This model has a thicker base , making it more resistant and especially suitable for intensive use such as in restaurants or hotels .
Traditional paella pan made of polished steel, or as it's commonly called in Valencia, an iron paella pan. This type of paella pan is made of cold-rolled steel .
Paella pan suitable for use on gas and wood fires . However, it is not suitable for ceramic hobs or induction hobs.
This item has a 2-year manufacturer's warranty .
Measures
- Top diameter: 34cm
- Inner diameter: 26.5cm
- Handle-to-handle distance: 42.5cm
- Height of container: 4cm
Paella portions
The manufacturer recommends this paella pan for making rice for 6 people .
Instead, we will explain some more realistic measurements below, since the manufacturer always indicates the maximum capacity of the container.
Thin layer of rice: 2 servings
Middle layer of rice: 3 servings
Thick layer of rice: 6 servings
Recommendations
Before first use
To use a polished steel or iron paella pan for the first time, we must give it a prior treatment .
First, we will need to remove any label that may be on its base.
Next, we need to boil water inside the paella pan to remove the manufacturer's protective coating . To do this, place the paella pan on the stove (without turning on the heat), add water up to the nails, and then turn on the heat to bring the water to a boil. Boil the water for 10 to 15 minutes over low heat.
Next, we remove the water from inside and, with the help of a scouring pad and soap, we clean the bottom well .
Finally, thoroughly dry the paella pan and, using a paper towel, apply a thin layer of oil to the base to prevent oxidation . Be careful not to let the paella dry in the open air, as this can cause it to oxidize.
While we cook the paella
When using paella in a preparation, there are different types of considerations that we must take into account.
First of all, we should never light the fire and put the paella pan on the heat if it's empty. Doing so could cause the paella to warp, as there's nothing to distribute the heat and it could overheat.
To prepare the sofrito, only use the center flame of the gas burner . Lighting the outer rings of the gas burner will very easily cause the paella pan to warp.
We should not use plastic items while preparing paella, as we could damage them.
We must keep in mind that, being made of iron, the entire paella pan will be very hot; it is recommended to use protective gear when handling the paella .
Maintenance of a polished steel paella pan
Since it is a paella pan made of polished steel or iron, we must always be very mindful of oxidation.
After each use, it is recommended to wash with a scouring pad and soap, dry well with a cloth or kitchen paper and then coat well with olive oil , thus preventing it from rusting.
On the other hand, we recommend storing the paella wrapped in paper or in a plastic bag , always in a dry and cool place .
If a long time passes between uses, the oil applied as a protective coating may have gone rancid and stuck to the paella pan. We recommend always washing the paella pan thoroughly before each use .
Recommended gas paella pans
For a gas paella pan to be suitable for a paella, it should always have a smaller diameter. Ideally, the paella pan should extend about 3 to 5 centimeters beyond the outermost ring of the gas paella pan.
Below are some gas paella pans suitable for a 34cm paella pan :
- Traditional paella pan round tube: Vaello 300 30cm
- High power paellero : El Cid L-20 +GAS High Power of 20 cm
- Premium paella pan : Flames VLC T-250 25cm
Difference between types of paella
Currently, there are three types of materials used for making paella pans: polished steel or iron, enameled steel, or stainless steel.
Polished steel or iron paella pan
It is the traditional paella, the one that has always been used in Valencian paella, the one that our grandmothers used.
Advantages
They are more economical than other types of paella.
Greater robustness, they withstand impacts better as they do not lose their enamel coating.
Disadvantages
Since it's an iron utensil, we'll need to take extra care of our paella pans. Therefore, we should always clean them thoroughly, then dry them well and apply a layer of olive oil to prevent rust and spoilage.
Glazed paella
These are paella pans made of polished steel, just like the previous ones, but they have a ceramic enamel coating.
Advantages
Maintenance is simpler since they don't rust ; just wash the paella pan well and you're done. You save yourself the trouble of applying a layer of oil to prevent rust.
Disadvantages
They are more easily damaged . We must be more careful when transporting them or avoiding any accidental bumps.
Higher price than polished steel paella pans.
Stainless steel paella pan
Advantages
As their name suggests, the biggest advantage is that they do not rust and are also very resistant.
Disadvantages
They require that the fire be well distributed on their base, otherwise we will not have a homogeneous heat in our paella since stainless steel does not distribute the heat.
They are considerably more expensive than polished steel paella pans, and even more expensive than enameled ones.