You’ve been using stainless steel pans all wrong – the right way to make sure nothing sticks to it this Christmas dinner
A WOMAN has revealed we’ve all been using our stainless steel pans wrong just in time for Christmas.
Rachel Popper, from the US< took to social media to share how to actually use it and stop food from sticking.
With many of us stuck in the kitchen over Christmas, the trick will come in useful so that we don’t have to also spend hours scrubbing pots and pans clean.
She said: “Do your stainless steel pan stick?
“Don’t worry, it’s not the pan’s fault.
“You’re just doing it wrong.”
Rachel clarified that she was joking, but said most people had never been taught how to use one correctly.
To start with she said you need to ensure the pan is preheated properly before trying to put any oil in.
She then showed the simple trick to test if the pan was ready to cook with.
She let the pan heat- which you can do on any level of temperature and flicked in a little water.
“If the water droplets, just sit there and boil, not hot enough,” she said.
However if the water droplets instantly start ‘dancing’ around you’re good to go.
Rachel added: “That is science. It’s called the Leidenfrost effect.
“And this is how you know your stainless steel is hot enough to cook on and will not stick.”
Next you want to get some oil and use a spatula to make sure the entire pan is coated and then start cooking.
The savvy trick will ensure your food and your pan doesn’t get ruined this Christmas.
Hacks for Keeping Food Fresh in Your Fridge
IF you want your food to stay fresh, you'll need to try out this useful hacks...
- Herbs in Water: Store fresh herbs like parsley and coriander in a glass of water, then cover with a plastic bag to keep them fresh for weeks.
- Wrap Greens in Paper Towels: Wrap leafy greens in paper towels before placing them in a plastic bag. The towels absorb excess moisture, preventing wilting.
- Use Mason Jars: Store salads, chopped vegetables, and even leftovers in mason jars. They are airtight and keep food fresher for longer.
- Revive Stale Bread: Sprinkle a bit of water on stale bread and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to make it fresh again.
- Baking Soda for Odours: Place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odours and keep food tasting fresh.
- Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil: Chop herbs and freeze them in olive oil using an ice cube tray. This preserves their flavour and makes them easy to use.
- Keep Cheese Fresh: Wrap cheese in wax paper instead of plastic wrap. Wax paper allows the cheese to breathe, preventing it from becoming slimy.
- Store Avocados with Onions: Place a cut avocado in an airtight container with a slice of onion. The sulphur compounds in the onion slow down oxidation, keeping the avocado fresh.
- Use Vinegar Wash for Berries: Rinse berries in a mixture of water and vinegar (one cup of vinegar to three cups of water) before storing. This kills bacteria and mould spores, extending their shelf life.
- Egg Freshness Test: To check if eggs are still fresh, place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while old ones will float.
Implement these clever hacks to maximise the freshness of your food and make the most of your groceries.
Rachel’s video went viral on TikTok @racheljpopper with over 4 million views and 141k likes.
People were quick to thank her in the comments with many claiming they had no idea how it worked.
One person wrote: “I’ve gone 32 years wondering why my pan eats more eggs or whatever I’m cooking more than I do!! I appreciate you!”
Another commented: “Thanks for this info!!! Learned something!!”
“This is the absolute truth and works every time!” penned a third.
Meanwhile a fourth said: “Thank you, I’ve been trying to figure out how to make mine not stick.”
“It just takes so long to come up to temp I get inpatient….it’s definitely me, I’m the problem,” claimed a fifth.
Someone else added: “You saved a pan today I was just talking about getting rid of ours cause EVERYTHING sticks to it I’m gonna try this.”
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.