials they are mainly composed of. But that’s where the similarities end.
Sauté pans are much deeper, allowing them to be used as both pots and pans. They also come with a lid and oftentimes an additional, smaller and circular pot-like handle on the opposite side of the long one.
Their versatile design and non-stick, stainless-steel composition make them ideal for use by anyone, from Michelin-starred restaurant chefs to casual home cooks.
What Is a Saute Pan Used for?
The pan’s unique design makes it one of the most versatile cooking tools available. You can use them for their namesake, or you can use them for a wide range of other cooking tasks, such as:
- Sauteing is a technique that gets its name from the same French phrase “to jump”, and is the most commonly associated with sauté pans. To sauté foods means to cook them quickly over high heat in a small amount of fat, like oil or butter.
- Frying foods has never been easier than with sauté pans. Their tall sides keep the oil from spilling over the stove, and the stainless-steel material keeps the pan hot at just the right temperature.
- Braising is a two-step technique for cooking delicious meals. This technique is ideal for cooking tough meat into tender dishes. For the best outcome, first brown the food in a hot sauté pan by searing it, and then you add a liquid and let it cook slowly with a covered lid.
- One-pan meals are a go-to after a rough day at work. When you come home tired and just want to throw some ingredients together for a simple meal, reach for your sauté pan. Its large surface area accommodates a larger amount of food, while the evenly distributed heat ensures that no single side is left undercooked.
- Oven cooking is also a great way to put your sauté pan to use. They are usually made from oven-safe materials and are perfect for roasting vegetables or baking a fresh batch of lasagna.
What to Look for in a Saute Pan
source: kitchenwarehouse.com.au
Before you go and buy yourself a saute pan to add to your collection of cookware, you should consider a few things, such as:
1. Material Composition
Sauté pans, just like any other cooking utensil, are made from different material compositions depending on their use and user preference.
They’re most commonly composed of stainless steel, as it’s one of the most popular cookware materials.
Stainless steel is durable, tolerates high heat, and allows heat to evenly spread throughout the pan, cooking food equally everywhere.
Often, you can find saute pans made of a cast iron core and enamel coating for a non-porous surface that prevents rust and eliminates the need for seasoning.
Saute pans can also have a non-stick (usually ceramic) coating to eliminate the need for excessive oil use while cooking.
2. Size Variety
When it comes to cooking, sometimes you need to make a meal just for yourself, and sometimes you need to feed your family. For that reason, you can find saute pans in different sizes and capacities depending on how much food you want to cook with them.
Small pans are typically up to 20cm and can hold up to 3 litres of contents. These saute pans are great for cooking for 1 person.
Medium pans are a great all-purpose size to reach for. They can cook up to 5 litres of contents and are great if you are cooking for yourself and your partner.
Large pans are most often used in professional kitchens and for cooking for family gatherings. They are over 30cm wide and hold well over 7 litres of contents.
3. Different Features
Sauté pans are highly customisable pans, and you can find many variations of them. Whether it’s handle placement or lid type. Look for what best suits your needs and what type of saute pans you feel most comfortable using.
Conclusion
In the end, cooking shouldn’t feel draining. You should have fun experimenting with different tools and unique flavours.
Sauté pans are versatile and simple, allowing you to cook, bake, and fry all while keeping your kitchen mess-free with their practical design. Invest in one for a delicious meal each time.
