What do you have to do before opening a frying pan?

Do this before you first use your pan!

Before using your pan for the first time, you must wash and cure it, in this way you clean it and eliminate any toxic agent it may have. Some manufacturers add a very thin layer of a protective chemical, which is slightly toxic to people, in order to protect it during its stay in warehouses or stores.

Depending on the material of your pan, what you should do could vary, however, this would be a very minor variation, but important to maintain the integrity of its surface.

What should I do in 10 steps depending on the material of my pan?

Bearing in mind that each material is different and that depending on this it could have one or another care, we can add that the pans can be made of iron, Teflon, and ceramic.

1. Some pans come with a round sticker attached to the inside bottom of the pan, the first thing you should do is remove it (it usually comes off very easily). Once you have done it, you must wash it, use warm water and neutral soap to wash dishes;
2. Keep in mind that if your pan is made of iron, you should only wash it with soap the first time before use, then you should only wash it with water. NEVER use the hard part of the sponge, always use the soft part;
3. You rinse again with water and dry it very well;
4. Later you put a little oil on it and spread it with a piece of paper (do not discard the paper yet). You place it on the fire or on an induction plate, at a minimum temperature for a few minutes to cure;
5. You can add a handful of coarse salt; this allows you to clean and remove very well any type of chemical layer that is harmful to health. Note that if your pan has it, the salt will turn a bit dark;
6. The previous step is optional in ceramic or Teflon pans;
7. We must skip or sporadically move the salt inside the pan;
8. After a few minutes remove the salt and let the pan cool completely. NEVER subject these types of utensils to sudden changes in temperature, you could damage them;
9. After it cools down, we wash again with water and neutral soap (remember that if it is made of iron you should not wash with soap again, only with water);
10. Now we dry very well and store it in a place where it will not be damaged. In the event that it is made of iron, you can dry it bypassing the same paper that you used to spread the oil. In this way, you will leave the surface somewhat greasy and you should store it that way.

5 tips to take care of your frying pan from the first use

If you want your pans to last a long time, and above all to allow you to cook without sticking the food, we recommend you take into account the following tips:

• Avoid temperature shocks: when you finish using the pan, wait for it to cool down before washing it because if it is hot and you add cold water to it, you could damage its characteristics such as non-stick;
• Be careful with the products you use! : Always try to use special neutral soaps for dishwashers, since some products can be very abrasive and damage the surface of the dishwasher;
• Totally dry: make sure to leave it completely dry, use absorbent cloths or wipes after washing it, do not leave it, much less store it with humidity, or you could contribute to rust;
• Avoid direct contact: do not store the pan and place other iron, ceramic, or Teflon utensils inside, as they could scratch the surface and damage it. If you need to stack it, we recommend you store it with a cloth that protects the surface;
• Never do it!: never, never cook using iron utensils to move food, always use wooden or plastic ones, normally these do not scratch the surface and therefore maintain their integrity.