How to cook with stainless steel pans so food doesn't stick
While a stainless steel skillet is excellent for searing proteins, frying eggs, caramelizing onions and more, for many home cooks, this type of pan is daunting to use. You may be worried about food sticking to the surface or being able to get it truly clean. Meanwhile, professional chefs rely on this cookware for everything, and for good reason: A good stainless steel pan is naturally nontoxic and practically indestructible.
As a busy mom of two and a graduate of the French Culinary Institute with years of experience working in restaurants and writing about food and cooking, I understand why some people may have a tough time cooking with stainless steel. Allow me to demystify it for you. The secret to food that doesn't stick? Make sure you preheat the pan properly before adding cooking oil or fat. Here's a step-by-step guide.
The key is to heat your pan enough so that when you spill a few drops of water on it, it forms one large bead that moves around the skillet, without sputtering or lots of sizzling drops (that means the pan is too hot), before you add cooking oil. Need a visual? I love this video made by the cookware company Misen because it explains the preheating technique clearly.
Carefully wipe up the water with a towel, then add cooking oil and allow it to coat the pan. When the oil shimmers (looks wavy and glides quickly over the surface), it's ready for food and nonstick cooking. Not all cooking fats work at all temperatures. If you're cooking at a low to medium temperature for eggs, for example, butter and olive oil work just fine, but if you need to cook at a high temperature, those fats will burn. Avocado and other vegetable oils have a higher smoke point and are better suited for high-temperature cooking. If you let the oil heat too long, it will burn, and you'll have to wash the pan and start over.
Before you put protein in the pan, pat it dry, as excess moisture can cause food to stick. Don't overcrowd the pan, as this can lower the overall temperature of the cooking surface and inhibit the ability to achieve a good sear.
If you move the food before it has a chance to develop a crust, you risk the food sticking. It will release easily when it's ready. Use a spatula with a thin blade to gently peek under the edge — if there's resistance, it's not ready to move or flip over.
A note on cleaning stainless steel: You should always hand-wash your stainless steel pots and pans to prolong their life. (That said, we acknowledge that the rare run through the dishwasher on a hectic evening probably won't cause irreparable damage.) Here's our guide to cleaning stainless steel pans for more info on what to do.
If you're in the market for a new stainless steel skillet, I have some recommendations! After testing seven of the most popular, highest-rated options, I found two that outperformed the rest: the Made In Stainless Steel Frying Pan, which I deemed the best stainless steel pan overall, and the budget-friendly Tramontina Stainless Steel Tri-Ply Clad Fry Pan, which is a good choice for those who want less of a commitment.
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
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Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Meet the Man Who Created the Juneteenth Flag
This story was part of a special Juneteenth project originally published in 2022 with Vox that explored the ongoing struggle for freedom for Black Americans. As the Juneteenth holiday approaches, you'll start to see various symbols of Blackness across the country. Front lawns, apartment balconies, and clothing with the pan-African flag, 'Black Power' fist, and other celebratory symbols will be everywhere. But did you know there's a specific flag for Juneteenth? In fact, it has a backstory that goes back to the late 1990s. Capital B spoke with Ben Haith, the flag's creator, and others to learn more about its history and impact. Haith, a community organizer and activist known better as 'Boston Ben,' created the flag in 1997. In an interview with Capital B Atlanta, Haith said once he learned about Juneteenth, he felt passionately it needed representation. 'I was just doing what God told me,' Haith said. 'I have somewhat of a marketing background, and I thought Juneteenth, what it represented, needed to have a symbol.' Haith wasn't impressed with the initial concept, but every Juneteenth holiday he would raise the flag near his son's middle school in Roxbury, a majority Black community in Boston. After getting his inspiration for the flag, he knew which colors and symbols he wanted in the flag — he just needed to finalize it. That's when he met illustrator Lisa Jeanne-Graf, who responded to an ad in a local newspaper and finalized the flag in 2000. Juneteenth is often associated with red, green, and black: the colors of the pan-African flag. However, those aren't the colors of the Juneteenth flag. The banner shares the colors of the American flag: red, white, and blue. In the past, Haith has said it was a purposeful choice — a reminder that Black Americans descended from slaves are exactly that: American. 'For so long, our ancestors weren't considered citizens of this country,' Haith said. 'But realistically, and technically, they were citizens. They just were deprived of being recognized as citizens. So I thought it was important that the colors portray red, white, and blue, which we see in the American flag.' Steven Williams, the president of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, agreed with the sentiment. 'We're Americans of African descent,' Williams said. '[The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation's] mission statement is to bring all Americans together to join our common bond of freedom.' There's been some debate about whether the Juneteenth flag is the most appropriate symbol for the holiday. Haith said he understood why people could have some hesitancy around commemorating the freedom of slaves by using a red, white, and blue flag, which some see as a tribute to the oppressors of Black Americans. 