History Of Skillets

In the late 17th and late 18th century a skillet was a cylindrical vessel having a hinged lid, a handle and sometimes feet. Later skillets had a flat bottoms used on hearths. New cook stoves with flat cooking surfaces called "dampers" came in to use in the 18th century.

A skillet is a flat bottom pan used for frying food items; often called a frying pan or simply a fry pan. The skillet sides are smaller, which flare outwards slightly. It is an open pan with no lid and has a long handle. Skillets have a variety of purposes in terms of cooking but mostly for frying and browning methods during cooking. There are many types of skillets available with various dimensions in the length and width of the circular sides. Newer skillets come with an angular handle for better usage and handling. Make sure your handle is ovenproof if used in today's ovens.

Cast Iron and Copper Skillets

A skillet is popular with chefs all over the world, more so with chefs preparing meat dishes. Skillets traditionally produced from copper and cast iron, however today many other different metals are used. Copper is popular due to its excellent heat conductivity, although popular, copper skillets need extra care in cleaning and general maintenance due to tarnishing which requires polishing regularly.

Cast iron skillets have a major worry of rusting if washed from time to time. Chefs wipe the cast iron frying pan after every use but there is a chance that previous frying may affect the next frying session in terms of taste.

 Cast iron was invented in China during the 5th century BC. Poured into molds it made ploughshares and pots as well as weapons and pagodas. Although steel was more desirable, cast iron was cheaper and thus more commonly used for implements in ancient China, while they used wrought iron or steel for weapons; cast-iron skillet may seem like an old-fashioned cookware choice. However, this dependable object is necessary in the modern kitchen. Cast iron conducts heat beautifully, seamlessly transitions from stovetop to oven and lasts for decades. In addition, cooking with cast iron can be good for your Health.

Other Metals Used for Making Skillets

Aluminum often used requires very little maintenance, and like copper is an excellent conductor of heat. However, if you take durability, heat conductivity and maintenance in to the scheme, skillets made from stainless steel are still better and more popular.

During cooking, aluminum dissolves most easily from worn or pitted pots and pans. Leafy vegetables and acidic foods, such as tomatoes and citrus products, absorb the most aluminum. Cooking or storing food in aluminum pans for a long period of time is not advisable due to absorption of small amounts of the metal.

Teflon Coating Used in Skillets

Skillets used for frying, have a constant problem of food material sticking to its surface. Along came the skillets with a non-sticky coating known as "Teflon" coating. The only problem with this non-sticky coating is that it may peel off after a considerable amount of usage and may and will scratch easily by use of metal tools therefore, recommended are specialty tools or wooden spoons.

The type of skillet for usage is a personal question as some people are used to a certain type of metal-made skillet. If we are talking about numbers, the Teflon coated skillet is one of the most popular.

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