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Greatest paella pans at a look
- Greatest general paella pan: ProCook non-stick paella pan, £18
- Greatest for newbies: Prue’s World paella pan, £14.99
- Greatest for large households: Sous Chef enamelled eight-person paella pan, £21
- Greatest non-traditional paella pan: Stellar paella pan, £94.96
- Greatest forged iron funding: Staub forged iron paella pan, £139
- Greatest massive conventional: Vaello Campos carbon metal paella pan, £18.50
- Greatest small conventional: Samuel Groves carbon metal paella pan, £70
- Greatest hob to desk serving pan: Kuhn Rikon Black Star serving/paella pan, £214.95
- Greatest paella pan with a lid: Choose paella pan, £52.62
Greatest paella pans to purchase in 2023
ProCook non-stick paella pan
Greatest general paella pan
Professionals:
- Non-stick
- Dishwasher-safe
- Oven-safe as much as 260C
Cons:
- Not suitable with induction or scorching plates
This budget-friendly pan is a good all-rounder that is constructed from carbon metal with a non-stick coating. The 38cm diameter makes it an amazing selection for four-to-eight-person recipes, and though the deep sides aren’t conventional, they do assist comprise the meals whereas stirring. The non-stick coating works nicely and we obtain some crisp socarrat on the bottom of the paella with none sticking. It is easy to scrub, however as an added bonus it’s additionally dishwasher-safe.
As with most paella pans, you’ll want to make use of oven gloves as a result of the handles get scorching, however it’s oven-safe as much as 260C, making it a multi-purpose pan that can be utilized for the whole lot from fry-ups to flatbreads or pasta bakes. Some seasoning is required earlier than the primary use (and regularly thereafter), however it’s fast and easy to do. This pan shouldn’t be suitable with induction or scorching plate hobs.
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Prue’s World paella pan
Greatest paella pan for newbies
Professionals:
- Non-stick
- Bamboo handles
- Appropriate with all hob sorts
Cons:
This 36cm carbon metal paella pan has an efficient non-stick coating and doesn’t require any seasoning earlier than use, so it’s a superb selection for novice paella cooks. It’s large enough for a four-person recipe and we’re in a position to create a crispy socarrat backside in locations with none of it sticking to the pan. The turmeric in our paella recipe stains the non-stick coating although, so when you’re treasured about pristine pans, that could be off-putting.
It has bamboo handles and so they do get fairly heat, however not as scorching as most conventional pans with steel handles, making it a safer selection. It may be used on all hobs together with induction, and the non-stick coating makes it an amazing selection for a complete host of different dishes, like curries, Spanish omelettes and risottos. The bamboo handles imply it isn’t dishwasher-safe and might’t be used within the oven or grill both, however it’s simple to make use of and good worth for cash.
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Sous Chef enamelled eight-person paella pan
Greatest for large households
Professionals:
- Enticing
- Oven-safe
- Enamelled coating
- Sturdy construct
Cons:
- Not appropriate for induction or ceramic hobs
- Non-stick was much less efficient
The 33.5cm diameter base (38cm diameter on the high) makes this a whopper of a pan that may simply accommodate sufficient paella for eight folks. Made in Spain, this enamelled paella pan has a lovely black-and-white design that offers it a extra fashionable look than different pans on the checklist. It’s oven-safe however not appropriate for ceramic or induction hobs. To make sure it heats evenly throughout the large base, apply it to a big ring, ideally a big gasoline burner.
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The enamelled coating stops it rusting, doesn’t require seasoning and makes it low upkeep, however it doesn’t have excellent non-stick properties: our paella sticks fairly badly to the underside. It’s not dishwasher-safe, so you need to give it a very good soak and scrub after cooking. Having mentioned that, the sticking will depend upon the contents of your recipe. General, it is a sturdy, well-made pan that’s constructed to final and it makes an amazing paella.
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Stellar paella pan
Greatest non-traditional paella pan
Professionals:
- Appropriate with all hob sorts
- Oven-safe as much as 240C
- Lifetime assure
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Not suitable with induction or scorching plates
- No non-stick coating
For those who’re out there for a paella-style pan that can be utilized usually for many different meals, this 30cm stainless-steel one is an effective selection. It may be used on all hobs and is oven-safe as much as 240C, so it is also excellent for curries, casseroles, bolognese and risotto – it received’t sit gathering mud when you’re not making paellas. It doesn’t have a conventional paella pan form and it’s product of stainless-steel, however it’s well-built, sturdy and comes with a lid and lifelong assure.
