Cooking with stainless steel can be a game-changer. It’s durable, long-lasting, and doesn’t react with food, allowing you to cook almost anything without worrying about odd flavors or chemical reactions. It also requires less maintenance compared to other cookware that might need constant seasoning or special cleaning. However, let’s be honest—stainless steel isn’t the most beginner-friendly option. Food can stick, textures can get ruined, and suddenly, your meal isn’t what you hoped for. If you’ve struggled with it, you’re not alone. Here are some common mistakes people make while using stainless steel cookware, along with simple fixes to make your cooking smoother.
Also Read: 6 Simple Ways To Keep Stainless Steel Utensils Clean
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6 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking with Stainless Steel
1. Skipping the Preheat Step
Ever placed paneer or fish in the pan only to have it stick instantly? That’s because you might be cooking in a cold pan. When the pan isn’t heated properly, the temperature doesn’t distribute evenly, leading to food burning in some spots and sticking in others.
How to fix it? Always preheat the pan on medium heat before adding oil. Give it a minute or two, and you’ll notice better results.
2. Not Using Enough Oil
If you prefer cooking with minimal oil, stainless steel may not be your best bet. Unlike non-stick cookware, stainless steel needs a layer of oil to prevent food from clinging to the surface.
How to fix it? Make sure to coat the pan with enough oil and let it heat up before adding ingredients. This will help create a temporary non-stick surface.
3. Cooking on High Heat
Stainless steel doesn’t conduct heat as evenly as some other materials. When the heat is too high, certain areas get hotter than others, leading to unevenly cooked or burnt food.
How to fix it? Stick to medium or low heat. It may take a little longer, but it will cook your food evenly without burning or sticking.
Also Read: 5 Mistakes to Avoid While Buying Stainless Steel Cookware
4. Overcrowding the Pan
Trying to speed up cooking by adding everything at once? That could be why your food turns out soggy instead of crisp and flavorful. Overcrowding drops the pan’s temperature, causing ingredients to release moisture instead of searing.
How to fix it? Cook in batches. Give each ingredient enough space to cook properly before adding more.
5. Letting the Pan Sit Uncleaned
Since food can stick to stainless steel,
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