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25 Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet (Read 18171 times)
Oldie Moldy
Inukshuk
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Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Jun 18th, 2012 at 1:45pm
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I get exasperated with what passed for cooking pots and pans now-a-days. The accent seems to be on light weight and the functional aspect comes in way second. What I've wound up doing is going to the local thrift shop and adapting regular cooking ware to my camping needs. Now I absolutely agree it's heavy but I feel it's worth it for a kit that works.
Up till recently I've had only spotty luck with frying pans; a lot of sticking and subsequent scraping. The newest frying pan had been badly abused and after I got it all cleaned up and tried it out, it too stuck with the best of them. It's a quality pan; Revere Ware with a copper bottom to even out the heat so what is/was going on? Well, after asking several good cooks the distillation of advice seems to be: surface of the pan and temperature and oil.
My skillet was clean but the surface had a multitude of small scratches from the scouring. Using very fine (1400 grit) emery paper I polished it to a very passable mirror finish.
Now about the heat and oil; heat the dry pan up to about what the cooking temp will be and then add the oil. Note: if the oil turns brown to black you are way too hot.
Something about the hot pan will allow the oil (pam in my case) to adhere better and then you add the food food to be cooked.
Well, it flat blew my sox off, the eggs and then the cornbread slid off the skillet so slick! Now, no doubt in the future I'll manage to stick things again but at least I have a direction to work towards.
Best Wishes, Rob
  
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db
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Inukshuk
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #1 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 6:56am
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Not very familiar with SS but have heard the same timing suggestions about cast whatever pans and not to wash them with detergent. Nonstick coatings IMO don't like to be heated empty and on a campfire. They might get too hot if you don't pay attention.

Never used 1400 grit wet/dry but I know a buffing wheel and various polishing compounds (up to Jewelers Rouge) can do great things to embossed glass bottles after grinding off the embossing. I assume SS could take the same treatment. Whatever works for you is great!

I currently have a small/light no stick pan I kept because it snuggled my pots really well. It still works as advertised after I don't know, 3, 4, 5 years? It's thin though so it requires attention.

All I know for sure is if it ain't broke, count your blessings and enjoy.
  
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PhantomJug
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #2 - Jun 20th, 2012 at 1:50pm
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I was told; "hot pan - cold oil" when using a SS fry pan.  And, I bet Snow_Dog can give you the best method for seasoning a SS pan.
  
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Snow_Dog
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #3 - Jun 21st, 2012 at 7:30pm
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Actually I never use stainless steel.  I got a quality non-stick pan quite a few years ago (I forget what the name of the good stuff was at that time...it constantly changes) and I keep it wrapped in a cloth dishtowel for travel. I bet I've had it for 15 years and it's still going strong.  For that longevity, it was worth shelling out a few bucks over the minimum.  Plus, it performs flawlessly.  Nice, even, steady heat with no hotspots.

The thicker the metal the better.  Heavy, yes, but won't warp under high heat.  With non stick, you put the oil in the cold pan.  It's not good to heat nonstick without something in it.
  
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Old Salt
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #4 - Jun 21st, 2012 at 10:38pm
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I use a T-Fal non-stick skillet. Have had it for many years, and like SD, I keep it padded with dishtowels or hotpads. Mine is square, which I'm not sure is made anymore.
  
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Marten
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #5 - Oct 12th, 2013 at 4:45pm
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I "borrowed" a ten inch Ross Guss Italian made non stick pan from my wife's kitchen supply a few years ago. It's wooden handle come's off so it nests in my bucket near the top. I could never find any more but lately she has found some at T-J-Maxx. It is a smaller version of the one I borrowed from her. This is 8 inches and is the same die cast aluminum. I will need to fashion a lid for baking and steaming but for $10 sale price these are quite a bargain.
  
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Puckster
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #6 - Oct 12th, 2013 at 11:55pm
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I use an REI teflon fry pan. It's been through the wars and despite my lack of care, the pan still manages to do just fine. 

I agree with DB... I don't think heating a "teflon-type" fry pan dry on the fire would be advised. 

prouboy
  
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Kerry
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #7 - Oct 13th, 2013 at 3:41pm
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Almost all my tripping is tandem with my wife.  The problem with most camping fry pans is they don't come bigger than 10 inch and are desperately thin.  In the end I just went and got a T-Fal 12" non stick and removed the handle.  Like SD and OS I keep mine in a bag for protection and have been using it for years without a problem.
  
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Puckster
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #8 - Oct 15th, 2013 at 2:42am
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Kerry -- got a picture of the pan?

prouboy
  
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Kerry
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Re: Sticking Stainless Steel Skillet
Reply #9 - Oct 15th, 2013 at 12:49pm
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I do.  But can you tell my how to post a photo like you did?
  
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