Those ever ubiquitous pans in restaurants

[Starkman]

Quick question:

The standard saute pan seen in most every restaurant - kind of a dull gray, semi-aluminum looking - what are they made of? Are they a mixture of steel and aluminum?

Thanks,

Starkman

[Kerry Beal]

Quick question:

The standard saute pan seen in most every restaurant - kind of a dull gray, semi-aluminum looking - what are they made of? Are they a mixture of steel and aluminum?

Thanks,

Starkman

I think they are fully aluminum.

[ScottyBoy]

Are you talking about mainly these pans. Mostly stacked up with the rubber guards missing and thrown all over the place, yeah they're aluminum.

Edited March 2, 2011 by ScottyBoy (log)

[Edward J]

100% aluminumumum.

This material has only two (2) virtues:

1) It's cheap

2) It conducts heat quite well.

The list of negatives is long.

1) Plain aluminum warps--badly. Go into any restaurant and you will see a stack of semi-woks, there's no such thing as a flat old aluminum pan.

2)The pans have their handles riveted on--with soft aluminum rivets. These invariably fatigue, leaving you with loosey-goosey handles and any liquid (including hot oil) that makes it past the rivet line will dribble out.

3)Plain aluminum oxidises. Loverly black crud all over the counters, shelves, or any surface that the pans/pots touch. (alum. sheet pans give you black hands) No a'la minute cream sauces/reductions in those pans either, soon as you "abrade" the soft aluminum with a whisk, your sauce turns grey.

[Starkman]

That's so sad, you know. I mean, I thought there perhaps there might be something else in their to avoid all those problems noted. It is amazing, though, how many restaurants not only use them but get desired results. Weird.

Thanks much,

Starkman

[Edward J]

Very few owners will invest in quality cookware. Equipment yes, but cookware itself, no. For some reason the N.American hosptiality scene is fixated on aluminum.

I've worked in places in Europe where the cookware was over 35 years old and still going strong, needless to say it wasn't aluminum. The Euros are used to putting up large up-front costs to avoid paying replacement/repair costs down the line.

"Aus alte Pfanne lernt Man kochen...."