What is a Stainless Steel Pan?

A stainless steel pan is a type of pan made of a metal core wrapped in a mixture of steel and chromium.  Stainless steel is used on a variety of cookware, including baking sheets, frying pans, saucepans, and stock pots.  Stainless steel pans are durable and long-lasting.  This type of pan heats evenly and cooks food evenly, which is why it is one of the most preferred types of pan.  Stainless steel pans are graded based on the mixture of metals in the pan.  The grades are 200 series, 300 series, and 400 series, with 300 series stainless steel pans being the most popular.

What are Stainless Steel Pans Used For?

Stainless steel pans are used in a variety of ways, depending on the type of pan it is.  A stainless steel skillet is used to brown meats, cook vegetables, and fry foods.  A stainless steel baking sheet is used to bake foods like cookies and pizzas in the oven.  A stock pot made of stainless steel will create soup stock or broth.  People use stainless steel saucepans to reduce liquids into thick sauces or to make small amounts of pasta or other foods.

What are the Different Types of Stainless Steel Pan?

• 304
• 316

304

304 is a type of grade for stainless steel and the most commonly used for cookware like pans.  304 grade is resistant to corrosion because of the combination of metals used in the coating.  

316

316 is another common grade for stainless steel.  This grade is more resistant to corrosion and wear and has one additional metal in the coating than the 304 grade.  Even though it is more resistant to corrosion, this type of stainless steel pan does not show much difference to the 304 grade.

Recipes Using A Stainless Steel Pan

Stir-Fried Noodles with Tofu

In a small bowl, combine serrano chile, soy sauce, honey, and vinegar; set aside. In a hot stainless steel pan coated with peanut oil, fry cubed firm tofu until very crispy. Add the soy and honey mixture and cook at medium heat until it thickens. Then, add cooked soba noodles, tahini, and more vinegar. To serve, top the noodles with pickled cucumbers.

Sautéed Cauliflower

Cut a head of cauliflower into small florets. In a stainless steel pan, add olive oil and then add cauliflower, a splash of water, and cover to steam. Uncover the pan and flip the cauliflower with a spatula to brown the other side. Add garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika to season and stir to coat the cauliflower in the spices Finish the vegetables with a squeeze of lemon or lime before serving.

Sunny-Side Up Egg

Make a simple sunny side egg by heating a stainless steel pan over medium heat with oil. Add the egg, and season with salt and pepper. Fry the egg for a few minutes until the white begins to get crispy at the bottom. Cover the egg for an additional minute or two to cook the top of the egg white. Slide the egg onto a plate and serve with toast and bacon for a complete breakfast.

Ricotta Meatball Soup

Make meatballs by combining ground chuck, Italian sausage, ricotta cheese, panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg, oregano, ground fennel, garlic, and salt. Roll the mixture into small, two-inch balls and set aside In a large, stainless steel stockpot coated in oil, cook the meatballs and brown them on all sides. Add onions to the meatballs and saute until slightly golden, and then add in a jar of marinara sauce and beef broth. Bring the mixture to a boil and add mini lasagna or egg noodles and cook until soft. Serve topped with basil and more Parmesan cheese.