How To Make Stainless Steel Non Stick

5 from 3 votes

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Today we are learning How To Make Stainless Steel Non Stick! Cooking with a properly preheated stainless steel pan brings your kitchen experience to the next level. Say goodbye to frustrating sticking and uneven cooking, and hello to beautifully seared 🥩 meats, crispy 🥕 vegetables, and perfect pancakes.

Why You’ll Love Learning How To Make Stainless Steel Non Stick

This technique not only enhances the flavor and texture of your dishes but also simplifies cleanup. Whether you’re a novice cook or a seasoned chef, mastering this method will make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable and rewarding. You’ll love the confidence and consistency it brings to your cooking, making every meal a success.

Directions for How To Make Stainless Steel Non Stick

🍄 Ensure all ingredients are prepped and ready to cook.

🔥 Preheat your pan on medium-high heat for 3 minutes.

💦 Test the heat with a drop of water:

  • If the water forms a bead and glides, the pan is ready.
  • If the water evaporates, the pan isn’t hot enough; wait a bit and try again.
  • If the water forms many tiny pellets, the pan is too hot; let it cool slightly and try again.

⏲️ Adjust timings based on your stove.

Nonna’s Tip 🍳

Heat a pan on medium-high heat and time it to test what the perfect timing is for you! 

How to Make Stainless Steel Non Stick

Tips on How To Make Stainless Steel Non Stick

When trying to make a stainless steel pan nonstick, several common mistakes can lead to sticking and poor cooking results. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can effectively make your stainless steel pan perform more like a nonstick surface.

  1. Skipping or rushing the 🔥 preheating process can cause food to stick. Ensure the pan is hot enough before adding oil or food.
  2. Adding food 🥘 to the pan before it’s hot enough can cause sticking. Wait until the pan is properly heated, and test with a drop of 💦 water.
  3. Adding too much food at once lowers the pan’s temperature, which can cause sticking. Cook in batches if necessary to maintain the right heat.
  4. Trying to flip or move food before it naturally releases can cause sticking. Allow food to develop a proper sear and release on its own.
  5. Opt for wooden or silicone utensils. Using metal utensils can scratch the pan and cause sticking over time.
  6. Residual food or grease can cause sticking. Clean 🧼 the pan thoroughly after each use to maintain its nonstick properties.
  7. Cooking at a temperature 🌡️ that’s too low can cause food to stick. Ensure you’re using the appropriate heat level for the food you’re cooking.
  8. Not using the 💦 water test to gauge the pan’s temperature can result in sticking. Drop a bit of water in the pan; it should form a bead and glide when the pan is ready.

Similar Recipes

Check out these recipes below, including How To Make Mushrooms Like a Chef!

Common Questions

Can i add food to the pan prior to heating it?

Skipping or rushing the 🔥 preheating process can cause food to stick. Ensure the pan is hot enough before adding oil or food.

Can i use this method with cast iron?

No, this technique is only for stainless steel pans.

Do you have reccomendations for pans?

Yes absolutely, ALL CLAD is one of my favorite brands for stainless steel which I will link HERE!

How To Make Stainless Steel Non Stick

You won't need a nonstick pan after learning this hack. Preheat your stainless steel pans properly and make them non-stick with these few helpful tips.
5 from 3 votes
Course: Tutorials and Hacks
Cuisine: American
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Equipment

Instructions 

  • I preheat my pan for 3 minutes on medium-high heat. I drop a touch of water to see if it’s ready. If the water turns into a bead and GLIDES, you can wipe it off and it’s ready to cook on.
  • Make sure you have all of the ingredients ready and prepped already so you can start cooking right away.
  • If the water EVAPORATES, it means the pan is not hot enough. You can wipe the water and wait a little and try again.
  • If the water separates into hundreds of tiny water pellets it means it’s way too hot and you can take it off the heat to bring it down to temperature and try again!
  • You may have to try a few different timings until you get it perfect depending on your stove. If you find this tip helpful please save, share, and comment.

Video

Notes

Mushrooms hold 80-90% water and can be added to a hot DRY pan allowing them to evaporate, pop, and get brown. Take them off the heat (or lower it) once browned and add butter, aromatics, and salt for the perfect bite!
If you want to make the perfect mushrooms like a chef, be sure to check out the recipe and all my tips here How To Cook Mushrooms (Like a Chef)

Additional Info

Course: Tutorials and Hacks
Cuisine: American
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Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Great tip. I’m trying to get rid of all my nonstick/teflon pans to go completely stainless steel. Can’t wait to try this out with eggs!

  2. Hello,

    Thanks for the lesson on stainless steel cooking. I understand the mushroom tutorial and is it the same for veggies? What about meat like chicken? That’s what I need info on please.

    Thank you

    Liz

    1. Hi Liz, yes it would be the same. After you heat up the pan a bit and it becomes “non-stick” you can play around with the heat as you cook 🙂