'Some of us were raised to recognize the American flag, we salute the American flag, we pledged allegiance to the American flag,' Haith said when asked of the skepticism around the flag he created. 'We had relatives who went to war to fight for this country. We put a lot into this country, even when our ancestors were enslaved. They worked to help make this country an economic power in the world.' The star in the middle of the flag has a dual meaning. On June 19, 1865, Black slaves in Galveston, Texas, were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln's declaration of the freedom of enslaved people. The star on the Juneteenth flag is meant to represent Texas as the Lone Star state, but also the freedom of enslaved citizens. Williams also spoke of the use of stars in helping slaves escape to freedom. 'When people were escaping down the Underground Railroad … they used stars to navigate where they were at, when they were going up and down,' he said. With its dual meaning, it's meant to represent the role that Texas plays in the history of Juneteenth, but also as another reminder that Black people are free. The outline was inspired by a nova, which is an explosion in space that creates the appearance of a new star. In this instance, it represents both slaves being free and a new beginning for Black Americans, Haith said. The bottom half of the flag is red and shaped in an arch, which has similar meaning to the white outline around the star. The curve is meant to represent a 'new horizon.' Williams hopes the design reminds people to keep in mind that new beginnings take effort. 'I tell young people, 'You are free,'' he said. 'You might have obstacles, you might have hurdles, but you are free. … And you need to exercise that freedom, which is liberty.' Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, nearly 200 years after slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The change, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021, came at the behest of demands for racial progress following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Cities across the country were forced to reckon with calls to remove and rename monuments and institutions honoring Confederate leaders of the past. In Richmond, Virginia, a capital of the former Confederacy, monuments of Confederate generals that were centuries old were dismantled after protester demands across the country. In metro Atlanta, there is an ongoing debate around the removal of Confederate leaders etched on the side of Stone Mountain. It is said to be the largest monument to the Confederacy in the world. In America, the Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that at least 160 Confederate symbols were dismantled in 2020. Individual states started to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday prior to Biden's declaration. The first was Texas in 1980, and more states followed suit in 2020. Theo Foster, a professor of African American History at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, noted that symbols celebrating Black pride are important, but they're not enough. 'We tend to just hold on to symbols and let the material go,' he said. 'That's where I'm hypercritical of progress narratives, and flags, and 1619 projects, because we don't get to that point of where the rubber meets the road where the symbols meet the experience of Black boy joy or Black girl magic.' Williams recognizes the flag as a larger part of his organization's decades-long campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday. The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation has been on the front lines of the fight to have Juneteenth nationally recognized since its founding in 1997. Haith himself is a member. Foster says he sees the Juneteenth flag as an attempt to honor Black Americans' enslaved ancestors. 'Racism exists, anti-Blackness exists. How do we respond to that problem?' he said. 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Hamilton Spectator
11-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Northern Lights College honours Indigenous students with graduation ceremony
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — For one convocation ceremony in Fort St. John, colonialism was replaced with pan-Indigenous culture. Caps and gowns were replaced with Métis sashes and commemorative feather carvings, as Northern Lights College (NLC) honoured its First Nations and Métis students with a graduation celebration and dinner at the Fort St. John Curling Club. It was a special moment for graduate Destiny Laprete. Laprete completed the Adult Dogwood, the B.C. certification for high school equivalency. A member of Enoch Cree Nation, Laprete was the valedictorian of her class at NLC's Dawson Creek campus. 'I got to participate in a lot of Indigenous cultural events throughout the year. I think [it] really made me get back in touch with myself and my family,' Laprete said. 'It was the first time that I've ever been in school and actually been honoured and given the chance to embrace who I am.' Honourees from as many as 13 First Nations were among the graduates, including some from Doig River First Nation (DRFN), the Métis Nation, the Enoch Cree Nation and the Tahltan First Nation. Michael Calvert, the director of Indigenous education at NLC, conceived the event and felt the celebration was a great success. 'When we talk about graduation, we always think about convocation,' said Calvert. 'It's very colonized, very formal. 'It's important for Indigenous people to be able to celebrate in a way that is about their culture, their identity and their lived experiences, and this is the opportunity for them to do that.' Calvert said a big part of the success in the event came from Karen Tom. Tom is the Indigenous project facilitator for NLC. Tom said watching the event unfold as it did 'brings pride back' to First Nations culture, adding it makes Indigenous students 'stand a little taller.' 'It's a great honour that we could come together and do this,' said Tom. 'You feel the strength of each other and just honour our ancestors by doing this.' An opening prayer from Doig River First Nation Elder Gerry Attachie and a performance from DRFN drummers began the evening. After dinner, additional performances included powwow dancing from School District 60 Indigenous education students, along with drummers from Kehewin Cree Nation and dancers from Driftpile Cree Nation of Northern Alberta. The night was topped off by a performance from Penny Goulet, a fiddler who played several numbers. Several graduates were also awarded scholarships through Peace Country Petroleum, a two-year commitment from the company for $25,000 towards Indigenous students. The NLC Indigenous graduation ceremony took place on Thursday, June 5th. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Yahoo
