In article >,
notbob > wrote:

> I recall recently seeing a claim that old saw, "hot pan, cold oil",
> was just so much hype. Not true. I, myself, had never really paid
> it too much attention. Sure, I've always heated up my pan before
> adding any oil, but it never seemed to make that much difference.
>
> Well, I had a revelation the other day. I left the pan on too high a
> heat before adding the oil and when I did, it went to barely smoking
> almost instantly. I picked the pan up off the burner and real quick
> added some potatoes O'Brien to suck off some of the heat and bring
> down the oil temp. It worked and the smoking stopped and I put the
> pan back on the turned-down burner to finish frying. Guess what.
> Those hash browns slid around in that pan like it was brand new
> Teflon. I could shake them, toss 'em, and pretty much do whatever
> with hardly a piece of stuck or burnt potato. I didn't touch my
> spatula again for the rest of the cook.
>
> Here's the kicker. This is a stainless steel skillet. We all know
> how bad everything sticks to SS. No more. I've been experimenting
> and now I'm sold. Potatoes, chicken breasts, cube steaks, etc. Man,
> nothing sticks and because of it, cleanup is also a snap. Also,
> because it doesn't stick, I need even less oil.
>
> So, there ya go. Get that pan HOT HOT!!. Not just some kinda
> piddling warm hot. Not just a visible shimmer across the placid
> surface of the oil hot. You wanna see that oil stand up and try and
> crawl outta the pan hot! Just before it starts smoking. Or, maybe
> just as it starts smoking. Toss in the food and let the food take
> the heat then turn it down to an appropriate cooking temp. Try it.
> It really works.
>
> BTW, bring your ice skates. They've opened the rink in Hell, again.
> Sheltie was right. :\
>
> nb

I got that hint from "The Frugal Gourmet" and have always sworn by it.
;-) I've been put down here a number of times for "sticking" with it but
it's worked for me.

I'm behind ya all the way... I used to use ss skillets when I was in
college and first learning how to cook, and actually paid attention to
cooking shows including that one. <G> This was back in the 80's.
--
Peace, Om

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"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson