Reasons to buy an everyday pan
Have you heard the term everyday pan? Isn’t every pan in your kitchen an everyday pan? Yes and no.
Let’s look at what makes this pan so special.
An everyday pan is a hybrid of sorts, not quite a fry pan and not exactly a saute pan or a wok. A traditional fry pan has slightly flared sides that can be straight, as in most cast-iron pans, or curved, as in most non-stick pans. This design allows for easy flipping access to whatever you are cooking. Most fry pans do not come with a lid as you are cooking fairly quickly and want the moisture to evaporate. A saute pan has straight up sides to help reduce cooking splatter and most have lids.
A wok is curved from a fairly small base to concentrate the cooking heat and you constantly stir or move the food so it cooks quickly and evenly. Woks are used without lids for fast cooking and with lids for steaming. The everyday pan is shallow, like a fry pan, but with curved sides like a wok with a wide base, and it has a lid like a saute pan.
Lodge, the cast iron company based in the United States, just introduced an everyday pan. It has dual handles and a glass lid with steam vent. It is a 12”, part of the Chef’s Collection, and is oven safe. The curved sides are wooden spoon or spatula friendly. It makes a great stir fry or risotto pan. The cast iron is pre-seasoned as are all Lodge products these days.
Meyer has a non-stick stainless steel 11” everyday with riveted dual handles and a vented glass lid. It is constructed from 18/10 stainless with an encapsulated base and is induction friendly. The sides are non-drip design; a nice feature. It is oven and dishwasher safe, part of the Confederation Collection. The sides are not quite as curved as the cast iron version. It is made in Canada.
Here is a simple Taco-ina-Pan recipe, perfect for an everyday pan:
Heat up your pan then add 1 tbsp vegetable oil. Next add 1/4lb ground chicken or turkey, 2 tbsp each chopped onions and green pepper. Stir until cooked through. Add 1 8oz can tomato sauce, 1/2c uncooked elbow macaroni, 1/2c water and 1/4 picante or other spicy sauce. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until pasta is cooked. Divide into two bowls, top with shredded cheddar, crushed tortilla chips and some chopped avocado. If you want to add more taco toppings such as shredded lettuce, chopped green onions, and sour cream, do it!
It’s a fast healthy meal and you only need one pan. Clean up is so easy. This will quickly become one of your favourite cooking pans and yes, you might just use it every day.