Momentum builds for Israel-Syria peace as Trump reboots regional diplomacy
For the first time, Syrians are openly calling for peace with Israel. In an interview with Fox News Digital, journalist Furat Alali from Damascus said, "We want a future without wars. We want to live. People are not afraid to speak up anymore." Her statement reflects a significant shift in the country's political landscape, as many Syrians begin to openly discuss the prospect of peace with Israel. This change comes at a time when Syria and Israel are engaged in direct talks as Reuters revealed on Tuesday, marking a dramatic departure from the decades-long hostility between the two nations. Reuters reported, Israel and Syria have recently held direct meetings focused on security issues along their shared border. These talks represent a major step in the relationship between the two countries, which have been adversaries for decades. A Weakened Hezbollah Leads Some In Lebanon To Talk Of Peace With Israel As Us Pushes Sides Together Sources familiar with the discussions have indicated that the U.S. has played a pivotal role in facilitating these talks, encouraging Syria's new leadership to engage with Israel. The discussions come after a shift in U.S. policy, following President Donald Trump's meeting with Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa earlier this month. The meeting signaled a break from decades of U.S. hostility toward Syria's Assad regime and opened the door to potential normalization between Syria and Israel. Read On The Fox News App While the talks are still in the early stages, Trump's engagement has raised the possibility of Syria's leadership eventually normalizing ties with Israel, although this process will likely take time. Furat Alali explained: "We don't want to be part of the Axis of Resistance anymore. The Palestinian cause has been used to oppress us. We feel sympathy for the Palestinians, but now we need to focus on Syria and our future." Lina Ali, a 24-year-old pharmacist from Latakia, told Fox News Digital, "We feel for the people of Gaza. We condemn the mass killings, but we are in a different situation. We are thinking about our own interests now. The idea of exploiting the Palestinian cause to oppress the Syrian people has been rejected. We are tired of this." Another young woman interviewed by Jusoor News, a Pan-Arab media outlet, shared similar thoughts: "We are for anything that serves our country's interest. We've lived through difficult times. The country's economy is very weak. It's time for people to live." Fall Of Syria's Bashar Assad Is Strategic Blow To Iran And Russia, Experts Say An elderly Syrian man explained to Jusoor, "We've spent 40-50 years preaching Arabism and liberating Palestine, and what do we have to show for it? Nothing. It's time for peace." The shift in Syria's stance on Israel is significant, especially given the historical enmity between the two nations. For decades, Syria and Israel have been locked in conflict, with the status of the Golan Heights remaining a key point of contention since its capture by Israel during the 1967 war. Syria's involvement in the Axis of Resistance, aligning with Iran and Hezbollah against Israel, has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy. However, the recent emergence of interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa has raised new possibilities, as well as concerns. Furat Ali said, "I was one of the journalists who extensively covered the violations of Jabhat al-Nusra before the fall of the Assad regime, the group Al-Jolani emerged from (using his previous name), which was part of al-Qaeda. I know exactly what they did. So, when I first heard that Al-Jolani was taking over Aleppo and challenging Assad, I was scared." "But as time went on," she added, "when he rebranded himself as Ahmed al-Sharaa and promised a new direction, I saw he was smart. He managed to convince the West to lift sanctions and engage with him, bringing back international recognition for Syria. While we remain skeptical and cautious, what we're seeing from Sharaa domestically is so far being accepted." Joseph Braude, founder and president of the Center for Peace Communications, highlighted the significance of the shift in public opinion within Syria. He noted, "People in Syria and Lebanon often associate the Palestinian issue with dictators who exploited it to justify corruption and brutality. There is a growing rejection of pro-Palestinian militancy, as many people now desire to turn the page and focus on new partnerships aimed at developing their own countries. "We believe that it has become a majority view in Syria that if peace with Israel brings economic development and improvements, then it's worth pursuing." He also pointed out that in countries dominated by Iran and its militias, ordinary people have the clearest understanding of the harm these groups cause. "They are among the most eager for a different future, increasingly calling for peace," Braude added. As one man interviewed by Jusoor News put it: "We've suffered years of oppression and war. It's time for reconstruction. We need peace with everyone," another Syrian added' "I support normalization a million percent! If normalization with Israel, or America or whoever can bring us comfort, then I'm on board. We just want peace!"Original article source: Momentum builds for Israel-Syria peace as Trump reboots regional diplomacy
