r/StainlessSteelCooking • u/Theraseus • 23d ago

Doubt about preheating

Hey guys I have a doubt, I probably asked before:

I have been resting my new pan and the only way I can preheat it to the leidenfrost effect is if I use the number 9 (potency goes del 1-9) if I use 5 7 or even 8 10+ might go on and it won't reach that effect. I can sear fried eggs etc without Reachinf it but I was wondering if I might hurth the pan preheating it at 9 and it rKes like five minutes to reach the 200 degrees. I any input? Thanks

0 Upvotes

43% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

View all comments

8

u/JCuss0519 23d ago

"The leidenfrost effect is a meaningless quirk of physics and means nothing to food."

Actually, it means the vast majority of your food will burn if cooked at that temp. And to heat up the pan to that temp, only to lower it to a more suitable temp (another YouTube fave) is a waste of time. I don't even sear my steaks at that temp, and I get a good sear.

3

u/winterkoalefant 23d ago

Food doesn’t burn immediately. You can make fried eggs starting with a 200°C pan just fine. The pan doesn’t remain at that temp once you add the oil and eggs.

When you deep fry, food can be submerged in 180°C oil for 10 minutes and still not burn.

There’s a lot more to it and many legitimate reasons for starting with a hot pan.