A lot of the "Kitchen Yuppies" will hate on non stick pans, but if you take a look at the facts, chefs cannot deny the power of a nonstick pan. Just listen to Gordon Ramsey scream his love for nonstick pans here.
There are two things above all that make nonstick unattractive, and that is the potentially toxic fumes and the low heat storage rating. While the research is still being conducted, there is a lot of fuss over whether or not nonstick material (such as teflon) can increase your chances of getting some nasty diseases. Since it's a big maybe, why not stay on the safe side and choose something nontoxic that will reap the same benefits in the kitchen.
Granite rock pans are just that. They offer you the attractive qualities of a good price tag and nonstick cooking, while providing you with no foreseen risk of nasty chemicals leeching into your food. We've taken a deep dive into the granite stone pans on the market to help you decide whether this is the right buy for you. Below is a full granite rock pan review to show you what customers and science say about their pan claims.
Enjoy!
Why Granite
Cookware?
When non-stick pans came out they were revolutionary. No more smothering the pan with butter or oil to keep your food intact, the nonstick layer would take care of the bulk of the work. But as time carried on, and more research was conducted, the chemical fumes became questionable at best. While the studies are still being investigated, we really don't understand how detrimental these chemicals are. Either way, many of us would agree that burning material that could potentially increase the chance of toxicities or cancer isn't worth it.
Thankfully there are natural stones that can be heated to provide the same nonstick effect of teflon.
So, why would I choose granite over a traditional nonstick pan?
Because it could potentially be better for your health long-term. And for something we are often using everyday, this can become increasingly important.
Granite Stone Pan Claims
Now that we know what makes granite worth considering, let's examine what this pan claims and whether these claims are valid or not (according to science and customers).
Claims? The Granite Stone Pan is PTHE, PFOA, PFOS, Lead and Cadmium Free. These are the most notoriously harmful chemicals you can find in pans and plastic.
Valid? The base of the unit is made out of aluminum which, left untreated, is toxic in high enough doses. Anodized aluminum (aluminum treated at extreme temperatures) does not leach into food however, and poses no conceivable health risk. As far as we can tell, these claims are valid.
Claims? The granite pan's triple layer granite claims to be non-stick.
Valid? A lot of the reviews are mixed (the usual case), but the overall concencus is that the granite is legitimately non-stick, it's just not as nonstick as teflon. This is to be expected, as natural compounds rarely match up to the materials made in a lab.
A lot of people conducted the egg test in high hopes the egg wouldn't stick (without butter or oil). It's been our experience that most nonstick pans require at least a little oil or butter to truly become nonstick. While the pan may have not lived up to the hype (or as advertised) it is an extremely low priced pan that offers a lot of upsides.
Claims? The Granite Stone Pan is made of a triple layered granite which boasts durabiliy, scratch resistance, and metal utensil friendliness.
Valid? The overwhelming majority of customers believed this to be the most true of all the granite pan's qualities. In spite of the "nonstick" complaints, all customers agreed that this pan was extremely tough. Most nonstick pans cannot say the same. But while the surface is tough, the core is made of aluminum which is cheaper and gives out after long periods of being exposed to high heat.
Claims? The aluminum core distributes heat evenly and quickly.
Valid? While the heating surface is granite, the core is composed of aluminum to encourage good heat conduction. Aluminum does in fact have great thermal conductivity, but isn't very strong and can slowly degrade when being cooked over high heat. While aluminum tends to scratch more easily (due to its relative weakness) it does not come in contact with the food, so the logic does check out.
Claims? The Granite Rock Pan can be placed into the oven up to 500°F.
Valid? The customer concensus is that this pan can be placed in the oven with no adverse effects. This is, however, only advertised up to 500°F. Anything over this temperature may result in damage.
Claims? The Pan is dishwasher safe.
Valid? Customers were generally happy with how the nonstick performed after cleaned in the dishwasher. This is impressive considering most dishwasher detergents strip the nonstick coating of traditional nonstick pans.
Is it Worth It?
We think so. But here are the facts to help you make that decision for yourself:
Pros
Cons
Our Conclusion
A nonstick pan is a critical part of the kitchen, don't let anybody fool you into thinking otherwise. But it ultimately comes down to what you need. If you're looking for a tough, non-toxic, non-stick pan (that requires a little bit of oil to be truly nonstick), there's a surprising amount of perks for a very low price tag.
While the "As Seen on TV" hype can come off a little spammy, the product and materials speak for themselves. The only variable we don't agree with is the advertising. Advertising the "no oil/butter needed" is false advertising and the majority of Amazon reviewers will validate this.
If you need a little confirmation on the quality of the granite stone pans, click on one of the Amazon links below. Check out the average customer reviews and decide for yourself whether the granite stone pan is right for you, or not.
Product Break-Down
Different Size Options
8" Granite
Pan
10" Granite
Pan
11" Pan
(Most Popular)
12" Pan
(Most Popular)
Some Other Unique Options
11" Square
Pan
12" Square
Pan
10" Pan
w/ Lid
11" Pan
w/ Lid
Granite Rock Kitchen Sets
5-Piece NonStick
Cookware Set
10-Piece NonStick
Cookware Set
10-Piece Cookware
w/ Utensil Set
Concluding
We know that the most effective way of making a good buy is doing the proper reseach. We've made it our job here at Robust Kitchen to expedite this process by exposing the bulk of the unknown information in one article.
If there is anything we missed, or if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below.
Cheers,
Michael
Founder of Robust Kitchen