02/11/2026
🍳Tips for cooking on stainless steel! 🍳
BOOKMARK TO SAVE THIS FOR LATER
If you’re completely new to cooking on stainless steel pans, here are the very basics:
1. Preheat your pan. When heating up, the metal will expand and close up microscopic pores on the surface. When too cold, the tiny gaps cause the food to stick
2. The water drop test. I do this test every time I cook on stainless pans. Drop a small amount of water onto the hot pan. If it sizzles and evaporates, it’s not hot enough. If it beads up and dances around the pan, you’re ready to cook.
It’s called the Leidenfrost effect
3. Do I need Oil/Fat ? Yes, you do. The oil/fat aids in filling those tiny pores and prevents your food from bonding directly to the pan by creating a smooth layer between your food and the metal. Make sure to add your oil/fat AFTER your pan is preheated.
“How do you scramble eggs on stainless?”
When preheating stainless steel pans there are a few ‘levels’ of heat you are aiming for.
1. 160-180°C. Perfect for proteins, eggs (with enough fat), sautéing.
2. 190-200°C. For searing, getting a crispy crust and browning.
Obviously no one will be standing near their pan with an infrared thermometer so as a general rule of thumb, to reach 160-180°C heat your pan on medium for 2-3 minutes. I will check 1-3 times with the water drop test until it barely reaches temperature, dry up any residual water and add my fat in followed by whatever I’m cooking.