The principle disadvantage is that it’s not non-stick – after we use it to make paella, there is a layer of rice welded to the underside of the pan on the finish of cooking. Fortunately, the heavy gauge stainless-steel stands up nicely to being scrubbed and can be dishwasher-safe. With common seasoning, sticking ought to turn out to be much less of a difficulty.
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Staub forged iron double-handled frying pan
Greatest forged iron funding
Professionals:
- Retains warmth nicely
- Appropriate for all hob sorts
- Sturdy and constructed to final
Cons:
- Heavy
- Costlier than most
- Handles get scorching
Forged iron isn’t conventional for a paella pan, however is great at retaining warmth, making this a really perfect hob-to-table pan. This is likely one of the most costly pans on our checklist, however forged iron ought to final a lifetime so it’s definitely worth the funding. The clear traces and matte black end give it a contemporary, rustic type that’s very totally different to most paella pans.
This 26cm pan is simply large enough for our four-person paella recipe and it sits comfortably on most massive hob rings. Not solely is it appropriate for all hob sorts, it will also be utilized in oven, below the grill and even on the barbecue. It requires a small quantity of seasoning earlier than use and we don’t expertise a lot sticking when making our paella, however it does produce a few of the fascinating crisp socarrat base – this comes away from the underside of the pan simply with a plastic spoon.
This robust and durable pan maintains a very good, even warmth however the handles get scorching. Because of the forged iron, it is also a lot heavier than different pans on this checklist. It’s a good-quality pan that will make an amazing reward.
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Vaello Campos carbon metal paella pan
Greatest massive conventional paella pan
Professionals:
- Can cook dinner massive volumes
- Greatest for gasoline burners and BBQs
Cons:
- No non-stick coating
- Not appropriate for induction cooking
Manufactured in Valencia, the house of paella, this genuine conventional paella pan is a considerable 38cm and large enough for six-to-eight-person recipes. It’s not appropriate for induction hobs and the bottom isn’t utterly flat, so we wouldn’t advocate it for electrical hobs both. It’s going to work greatest on a big gasoline burner, however will also be used on a barbecue.
Carbon metal isn’t non-stick, so the pan wants seasoning earlier than use and oiling to cease rust forming. We do expertise some sticking when making paella regardless of having seasoned it first (this pan shouldn’t be dishwasher-safe). However, over time the seasoning will construct up and the non-stick properties ought to enhance. The handles get heat however not too scorching to the touch, and we’re impressed with the socarrat that kinds on the base of the pan.
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Samuel Groves carbon metal paella pan
Greatest small conventional paella pan
Professionals:
- Vary of sizes to select from
- Nicely-made, sturdy construct
- Appropriate with all hob sorts
- Dishwasher-safe
- Oven-safe as much as 260C
Cons:
This traditional-style carbon metal paella pan seems to be and feels very genuine, however is definitely made in England. We strive the 30cm pan, however it’s accessible in six sizes, from 20cm to 46cm, so there are many choices to select from. It’s a very good weight and the thick metal feels rather well made and durable. It’s oven-safe and is appropriate for all hob sorts, together with induction – the flat base means it’ll work nicely on electrical hobs.
It does require seasoning earlier than use, however that is a simple course of. With common seasoning, it’ll develop a very good non-stick coating. As with all carbon metal pans, it’ll rust, so it wants oiling and might’t be washed within the dishwasher. The pan heats evenly, however the handles get scorching so that you’ll want oven gloves. It’s simply large enough for a four-person recipe, and we do handle to create some crisp socarrat on the bottom of our paella. Most of it lifts away simply with a plastic spatula, however there’s a little sticking.
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Kuhn Rikon Black Star serving pan
Greatest hob-to-table serving pan
Professionals:
- 10-year assure
- Appropriate for all hob sorts
- Retains warmth nicely
- Efficient non-stick
Cons:
- Not dishwasher-safe
- Requires prolonged seasoning course of
That is the most costly pan on our checklist – it’s made in Switzerland from heavy gauge iron, comes with a 10-year assure and may final a lifetime. The standard is great and it’s a sturdy pan that appears nice as a serving dish, too. It’s appropriate for all hob sorts, plus the oven and grill, and has wonderful warmth retention properties so it’ll maintain meals heat on the desk.
