Do you know a brand of non stick pan which is REALLY non stick?
By shelagh77
@shelagh77 (3643)
April 23, 2007 6:49pm CST
I enjoy cooking and can use all the pans three times over on a busy day. I bought a reasonably good brand of non stick saucepan, Prestige, but scrambled eggs and custard both stick, and I have a devil of a job removing them. No, I do not burn things, I just find these two items in particular stick, and the pans have a very short life, no more than six months.
I do everything they tell me to do when I buy the pans, season them, wash them in warm water, soak them first if I am not going to be able to wash them immediately. After all, a Gal does like to eat her food hot occastionally.
No use. The latest pans are looking very much the worse for wear. So do you know of a brand which starts off non stick and looking good and stays that way?
6 people like this
16 responses
@jwfarrimond (4473)
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24 Apr 07
I really don't like non-stick pans very much because the coating never seems to last very long and you have to be careful not to use any metal implement on them. I use stainless steel whenever possible, easy to clean and no worries about damaging them.
3 people like this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
That is the problem. Non stick isn't non stick and my scrambled eggs would probably make good superglue! Funny thing is, the egg that is eaten is loved by all, and guests often request this when I ask what they would like to eat. It is just that bit that is on the pan. Immovable!
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
Hi Shelagh. I love the Scanpans which are Scandinavian and I think are made in Denmark. They are expensive, but since they last for a lifetime, they work out cheaper than others over a number of years. The don't stick, or warp or lose their coating.
A cheaper alternative is Tefal. They will last a few years and are pretty good as far as non-stick goes. They might warp or buckle slightly but usually only if you put cold water in the hot pan.
If you can afford it, Scanpan is the best value for money provided they get plenty of use over a number of years.
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
Thank you for that, it is yet another brand I have never encountered and I do intend to try most of these brands. Apparently my cold water plunge immediately after dishing up the food is hastening the ruination of all my pans! I learned something from these posts that will help me every day, and save me money long term, not bad for a free site that pays to post, is it?
@caribe (2465)
• United States
24 Apr 07
In reading your description one thing jumped out at me that could be the problem. You mentioned that if you weren't able to wash them immediately that you soak them first. If you put the pans in water before they cool down, the teflon will start peeling or chipping off. This could be the problem. Otherwise, it sounds like you did everything right. It seems like teflon doesn't last very good anyway. IQVC.com claims to have a teflon pan that can be used with metal utensils. It is called Cooks Essentials. I always wanted to try them, especially since they have a warranty, I think.
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
8 May 07
Yes, I was going to say that you should never cool down a pan with cold water but allow it to cool naturally. Doing so will ruin the pan. Also, I have a friend that has used the cookware from QVC, she says that you really can use metal utensils and she loves them. She recommended the pans to me. I have yet to order, but I may.
2 people like this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
Wow! I did not expect to learn so much when I started this discussion. I just expected the names of pans but I have learned about coating them with a light film of oil and now that when I think I am being clever by plunging them straight into cold water to soak I am in fact doing even more damage. Mind you, that is about typical for me. If there is a wrong way to do it I shall surely find it.
Thank you both for that, I shall certainly bear it in mind every day when I cook.
@caribe (2465)
• United States
8 May 07
The quick heat change from hot to cold blisters the teflon and then it starts peeling. I really think that the Cooks Essentials from QVC would be my first choice if I was in the USA now. They aren't available to me here in Nicaragua unless I purchase them over there and bring them here.
1 person likes this
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
24 Apr 07
your pans sound like mine but eggs dont stick I use olive oil in them. But soon they get little pin holes going all over I know some one has used a fork! naming no one.WE pay about $10 for one and I dont remeber the name think something like Rival Something like that might br revere know it started with a R lol
They might last a year I have one of the first they came out with and it is 40 years old some of the non stick has come off and its not to hard to clean either
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
It is strange, the pan companies do give general care of their pans but none mention the oil trick! I am definitely going to do that in future and when I do finally get my new pans I shall be doing that every time!
We don't get the fork holes because we use the plastic utensils, but I do get stuff well and truly stuck!
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
17 Nov 07
Now that after we talked about the pin holes and I know who done it.
We have a Goerge FOreman grill that is getting hard to clean even with the pads that came with ti to clean it and as I havent cooked on it for 2 months or washed it. We have figured what wasnt comeing off good was the Garlic that Jimmy was putting on his burgre while on the grill not before also found out he wasnt letting it heat up before grilling grrrrrrrrrrrr. Now we are goin gto have to buy another and I love it so easy to clean when done right and regular and heated right So I might be looking fo rone for Christmas now lol
hugs
@1983tyler (507)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I don't think there is a truly non-stick pan. My husband uses non-stick spray on his non-stick egg pans. He says it is the only way to keep the eggs from sticking. (my husband likes to cook breakfast)
2 people like this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
But does he like to wash up? Other half loves cooking but he doesn't half make a mess. He uses just about every plate, fork, knife, pan and bowl! It looks like the scene from a disaster movie!
@winewhisky (345)
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24 Apr 07
My cast iron pans are the best. Even if it burns, you can still get the burnt stuff off them so they are the pans I can't destroy. :) Ordinary non-stick pans I tend to have to replace quite often, so I just buy cheap ones now from the supermarket.
