Is it safe to use stainless steel cookware at high heat?

[Deja Q]

My stove's burners don't heat evenly and the landlord isn't keen on replacing them... so I have to use high setting.

Will using high heat cause tarnishing, blotching, or other anomalies with stainless steel cookware?

Thx!

[ulysses]

1. seems to be safe.

We just switched from our old nonstick crap (I'd like to not have Teflon in my food, thanks) to stainless pans from Zesco (http://www.zesco.com/products.cfm?pGroupID=031016MZ06&subCatID=286). Stuff sticks to these babies less than with the "nonstick" Calphalon, you can scrub the shit out of them, and the the 12" pan held up to full heat this morning. :)

They're cheaper, too. Got 12, 9.5 and 8 inch pans for like $60 total.

[Richard Steele]

5. NOT with ceramic.(EDIT-wrong spot, this was a reply to Henslee below)

Ceramic would almost certainly shatter if
heated unevenly like that.

A disk of thick COPPER under the pan would help
provide even heat at any burner setting.
LiviaOlivia's post below has a good explanation
of why different metals are used for their heat conductance.

[henslee]

2. Wonder if u can put some sort of ceramic between the burner and the pan...

just for simmering purposes. Ever see those ceramic pizza tiles that you use to make pizza in the oven? P.S. To hell with your landlord, you have a right to basic conveniences.

[LiviaOlivia]

3. It's a matter of conductivity..even heat absorption.

http://hypertextbook.com/physics/thermal/conduction/

..a "sandwich" of steel-copper-steel (note the copper core between the stainless steel bottom and sides). What advantage would such a complicated pot have over similar single metal pots when used in the kitchen? Why have a copper core? Why use stainless steel for the sides and bottom? What's the deal with this pot?

* Copper is one of the best conductors of heat available (only silver has a higher thermal conductivity), while stainless steel is a relatively mediocre conductor (mercury is one of the few metals with a lower thermal conductivity). Using copper in the base would increase the rate at which heat was transferred from the flames or heating element to the food, while using stainless steel on the sides would reduce the rate at which heat was lost from the food to the environment. Such an arrangement results in an effective cook pot that responds rapidly to changes in burner output. Capping the copper base with stainless steel seems to work against this efficiency, however.

For many applications a base that was made only of copper would probably be too effective at transferring heat. Heat applied to a small region would be transferred so rapidly that it wouldn't have time to diffuse across the pot's bottom. This would result in uneven cooking and possibly even local areas of scorching. Capping the base with stainless steel slows the immediate rate of heat transfer from the burner or heating element, but once this heat enters the copper core its high conductivity would spread the heat rapidly and evenly to all parts of the base.

There are also some aesthetic issues behind this design. Copper is notoriously hard to clean, while stainless steel is, well, stainless. Cooks who insisted that their cookware sparkle at all times (even on the surfaces that are never in contact with food) would probably appreciate the use of low maintenance materials for most of the exterior. The thin, exposed band of copper near the bottom is no doubt there to catch the eye of wandering customers.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Does your stainless cookware have a heat diffusing disk?

Usually it's made of aluminum or aluminum-clad copper. If so, you should see little damage if you watch the pots carefully on high heat and regulate the heat by removing the pan from the burner every few minutes to let it cool down for a bit. It's a pain in the neck.
If you have good quality stainless like All-Clad it's not a good idea to use them on high heat all the time -- they're much too efficient at heat retention.

Another alternative would be to buy an old fashioned electric hot plate. At least you'd have low heat as an option.

[hholli11]

6. I have a question...

I am in the market for a new computer. I think I like mac above all the others, but I am not married to it just yet.

Right now, I have a dinosaur iMac. Anyhoo, what type of computer do you like best? Can a notebook REALLY replace a pc? What kind of printer?

I need to be able to burn and copy dvds, stream audio (obviously) and I'd like to be able to label the dvds as well. I want the best value for my money, but think that tech support is important. (Can you tell I am not that computer proficient?) I am not cool enough to start my own thread yet (I don;t think) so I thought I'd take a shot here.

[Richard Steele]

8. If you donate to DU, you can access the computer forums.

And it doesn't have to be much- just a few $$$ is cool.

Sure, a notebook can replace a PC, especially a 'dinosaur' PC as you claim to have.
BUT a notebook will always cost more than a PC of equal power,
since it co$t$ to make things smaller.

The cheapest way to go is to decide how much you want to spend FIRST,
set aside enough for a new copy of the latest Mac OS,
and then use the rest to buy a rebuilt computer WITH A WARRANTY
from an authorized Mac distributor.

Buying a warranteed refurb gives you a like-new box
at a discount price.
Purchasing the new OS gives you your free tech support from Apple.

You should cruise some Mac sites to find a refurb dealer with a good reputation;
RESEARCH will save you money and heartache in the long run.

Just my 2¢!
Dick

Oh, P.S.: Welcome to DU!:hi:

[Deja Q]

10. Laptops can replace desktop for many things...

Except gaming; gaming PCs generate heat due to higher end components.

There's a lot to talk about in your post... probably to the point that if you ventured into the Computer Support group, you'd get a wider range of responses...

But I will say this: Ditch Macs. Here's a condensed history: They dropped SCSI and did not lower the price to compensate. They ditched their own OS for FreeBSD (rumor has it the GUI is a revved up KDE and, indeed this suggests there's more to that rumor than mere conjecture)... and didn't drop a penny either. Then they moved from a Motorola processor they used to say was so much better than Intel... TO Intel and said how Intel is sooooooooo much better. Many prices still have yet to drop and that one is a huge criticism going against them right now...

Now ask how they can still complain about low profit margins (never mind I haven't mentioned the iPod; those dudes are rollin' in dough. Period.)

And the latest? 3000 support jobs are movin' out of the USA. And it's not unpatriotic for me to ask who on their Board allowed this moving of jobs!

Apple users can have loyalty to Apple. But Apple seems to have less loyalty in their customers, America, both, and/or something else.

[hholli11]

12. I had NO IDEA they had gone to the dark side...

DIdn't they even have Al Gore on their BOD? I am so disheartened to hear that's what they would do.

So what would you suggest I use as an alternative?

[leftofthedial]

7. the melting point of steel (based on 9-11 results)

is apparently just above the boiling point of water

so be careful

never cook in stainless steel above the fifth floor.

[Richard Steele]

9. OOOH, that was naughty funny!

I laughed so hard that tinfoil came out my nose!
:spank: :rofl:

[leftofthedial]

11. well get it back on your head where it belongs

quick!

[Lisa]

13. should be okay ...

I've used stainless for years, and no damage apparent to me or the pots! (Of course, one must exercise the same caution as for any cookware ... keep an eye on it, and don't let the pot burn dry.) I'd sure rather trust bare stainless steel than aluminum, or anything with a Teflon coating. And it can be scoured clean with just elbow grease (no need to worry about scratching the lining off, as with enamel cookware).

[Benfea]

14. The coating that protects the steel from oxidation...

…is applied at a much higher temperature than your stove is capable of generating.

[JanMichael]

15. No! They could explode! They could wipe out the entire neighborhood!

Don't do it man, please don't do it!

You're playing with fire...