3 mistakes to avoid when cooking with a stainless steel pan

Stainless steel is healthy, durable, and ultra-efficient… provided you know how to use it. Many people abandon their stainless steel pans too quickly, thinking that food sticks or that they are difficult to control. In reality, it's often a matter of correcting bad habits .

Here are the 3 most common mistakes to avoid in order to fully enjoy the benefits of stainless steel.

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❌ 1. Cook cold

This is mistake number 1 : putting your food in a cold pan. The result? It sticks, inevitably.
But it's not the stainless steel's fault!

Before cooking, preheat the pan empty for a few moments.
💧 Simple test: pour a few drops of water.

• If they evaporate immediately → too cold.

• If they form balls that roll → perfect, the pan is ready.

This step allows us to:

• improved grip

• less grip,

• and healthier cooking.

👉 To learn more, check out our complete guide on how to properly use a stainless steel pan — you will find all the basics for successful cooking there.

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❌ 2. Over-handling food

Second classic mistake: turning, moving, stirring constantly.
With stainless steel, you have to be patient.

A well-seared piece of meat will fall off the bone on its own once a crust has formed.
If it's still sticky, it 's not ready to be turned over .

By cooking patiently, you will obtain:

• a beautiful color

• a melt-in-your-mouth texture inside,

• and zero sticky residue.

👉 Discover our chef's techniques for perfectly searing meat on stainless steel — ideal for understanding when and how to flip your food.

💡 And for those who want to limit their oil use, discover how to cook without fat using a stainless steel pan without hanging anything.

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❌ 3. Incorrect pan size

Last mistake: using a pan that is too big or too small . This can unbalance the cooking process (overheating, poor evaporation, condensation, etc.).

At SAINE, we offer 4 sizes adapted to each use:

• 22 cm → eggs, vegetables, individual portions

• 24 cm → pancakes, omelets, simple dishes

• 26 cm → passe-partout format

• 28 cm → family meal, generous cooking

👉 See the entire collection of stainless steel pans

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✅ In summary

Cooking with a stainless steel pan is simple… if you avoid these 3 pitfalls :

1. Do not preheat the pan.

2. Over-handling food,

3. Using an incorrect size.

Once you've acquired these reflexes, your stainless steel will become your best ally:
Healthy cooking, sustainability, and rediscovered pleasure in cooking.

👉 To understand why your food sometimes sticks, also read this article dedicated to the causes and solutions .

And remember: a stainless steel pan is an investment for life — especially when it's branded SAINE .