How to Cook With Stainless Steel

Stainless steel cookware enables perfectly cooked foods, durability and easy cleanup. Discover best practices for cooking with stainless steel.

When you have the equipment you need to cook the perfect dish, cooking at home can be healthy and enjoyable. Stainless steel is a popular material for cookware, and it's no mystery as to why. Stainless steel cookware is easy to clean, safe and durable. Plus, stainless steel provides a healthier cooking surface to perfectly prepare any meal. 

If you've never used this material in the kitchen before, knowing a few tips for cooking with stainless steel can help you make the most of your cookware.

Differences Between Stainless Steel Grades

Before you begin cooking with stainless steel, you must understand the different stainless steel grades available and their impact in the kitchen. The traditional stainless steel grade used in cookware is 304.

However, its chemical composition of primarily nickel and chromium makes it susceptible to corrosion over time after exposure to salt. This grade of stainless steel also has a lower temperature tolerance than 316.

In contrast, 316 stainless steel has high corrosion resistance and can easily withstand high temperatures. 316Ti is another version of 316 stainless steel that makes cookware even more resistant to corrosion and high heat by reinforcing the steel with titanium.

Why Should You Cook With Stainless Steel? 

There are many reasons why you should cook with stainless steel. Stainless steel offers long-lasting, high-quality cooking performance you can feel good about. Consider these benefits of cooking with stainless steel:

• No harmful coatings: Materials like Teflon and poly-fluoroalkyl substances are potentially harmful to human health, especially when exposed to high heat. Stainless steel cookware is free of these toxins.
• Easy cleanup: Some cookware materials like aluminum and copper are difficult to clean. With the proper technique, cleaning food off of stainless steel cookware is a breeze.
• Durability: High-quality stainless steel is exceptionally durable and can last for years. 
• Evenly dispersed heat: Some kinds of stainless steel cookware include a layer of copper or aluminum within the exterior for better heat distribution.

How to Properly Cook With Stainless Steel

By following the right process and taking care of your stainless steel cookware set, you can prepare excellent dishes every time. Follow these steps for how to cook on stainless steel cookware:

1. Preheat Your Pan

Whether you're searing meat in a frying pan or sautéing in a saucepan, preheating is the first step in cooking with any stainless steel cookware. This step is vital for ensuring an even cook in your pan. Turn the heat to medium-low on your stovetop and allow the pan to heat for two to three minutes.

2. Get Your Food to Room Temperature 

As your pan preheats, it's time to temper your food. Bringing your food to room temperature is an effective strategy for preventing the cold food from sticking to the hot pan. When food sticks to your cookware, it doesn't cook it evenly and might make cleanup harder. Bringing food to room temperature is especially important when cooking meat, as this step allows the inside of the cut of meat to cook at the same speed as the outside.

Set your ingredients on the counter so they'll reach room temperature — or as close as possible — as the pan heats. A few minutes will do.

3. Be Mindful of Oils and Fats 

Many people are taught that adding oil or fat is essential for cooking on the stove to prevent food from sticking. However, it's important to be mindful of the amount of oil and fat you add to your dish. The benefits of oil-free cooking are numerous, from reducing your salt and calorie intake to avoiding highly processed ingredients. 

It may be true that many types of cookware need oil or fat to prevent food from sticking, but 316Ti stainless steel doesn't require the addition of any extra oils or fats. Saladmaster^® waterless cookware uses improved heat distribution technology that allows you to cook without adding water, fat or oil to the pan. Waterless pans maintain the vitamins and nutrients in your food and protect its natural flavors.

4. Be Patient

Time is a critical ingredient in every meal. Proteins, vegetables and fruits all need time to reach the correct internal temperature. Flipping food too early can also lead to uneven cooking and might make it stick to the pan.

Be patient while your food cooks and follow the directions in your recipe. Using efficient stainless steel cookware that uses a semi-vacuum cooking method and heat-conducting thermal core provides fast, even cooking every time.

5. Use the Right Utensils

Stainless steel is a durable and long-lasting material. However, using the right utensils when cooking is essential to ensure your pan remains in good condition. Find cooking utensils that will be gentle on your stainless steel pan's surface and won't leave scratches. Wood and food-grade silicone are some of the best materials for spatulas and other cooking tools.

6. Make Sure You're Using the Right Sized Pan

It's always essential to use the right-sized pan for your dish, whether it's a larger pan for stir-frying or a stock pot for braising lamb. Food cooks best when it isn't crowded inside the pan. Overcrowding your stainless steel cookware while you prepare your food can lengthen the cooking time and lead to unevenly cooked ingredients.

Investing in a high-quality stainless steel cookware set that fits your cooking needs helps ensure you always have the right pan or pot when needed. A classic cookware set includes everything needed for everyday cooking at home, from a skillet to a saucepan. If you need a wider variety of pots and pans, a set like the Saladmaster Executive Chef Set provides a kitchen upgrade that helps you prepare any recipe.

7. Don't Forget the Stuck Bits on the Bottom of the Pan

You should start every dish with a fully clean pan, and cleaning your pan begins right after you cook. Leaving stuck-on bits of food in your pan can make them harder to clean off later. When food sticks, boil water in your pan to make the pieces easier to remove. This step eliminates the need for harsh cleaners or scrubbers, which tend to scratch stainless steel. After cleaning out the bits of food, wash your pan with a cleaning tool and hot, soapy water.

Make Sure You Have the Right Cookware With Saladmaster

If you're looking to invest in high-quality stainless steel cookware, you can find the cookware you need at Saladmaster. We offer a variety of stainless steel cookware sets made from 316Ti stainless steel to help you cook more deliciously healthy meals at home. Our long-lasting sets heat ingredients to perfection with materials that provide you and your family with peace of mind.

Our patented Vapo-Valve™ technology clicks when it's time to lower the heat, helping you avoid overcooking your meal. With waterless cookware, you can cook foods at the right temperature without having to add fats, oils or water. Saladmaster cookware also uses a semi-vacuum cooking method to lock in your food's moisture, nutrients and vitamins while preserving its natural texture and flavor. This technology allows you to nail the perfect dish each time.

Discover Quality Stainless Steel Cookware From Saladmaster

When it comes to crafting delicious meals, the best cookware material is stainless steel. By following best practices for cooking with stainless steel, like preheating the pan, tempering your ingredients and using the right utensils, you can savor your dishes and rekindle the joy of home cooking.  

Are you to find your dream stainless steel cookware set? At Saladmaster, we design advanced, high-quality cooking systems to help people achieve the life they desire. Saladmaster stainless steel cookware will help you transform how you cook and feel. To learn more about our cookware, browse our cooking sets. You can also locate a Saladmaster dealership near you.