Knowledge Base > Char Nolan - Ask Me Anything (Office Hours)

Ask Me Anything (Office Hours)

Char Nolan - Ask Me Anything (Office Hours)

This event was on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 11:00 am Pacific, 2:00 pm Eastern

Join Chef Char Nolan in her virtual office as she welcomes all of your questions. This event was created for you and we encourage you to ask anything – from cooking techniques to cou… Read More.

Recorded

Question:

How long should it take a stainless steel frypan (8") to heat up to the appropriate temp to begin cooking?

— Diane Kirschner

Answer:

So it depends on a couple of things. It depends on what kind of stove you are using. If you are using the simmer burner on your stove top, that's the smallest one. It would take between five to eight minutes to heat up your pan, if, excuse me, if you're using the larger one. Um, the all purpose burner, uh, it will take three to four minutes. However, if you have an induction stove top, it should take about a minute. And that's because the, uh, heating element in the induction stove top has copper wiring, which heats up quickly and retains heat. So it depends on the stove top that you have. A and then B, um, if you were using something like a piece of liqui say, or a cast iron or something, it would take a long time. But stainless steel on, uh, your functional burner is going to take between three and four minutes. And that's such a, such a great question. 'cause if you pan isn't hot enough, um, it kind of makes it very, very difficult to really get that saute that you're looking for. And I often say when I'm reviewing assignments that this is a cornerstone, um, assignment because it seems to be the foundation of learning how to live an oil free lifestyle, which for so many people is important or wants to be their best practice.
Char Nolan

Char Nolan

Chef Instructor

@char_nolan