9 Ways to Keep Food from Sticking to Your Pans

As best you can, try not to stack your pans to avoid damaging them. This way you won’t accidentally scratch off the non-stick surface

Reviewed and approved by the nutritionist Maria Patricia Pinero Corredor.

Written by Daniela Echeverri Castro

Last update: 30 May, 2022

It’s no secret that kitchen chores are usually the most annoying when it comes to keeping your house clean. It’s the kind of thing that needs to be done several times a day, and can take a long time – especially when it comes time to put everything back where it belongs. One thing you can do to make things easier is to keep food from sticking to your dishes.

People who enjoy cooking know dozens of tricks to make certain tasks easier, but other people only experience the hardship and stress. Get to know some tricks to keep food from sticking to your pans in this article.

For example, when cleaning cooking utensils it’s easy to find oil or food residues that harden onto your pans.

There’s nothing worse than spending a lot of time carefully preparing a dish only to find that you couldn’t keep food from sticking to your pans.

To help you avoid some of these inconveniences, today we want to share nine interesting tricks to help you avoid those sticky situations.

Now, onward!

1. Use olive oil

Pour a little oil in your pan, spread it around with a paper towel, and make sure that you’ve covered all areas that food is likely to stick to.

Before you put any ingredients into the pan to start cooking, wait until the pan is hot. Be careful not to burn the oil, of course!

2. Add a little salt to keep food from sticking on

Pots and pans made with aluminum tend to get more food stuck to them because of the porous material.

To prevent this problem, spread a thin layer of sunflower oil on your pot, add a little salt, and ensure it’s distributed across the surface.

Don’t overdo it with the salt because the taste can alter your food. If you think you’ve added too much, wipe off any excess with a paper towel before you heat your pan.

3. Use apple cider vinegar

Another good option is to pour a little oil in the pan, heat it, and add a splash of apple cider vinegar.

Make sure you keep it on low heat and let it to evaporate completely before continuing with your recipe.

4. Use real butter to keep food from sticking to your pans

Real butter contains nutrients that are important for your body, along with oily compounds that make it easy to cook without getting sticky residue.

Depending on the origin of the butter, it can be a source of essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Use a small teaspoon of butter to grease your pans before cooking things like eggs, sausages, and similar foods.

To prevent them from burning, keep the temperatures at medium levels and add a pinch of salt.

5. Avoid using metal utensils

Instead, buy utensils made with wood, plastic, or silicone that won’t scratch your surfaces and therefore prevent food from sticking to them.

6. Don’t use scouring pads

Both scouring pads and wire sponges can increase the size of the pores on aluminum pans and alter the non-stick surface.

Use soft sponges or dishcloths to keep them in good condition.

7. Avoid stacking your pots and pans

8. Dry your pans well before putting them away

After you wash any leftovers off your cookware, let it dry thoroughly before storing it in your cabinets.

Residual moisture can cause mold to grow, which will result in food sticking to the surface.

9. Keep the surface of the pan from drying out

If you notice that it’s drying out, add a little bit of oil and be sure to spread it around evenly.

Follow these simple tips and you’ll find that you can cook without having a hard time cleaning afterwards.

You’ll not only wind up with perfect meals, but it’ll also leave your cookware looking spotless.