{"id":566897,"date":"2026-07-25T02:06:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T02:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/566897\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T02:06:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T02:06:32","slug":"how-to-cook-with-stainless-steel-according-to-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/566897\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Cook With Stainless Steel, According To Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

The stainless steel cookware market<\/a> has almost doubled in the past five years as consumers prioritize durability, versatility and easy upkeep. But unlike nonstick alternatives, cooking with stainless steel comes with a learning curve. To get the best cooking results and maintain peak shininess over time, we spoke with a chef and a cookware expert about how to cook with stainless steel properly, helping both beginners and experienced cooks get the most from the material.<\/p>\n

\"Hand<\/a><\/p>\n

Cooking with stainless steel requires some technique and patience for the best results.<\/p>\n

ILLUSTRATION: FORBES \/ PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n

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Why Stainless Steel?<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that stainless steel cookware<\/a> is typically what chefs rely on in professional kitchens, thanks to its unique strength and versatility. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe durability of stainless steel will hold up to even the most rigorous of kitchen environments,\u201d says Michael Handal, chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. \u201cThere is also nothing, really, that cannot be cooked in stainless steel, as it is non-reactive and will not give foods an off-taste.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durability<\/p>\n

These pans can withstand an exceptional amount of use over time with minimal upkeep required. Nonstick cookware, in comparison, is known for eventually wearing down due to its coating, and it requires more gentle usage to maintain its form. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis cookware will last for many years with proper care,\u201d Handal says, adding that it doesn\u2019t chip or deteriorate like nonstick does. It\u2019s resistant to high heat and regular stints in the dishwasher. Though he adds, these pans can scratch over time, so be mindful when cooking with metal utensils.<\/p>\n

Ideal For Searing And Pan Sauces<\/p>\n

In order to properly sear foods or build a fond (for sauce), a pan needs to be exceptionally hot. Handal says stainless steel is one of the best surfaces to use for this purpose, especially when compared to nonstick. <\/p>\n

\u201cNonstick cookware of any kind does not allow food and juices to reduce and accumulate in the same way stainless does, as these types of cookware are designed to prevent sticking,\u201d Handal says. \u201cTo form a fond, that sticking is essential.\u201d<\/p>\n

Comparatively, cast iron is also great for searing, but that material comes with more weight and required upkeep. \u201cStainless steel gives the same kind of cook, just a little more flexibility,\u201d says Fran Attilio, managing director of the Cookware & Bakeware Alliance. Additionally, cast iron pans typically have darker surfaces, which make it more difficult to monitor cooking progression by color compared to stainless steel. <\/p>\n

Easy Upkeep<\/p>\n

Compared to other cookware materials, like cast iron (which requires regular upkeep) and nonstick (which shouldn\u2019t be put in the dishwasher), stainless steel is notably easy to maintain.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such an easy-to-care-for-and-use product,\u201d Attilio says. Hot, soapy water is typically enough to scrub off any food stains, and most stainless steel cookware can be tossed in the dishwasher without fear of degradation. <\/p>\n

Stainless steel also doesn\u2019t have any cooking limitations (like cast iron does with acidic ingredients, like tomatoes and lemon juice), so it\u2019s versatile enough for all foods\u2014as long as you know how to cook with it.<\/p>\n

How To Cook With Stainless SteelPreheating Is Key<\/p>\n

The most common mishap beginners notice when cooking with stainless steel is unwanted food sticking\u2014especially with delicate items like eggs or fish. While stainless steel will never perform like a nonstick pan, there is a method to prevent sticking. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe key here is to allow the pan to preheat before cooking,\u201d Handal says. \u201cThis is probably the step that can be the most frustrating for the home cook.\u201d <\/p>\n

He advises setting the pan on medium heat before you\u2019re ready to cook. You can tell when it\u2019s hot enough by performing the water droplet test: Add several small drops of water to the pan to see how they react. <\/p>\n

The water droplet test is an easy way to ensure your stainless steel pan is properly preheated. <\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the water sizzles and just evaporates, the pan is not hot enough,\u201d he says. \u201cThe water should actually dance on the surface of the pan and move around seemingly without evaporating in small balls of water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attilio adds that you can also use a temperature gun<\/a> to monitor your pan\u2019s heat as it warms up to ensure it\u2019s just right for what you\u2019re cooking.<\/p>\n

Avoid Warping<\/p>\n

Depending on the quality and ply layers of your stainless steel pan, you may have to take extra care to avoid warping. The best way to do this is to avoid \u201cshocking\u201d the pan or quickly taking it between extreme temperatures. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere is probably nothing more damaging to stainless steel pans than to drop a hot pot into a sink of cool water,\u201d Handal says. Always allow your hot pan to cool down before placing it in water, as doing so can help prevent warping over time. <\/p>\n

Maintain The Shine<\/p>\n

Most stainless steel cookware is safe to put in the dishwasher, but if there are stuck-on food remnants, you\u2019ll want to scrub those beforehand. <\/p>\n

\u201cUsually, hot water, a good degreasing dish soap and a medium-coarseness plastic scrub pad will do most of the hard work when it is time to clean up,\u201d says Handal. <\/p>\n

Attilio shares another cleaning hack that she swears by: Place a wet paper towel on the pan\u2019s surface, cover it with dishwashing detergent and let it sit before rubbing it around with a sponge. \u201cIt pulls the stuff right up,\u201d she says. \u201cIt’s the craziest trick I’ve ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Degreasing dish soap, hot water and a sponge are typically all you need to upkeep a stainless steel pan.<\/p>\n

Getty Images<\/p>\n

If your pan eventually loses its shine or starts collecting stains that don\u2019t come off with dish soap, both Attilio and Handal recommend Bar Keeper\u2019s Friend<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201c[It\u2019s] a great abrasive for removing burned-on, stubborn material or stains from pots and pans,\u201d Handal says, but advises against using it every day. \u201cIf used this way, it may significantly contribute to scratches on the bottom and insides of stainless steel pots and pans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why Trust Forbes Vetted<\/p>\n

The Forbes Vetted home<\/a> team is dedicated to evaluating top-rated kitchen<\/a> products and helping our readers use and care for them in order to maximize their lifespan.<\/p>\n

The author of this article, Monica Petrucci<\/a>, is the home and kitchen editor at Forbes Vetted; she has been reporting on kitchen products like cookware<\/a> for the past five years. Petrucci has covered several consumer education topics, from kitchen gadget organization<\/a> to spring cleaning bedrooms<\/a>.Overseeing this article, Amy Moran<\/a> is the senior home and kitchen editor at Forbes Vetted. She manages all of Forbes Vetted\u2019s kitchen content, including our roundup of the best stainless steel cookware sets<\/a>.We perform regular updates on all of our articles to ensure they remain accurate and helpful to readers. This piece was last updated in July 2026.Our Experts\"Graphic<\/a>\"Graphic<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The stainless steel cookware market has almost doubled in the past five years as consumers prioritize durability, versatility…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":566898,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[239271,72,147893,61,239273,60,239272],"class_list":["post-566897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-best-stainless-steel-cookware","tag-business","tag-everything-you-need-to-know","tag-ie","tag-institute-of-culinary-education","tag-ireland","tag-stainless-steel-cookware"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/566897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=566897"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/566897\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/566898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=566897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=566897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=566897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}