@shorva (923)
• Philippines
24 Apr 07
I know Tefal is good brand. It might be a little expensive but it's a good brand. Mine is like over 6 years old and it works as good as brand new. I never have to use non-stick spray and I never had problems with any food I cooked sticking on it. I don't do anything special with cleaning too, I just let it cool after I cook and clean it with sponge. We bought cheap ones before and this are the kind that doesn't last long, barey a year. I wanna get a complete set but it's gonna cost me a lot. I hope to get it someday.
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
That does sound good. I have never heard of the oil trick before but you seen to not even need that, which has to be good. I am looking up all the brands mentioned here and am going to try some of them out when there are sales, just to see if any can withstand my scrambled eggs technique!
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
24 Apr 07
Yes I enjoy cooking a lot as well but when it come to non stick pans some of them say this but are not I use breville non stick pans and they do the job for me properly, most of these modern non stick pans do not do the job like they use to and can drive you nuts and cost you a lot of money.
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
I do not like waste and throwing away pans simply because they can not be used as everything sticks really does annoy me. I enjoy cooking, but as with many other cooks, I detest the washing and clearing up, and when a pan takes about half an hour to clean up I end up quite cross.
I have made a list of the brands and I am keeping an eye out for small pans to try out some of them, and if the small pan bears up I may buy a whole range of them, once I have found a new home and moved. If I survive the move and do not end up packed in a box myself . . .
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I use pots and pans by T-Fal. These are great pans to me. I don't have to add grease to these pans. They are a breeze to clean up. I have already made mac and cheese and left the pot over night. I never even soked it. I just added hot water and took a wash rag around the pot, one, two, three all clean. I do pay a little for these pans. I just bought a large frying pan and it was $30.00. I try to watch for sales and every once in a blue moon they run a rebate on these pots.
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
We used to have T-Fal over here, but I haven't seen the brand for a while, I wonder if it goes under a different name in the UK nowadays. It is certainly worth keeping in mind. I use plastic utensils but mine soon get scratched.
@stefan_diego (556)
• Canada
24 Apr 07
My mom uses Lagostina brand and it seems ok. Actually i think all of the non-sticky pans are ok until it wears down & the non-stick coating finally peels off then it would stick.
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
Yet another brand I have never seen, I am going to have fun tracking some of them down to try. You are right that non stick never seems to stay that way, but maybe it is me. I do shove them straight into cold water to soak, and apparently that is one of the worst things you can do! I shall not be doing that and I shall be using oil, so I shall see how much better things get!
@creematee (2810)
• United States
24 Apr 07
My MIL has a set of Calphalon pans that she absolutely loves. I've used them, and they do work. I would still suggest spraying with PAM or other cooking spray if cooking eggs but they work really well. Here is a link to a set that is on amazon.com. They are reasonably priced, I think.
http://www.amazon.com/Calphalon-Commercial-Nonstick-12-Inch-Omelette/dp/B000AQJT10/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-4081833-6180145?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1177374094&sr=8-2
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
That is another brand we do not have over here but I do have access to Amazon and they are certainly in the list of possibles! Since we are now moving house some time next year I am not going to buy until we have moved - knowing my luck the pans would either get lost or the box they were in would be dropped, or some other calamity. I am keeping a list of all these tips and also noting what friends have in their homes, although they know my reputation as "the Cremation Queen" and most of them will not let me near their pans lol.
@browneyedgirl (1264)
• United States
23 Apr 07
I don't know of any non-stick brand that stays non-stick for long. I also saw a television special some years ago about the toxins that we end up ingesting from non-stick pans as they get worn and scratched. I prefer stainless steel cookware because it's clean(no toxins), and it cleans just as easily as non-stick. If you spray the cooking surface with a little cooking oil-or a nonstick spray, your food won't stick-and it won't be full of toxins from the pan either. Another bonus is that the stainless steel stays looking good with care.
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
Sorry for the delay in return, home life went hectic! Thank you for that, especially the tip that a little cooking oil will stop sticking. I have particular problems with scrambled eggs and custards, so I shall definitely try that.
We are moving house next year and once that has all settled new pans are near the top of the priorities,but I shall try the tip on my old ones and who knows, I may even decide to keep them!
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
24 Apr 07
Even though the pans say no-stick i still spray them with cooking spray. The pans I love the most though are my cast iron pans.
@winewhisky (345)
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24 Apr 07
I use cast iron pans but I cook on gas so they heat up quickly. Cleaning - just like any other pans. I put mine in the dishwasher unless I've really burnt them, then I have to soak and scrub them.
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
I must be the only person who does not know the cooking oil routine! It is interesting that the pans do not usually need any special care and you can even dish wash them. I am certainly missing a few tricks in the pan department, that is for sure!
@CookieWookie (136)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I have always used 'Pam' and have rarely had a problem with sticking I even bake cakes with 'Pam' and they fall right out after baking.
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
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16 Nov 07
That is another brand I have never heard of and I do not think they make that brand in the UK. I am going to investigate to see whether the brand is known by a different name here. Thank you for that, another avenue for me to explore in my quest for scrub free after cooking experiences :-)
@eagle_f15 (1827)
• Malaysia
11 Apr 08
Tefal is a good brand. I am using it everyday. It is as it says Non Stick.
