A family member has asked for a stainless steel frying pan for Christmas. I checked out Briscoes but they all have metal handles. Anyone know if they get super hot during cooking or is it not an issue?

[–] shartedchocolate 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I cook with a metal handled De Buyer pan all the time, it gets a tiny bit warm but not hot. It'll be hottest with a gas stove, though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

What makes the type of stove matter?

[–] shartedchocolate 4 points 11 months ago

The heat coming off of gas normally goes around the sides of the pan too, heating the handle directly.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

We have a metal all-clad pan that I really like. It's going on 10+ years of service. The handle doesn't get hot where you are supposed to grip it as long as the burner is the right size for the pan base. I've never needed to use a mitt or towel except for taking it out of the oven.

It will get warmer if your flame is coming over the sides when the burner is too big. It's also hot where it joins the pan, but I don't grab it there. :)

The heat conduction might depend on the brand, too. All-clad and de buyer are pretty heavy duty pans.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Thanks for the tip! I ended up getting a scanpan one from Briscoes. Hopefully it does the job!

Most of them seem to have thin attachment points and a reasonably thin handle which I presume is to help with heat dissipation so it makes sense it is hotter towards the pan but cool at the other end.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I've got a few, it's not really an issue in my experience. Moore Wilsons has some good quality cookware, including stainless steel pans.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Great, thanks! It did seem like some of the handles were better designed to reduce heat transfer even if they are metal.

I've had a look on the Moore Wilson's site, there are a couple of options but not that many. I think I'll probably just get one of the Briscoes ones (when on deep special, of course).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Obviously, get them what they want... But is your family member up with the play on how to use stainless steel?

For my money, carbon steel is much easier to use because they're lighter and once you season them they are far more non-stick than stainless even if you heat the latter properly prior to use. Plus you can pick up carbon steel pans from hospitality suppliers (like TFE here in Hawkes Bay) super cheap. Maybe $30-40 a pan, sometimes less.

Downside is they're pretty ugly in a function over form kinda way.

edit: these are the brand I got: https://tfe.co.nz/product/pujadas-carbon-steel-frypan/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Stainless steel was specifically requested. They lived with a chef for a long time and are now moving out, but they had a favorite pan of their flatmates.

I was sent a photo but told anything will do because I couldn't find something similar (it looked pretty similar to the scanpan ones on that website you linked - unfortunately I already ordered).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

Ah cool, they'll know what to expect then.

[–] Floofah 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

We have some pans with metal handles, and yes they can get too hot to touch bare skin. when heated on high. We use a tea cloth on the handle when that happens.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (3 children)

Hmm, I think they would rather not have to deal with that.

Any idea where else to look other than Briscoes?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

tfe.co.nz stock Scanpan Coppernox stainless which have rubberised handles.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Oh man, I already ordered the Briscoes one yesterday. I'm sure it will be fine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Probably Warehouse, or Stevens.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for the suggestion. Still no luck :(. Starting to think they may just have to deal with a metal handle. There are a bunch of reviews for various ones on the Briscoes website and none mention the handle getting hot so I guess they will see if it happens. The ones that have only low contact via two thin connectors rather than the whole handle may be better as well. I think I'll grab one of the briscoes ones and I'm sure they will be happy.

[–] Floofah 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

There are pan handle covers advertised, not sure if Briscoes have them though. They simply slip on to cover the handle and protect the hand from heat.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Thanks, good to know there's a backup plan if it becomes an issue.

[–] Floofah 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Mitre-10 sell similar sets to Briscoes, so maybe they’ll have a set with insulated handles.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Thanks for the suggestion, I never would have thought of that! It seems the only stainless steel ones they have are the same as the Briscoes ones, so no luck 🙁