It’s a flexible pan that can be utilized for loads of meals and recipes, together with searing meats, making crisp rosti, curries and paella, or just to serve different meals. It requires a prolonged 30-minute seasoning earlier than use, however after this, none of our paella sticks to the bottom of the pan and it cleans actually simply with simply water. There’s a little turmeric staining within the base after cleansing, although.
It’s not dishwasher-safe and it’s really useful that you don’t use any detergent when hand-washing. It is essential to let this pan air-dry and oil it once more as soon as absolutely dry. It does require a little bit of particular remedy, however for such a good-quality pan, we expect it’s value the additional care.
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Choose paella pan
Greatest paella pan with a lid
Professionals:
- Oven-safe as much as 210C
- Appropriate with all hob sorts
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons:
- Slower to warmth versus different pans
- Paella rice sticks simply
- Handles get scorching
Most paella pans don’t include a lid, however when you would like one, this stainless-steel pan is an effective choice. This 30cm pan can simply accommodate 4 to 6 parts. It distributes warmth evenly, however is slower to warmth up than a few of the thinner carbon metal pans. It’s oven-safe as much as 210C and appropriate for all hob sorts, so it is a versatile choice that can be utilized for loads of different recipes, like pastas and risottos. The lid permits you to maintain the moisture in casseroles, too.
It doesn’t require any seasoning earlier than use, however meaning it doesn’t have non-stick properties – a few of the paella rice sticks fairly badly to the bottom, which requires soaking after use. On the plus facet, it’s dishwasher-safe. Regardless of being air vented, the handles nonetheless get scorching when used on the hob. We make a very good paella with some socarrat on the bottom and the lid is helpful for stopping the leftover paella from drying out whereas it cools.
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How to decide on one of the best paella pan
Conventional paella pans are product of carbon metal. They’ve two steel handles, a large, flat base and shallow sides. The large, flat design permits the liquid to evaporate simply and a crisp, crusty base to type on the underside of the pan – this is called ‘socarrat’ and is a extremely fascinating a part of the dish. For those who’re a daily paella-maker, this design goes to provide higher paellas than a regular non-stick frying pan or casserole dish.
As of late, paella pans are available in all supplies, from conventional carbon metal to forged iron and stainless-steel. Every has totally different care and cleansing necessities. It it’s doable to purchase paella pans that include a lid, however the overwhelming majority don’t.
Easy methods to season a paella pan
Carbon metal paella pans and a few others, similar to forged iron, will want seasoning earlier than use. It is a easy course of that includes heating oil within the pan, then permitting it to chill. These pans will want seasoning usually to construct up a non-stick coating that can enhance over time. They normally aren’t dishwasher-safe as this may take away the oily coating. Cleansing ought to be achieved gently by hand and with out a lot detergent.
Some carbon metal pans now include a non-stick coating, which regularly means they don’t want a lot, if any, seasoning and so they’re dishwasher-safe.
What paella pan to purchase
It’s value contemplating what measurement paella pan would fit your wants. Pans are available in an enormous number of sizes, however when you intend to apply it to the hob and don’t have a very massive burner measurement, then you definitely received’t get essentially the most out of one of many very massive pans. Equally, when you hope to make use of a bigger pan within the oven and grill, examine it’ll match first. For those who’re new to creating paella, try our 10 suggestions for next-level paella or watch our step-by-step prawn & chorizo paella video.
Many paella pans are oven-safe, can be utilized below the grill and even on the barbecue, making them versatile pans that aren’t restricted to paella. Use your paella pan on the hob for fry-ups, pancakes, risotto or bolognese; it will also be used for grilling meat or cooking pasta bakes. If it’s barbecue-safe, use it for greens or cooking on a campfire.
How we examined paella pans
Unsurprisingly, we put the entire paella pans to the take a look at by making our hen & chorizo paella. Whereas making the paella, we assessed a number of areas of the design and value for every pan, together with how shortly it heats up and the way evenly the warmth is distributed, in addition to whether or not it has good non-stick properties. We additionally famous whether or not the handles obtained scorching and the way simple every pan was to scrub.
Earlier than use, we seasoned those who required it and assessed how simple this course of was. We additionally took into consideration what warmth sources the pan may very well be used on and different notable options like weight, high quality and worth for cash.
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This assessment was final up to date in June 2021. In case you have any questions, options for future critiques or spot something that has modified in worth or availability, please get in contact at goodfoodwebsite@fast.co.uk.
