How to Properly Heat a Pan
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN people cite it as a practical test for pan temperature and as the way to get a stainless steel pan relatively non-stick.
What it is
A two-minute Rouxbe cooking-school demo of how to heat a pan properly before cooking. It uses the Leidenfrost effect, where water beads and skates across a hot pan, to show when a stainless steel pan is ready.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2014 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec abcd_f · 2014-03 · on “How a Light Saber Works”
Leidenfrost effect is how you test if your stainless steel skillet is at the right temperature for cooking. If you are into cooking, I must insist you check this out - [this video]
Recommends jmcclell · 2024-12 · on “A simple math error sparked a panic about black plastic kitchen utensils”
Carbon steel pans are seasoned and generally will be stored with a light coat of oil. You'll add oil while cooking, as well. My carbon steel pans don't stick – an egg will happily glide on the surface. Stainless steel pans are not seasoned, but can still be relatively non-stick as long as they are heated properly prior to use. Heating them closes the pores in the pan's surface, making the surface smoother. Add oil after the pan is properly heated. This youtube video explains the process: [this video]
Cites asguy · 2020-06 · on “Maillard reaction”
This is how I cook them. It's pretty common knowledge for professional cooks[1], they just don't realize what it's called. [1] [this video]
Cites harrydehal · 2022-08 · on “Study finds link between 'forever chemicals' in cookware and liver cancer”
This is called the "Leidenfrost effect." The other possible health downside to doing this in a stainless steel pan, as referenced elsewhere in these comments, is the overheating of certain cooking oils beyond their smokepoint and into temperatures that turn them potentially bad for your health. See also: [LINK] [this video]