I was surprised at the weight of this pan; I have been a devotee of "Calaphon" for over 20 years.I am starting to convert to stainless little by little.I have some Cuisinart that is also very good, but I like this better.
The handles are angled up which keeps them out of the way and lets them clear other pans on the stove if you have a major cooking project going.The handle also has a gap where it is welded to the pan which lets fluids drain down rather than collect in a pocket.It can make your stove a little messier, but it is easier to keep the pan clean.
The interior is silky smooth and requires just a small amount of oil to keep food from sticking.The recommend that you use non-metalic utensils to keep from scratching it.The heavy layer of copper bonded between two layers of stainless on the bottom works great to distribute heat accross the pan.The side are a single layer of heavy stainless, so they do not get hot and cause food to burn on.
This pan is very well made and should last for a lifetime.
This pan is the BEST frying pan I've ever used. I am blown away by Sitram's commercial line. I compared this pan side-by-side with the All-Clad 11-incher, while baking dutch-style pancakes a great test in how fast the pan fries, as well as how well the heat is distributed and retained.
The Sitram fries more evenly, more quickly, and stays "smoother", i.e. it's easier to clean. I can only conclude that the copper-sandwich layer must be much thicker in the Sitram than the All-Clad. The Sitram (1770 grams) is 20% heavier than the All-Clad (1478 grams), which probablyaccounts for this.
Pancakes (and since that test also steaks, caramelized onions, sauces etc.) fry about 40% quicker.So upon first use of this gem, watch out, and turn the heat down if you're unprepared! It is just astonishing how much better this pan is, and that's while I was satisfied with the All-Clads. This pan will spoil you. Like me, you may never want to go back to anything else.
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There's something about fry pans or skillets that do not make them universally useful. Unlike a saut? pan or a saucier that can hold lots of food, by design you just can't overload a skillet and expect it to work. Its angled low sides are engineered to release as much moisture as possible when frying so you can get a crispy outer layer.
Also, you can't seem to be happy with only one kind of skillet. For example, for frying chicken, chops, steak, hamburgers or the like, you can't beat a well seasoned cast iron skillet. For frying eggs or delicate food, you'll probably reach for a non-stick skillet (sometime called an omelet pan). So, when does one need a stainless steel frying pan? In my case, I use one when I need to fry or sear something crisp and when I want to build a sauce from the flavorful stuff that`s stuck to the pan. I just can't do the same thing on a seasoned cast iron skillet, because the sauce will taste different; besides you really are not suppose to cook anything too acidic or too alkaline on cast iron. On the other hand, since nothing sticks on a non-stick pan, you won't have the good stuff stuck on the pan which will be the base for your sauce.
In all probability, you'll have a cheap iron skillet and a non-stick skillet hanging around and will ask yourself why spend money on a stainless steel skillet when you can buy a more versatile cookware such as a saut? pan or a saucier or even a rondeau? I am not reviewing one's necessity for a stainless steel frying pan. I shall review this 11" fry pan based on its merits and perceived value.
This 11" fry pan is very well constructed. It shares the same benefits (e.g. heat conductivity, heat capacity, heavy weight, and very flat bottom) that other Sitram Catering cookware offer. However, there is one design limitation you must be aware of. The copper disk at the bottom does not cover the entire bottom. The inside diameter of the cooking area is 9 ? in. while the copper disk only covers less than 8 ? in. What does this mean? If you are frying a piece of fish that is wider than the diameter of the copper disk, the sides of the fish not placed over the disc will not cook as well as the part of the fish that is over the disk. Hence, you must be careful not to have food near the sides of the fry pan. IMHO, you do not have the same limitation with a pan that uses a straight gauge or fully clad conductor (instead of a disk). For this reason, I cannot give this frying pan 5 stars.
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I worked in restaurants for many years before going into the federal gov't, and good pans or bad pans would show their true colours over time.
For those w/ any arm/wrist/finger troubles, know that this pan may be uncomfortable to grip the handle, and may be a little too heavy.The handle is not rounded, but thin and rigid for lack of a better word.The Profiserie Sitram line is easier and "softer" to handle. However, this pan is a powerhouse, if you will, and can handle and endure heavy use in the kitchen, which is why it is "commercial grade" in both name and quality.
I would recommend using only wooden spoons and spatulas in this pan. Pure virgin olive oil is the best to use to get the pan going when sautéing, but extra virgin oo is good for lighter cooking or when simmering. Using a wooden spatula (never metal) will keep things from sticking just fine -scrape when necessary w/ the wooden spatula. Do not forget to keep your wooden spatulas/spoons/cutting boards oiled too. (See my other reviews for suggestions on this topic)
Oil sprays are not necessary and only last so long anyway. This pan will become a valued partner in the kitchen. It is a joy to use knowing that you are using a high quality item. It is good to hand wash these pans and to use a little bit of "Bartenders Friend" to keep them shining like new. It is also good not to use high heat, but rather middle heat zones for smooth cooking.
The bottom line is that this pan is perfect, and beats a Tephlon or other nonstick pan in durability without trouble. In addition, unlike the nonstick pans, you do not have to worry about scratching it, no peeling of the coating, and best of all no chemical concerns leaching into your food -there has been much debate/concern about this. I do not use nonstick pans for anything.
I hope this is helpful.
Cheers,
Neil Etter
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This copper-bottomed Catering line by Sitram is the best performing line of cookware around.I have an All-Clad SS skillet that is almost exactly this size and my wife and I both like this Sitram pan quite a bit more than the AC.The thick (~2 mm) copper disc in the bottom of the this pan means that it heats much more quickly and evenly than an aluminum clad pan like AC.When you remove this pan from the heat it cools quickly, too, meaning food stops cooking when you want it too.Also, its quite easy to clean up, probably because the stainless interior seems to be a lot more smooth than in other pans.If you cook often enough to be considering a pan in this price range, just get it.You'll love copper the first time you use it!
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I got this pan because eggs and corned beef hash were sticking to my stainless steel pan.They do not stick to this pan.Pancakes come out well too.It works as well as a teflon pan.So why did I get this pan?Because of PFOA? NO! I don't buy all that bunk.It's like the aluminum pan scares years back which turned out to be unfounded.I got this because I am hoping that the coating will be effective over a longer time.Usually a teflon pan lasts me 2-3 years and those were not cheap, one cost over 125 bucks.That's why I went to stainless but as I say hash was sticking to it and I couldn't get a nice brown on it.I could add a ton of butter but I would rather not.Also this pan is large and well made and I will use it for recipes like Beef Bourgenion.I have not done steak in it as I have a cast iron skillet for that.The instructions say it should not be heated higher than 350F, my cast iron can go to 500F and I like to flash fry my steak.It cleans out with a wipe of a paper towel as stated.The pan is well balanced and sits flat on my electric element even when empty.It is expensive but as I say I paid $125 for a good teflon pan, you get what you pay for.It will take time to see if this was worth it.Now why 4 stars?I like to put some butter or oil in a pan for flavor and I've found it spreads unevenly on this coating.Now I understand you don't need butter or oil but I think it would be nicer if it spread evenly in pan so I knocked it down a star.I would have done a 1/2 star but you can't do that.
