Help me with this contradiction

[HighSierra]

Many CL recipes call for cooking spray on nonstick cookware. But Calphalon's instructions state "do not use cooking sprays," because they leave a residue that cause food to stick!! Which is better advice: the recipe or Calphalon's instruction?

[LGBurns]

I have the same question. In order not to risk it, I rub a light coating of oil on the pan with a paper towel. Anyone have an answer to this question?

[sneezles]

Isn't the Calaphon (sorry) considered non-stick? And the residue would appear only in places that food didn't come in contact with (ie. up the sides or on baking sheets).

[This message has been edited by sneezles (edited 05-21-2001).]

[BlueMoose]

I have quit using cooking sprays because I have ruined too much cookware with them. If needed, I just use a light coating of oil or margarine instead. Plus, I think they have an odd taste.

[MelissaAS]

I have the same question about some new nonstick Circulon cookware? Is it ok to use nothing or just go ahead with the Pam? What is the big difference between that and a little olive oil (which I would use if I could get the Misto working, but that's another story...)? I don't want to ruin my pans either! Thanks in advance for the help/advice.

[HighSierra]

My wife instructed me to coat with oil instead of using a spray; she does not like the spray's taste either.

[BarbaraL]

I don't have Calphalon pans (have good old RevereWare), but I would think the manufacturer's recommendations would be the ones to follow, since they specifically said not to use the sprays. I've had quite a time cleaning spray residue off my regular pans. I would think wiping a little oil on the pan with a paper towel would be fine, IMHO.

[Kelli Kerrigan]

I don't think you are suppose to use the canned spray because of the florocarbons. (I'm so sorry that I butchered that word!)The same stuff that is found is hairspray.
I was instructed not to use it on PC stoneware either. It leaves a sticky residue.
It probably isn't the best thing to breathe in too.
I use an air pump and just refill it as needed. Or buy a new one if it dies....its still cheaper and better than the canned stuff.

[L.Rose]

I have a lot of Calphalon and don't use Pam on it because of their instructions. Instead, I spray olive/canola oil with the Misto Spray container-thing.

I don't own any Circulon, but while looking at some at Williams-Sonoma once, I asked the sales rep if Pam could be used on it, and she never to do that, to use regular oil instead.

I guess the consensus is that nonstick sprays are generally bad for cookware. Kind of a shame, because I don't mind the taste, and nothing else works quite as well across the board for making things not stick, in my opinion.

[sneezles]

Kelli,
The florocarbons (sorry don't know the correct spelling either) have been removed from aresols.
Instead of a Misto (another marketing disaster, IMHO) you can use a small spritzer bottle (I saw one in the Pampered Chef catalog) and at $6.75 it's half the price of the non-working Mistos!

[L.Rose]

Sneezles,

I do have one of the cheap spritzer bottles, and agree that it works much better than the Misto. I just thought it'd be easier to convey what I was talking about by incurring the hallowed Misto name.

I've never liked the way my Misto worked (gets clogged every time, etc.), but I just figured I got one from a bad batch or something... good to know it was the manufacturer, and not any bad shopping karma I'm carrying around.

[LGBurns]

Just wanted to add that I do use cooking sprays for cake pans, casseroles, etc. if they don't have a non-stick surface. I keep meaning to get a mister but I always forget about it when I'm in a store that would have one. I know--pathetic.

[Kelli Kerrigan]

I'm on my fourth PC spritzer. They work well. I have one for vegi oil and one for olive oil. They do clogg after a long time and instead of soaking and trying to clean them, I just got new ones.

[Vanessa]

Below the instructions for caring and using calphalon hard anonized and nonstick:
COOKING OILS AND SPRAYS

Hard-anodized cookware

A small amount of oil, butter, or margarine is all you need for easy food release when you follow these basic steps:

Take foods out of the refrigerator and allow them to rest on the counter about 10 minutes before cooking. Placing chilled food in a heated pan causes sticking, even in stick-resistant pans.


Preheat the pan and oil properly (see Stove-Top Use).


Use the proper temperature to cook (see Heat Settings).
Nonstick cookware

With nonstick cookware, the cooking surface doesn’t determine the amount of fats you use to cook. You can use very little or no added oils at all. Or you can use as much butter or oil as you like. You decide, that’s the beauty of nonstick.

So, use oils or fats for added crispness, color, or flavor, if you like. For a golden color and crisp texture with hash browns, pancakes, and sautéed meats, apply a thin coating of butter or margarine. You may also wipe a thin film of canola, olive or other oil over the cooking surface.

Stainless steel cookware

A small amount of oil, butter, or margarine is all you need for easy food release when you follow these basic steps:

Take foods out of the refrigerator and allow them to rest on the counter about 10 minutes before cooking. Placing chilled food in a heated pan causes sticking, even in stick-resistant pans.


Preheat the pan and oil properly (see Stove-Top Use).


Use the proper temperature to cook (see Heat Settings).
TIP

DO NOT use aerosol cooking sprays in any Calphalon cookware. Sprays leave a gummy residue that is difficult to remove completely. This residue causes food to stick, even in nonstick cookware.
For more info go to www.calphalon.com (http://www.calphalon.com)

[DSH]

Okay, if you didn't ever read the instructions, then is there any way to repair the pan? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

Donna

[erinl]

The chemist geek in me shines through:

fluorocarbons

[Beth]

DOnna, there are some old threads on this with a number of suggestions. On some non-Calphalon pans, I have used Goo-Gone and a nylon scrubber, then wash thoroughly with Dawn (to break down and remove the citrus oils in the cleaner). Repeat if necessary. (Sounds kind of like a shampoo bottle, doesn't it?)

[DSH]

Thanks, Beth. I'll try it. Maybe this explains why I always thought Caphalon was highly overrated! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Donna

[kwormann]

Ok...I used to work at Willimas-Sonoma and I can say....NEVER put spray on Calphalon....I use the Misto spritzer with oil.

Kim

[makedah]

I no longer use cooking spray because the instructions for several of my pots and my cookie sheet say not too. Plus, that stuff tastes awful. I use a little canola oil.

[sneezles]

Thanks, Erin for the spellcheck!

For all that residue I will claim again the best way to clean it is Vodka!

[hlao23]

I have an el cheapo T-Fal non-stick skillet. I use cooking spray on it all the time and have never had residue build up.

Maybe this is a case for cheaper being better for some things.

[HedyL]

i ruined a non-stick cookie sheet w/ non-stick spray. i still use the spray on non-stick stuff like pyrex and corning ware. i use a mister...i have one w/ olive oil and one w/ garlic-olive oil

[Julie O]

First an explanation on how these pans are sometimes made. Teflon doesn't want to stick to anything, including metal. So, the pan has very, very tiny pits that the Teflon gets trapped in. Then the Teflon is hardened. This is what forms the coating.

Just a theory--Most of the cooking sprays like Pam have a silicone as one of the ingredients. I suspect that the silicone may be forming a gunky residue that may be partially filling these pits. Long silicon polymers (gunk) would be very difficult to clean with standard household detergents.

[Vanessa]

Did you buy the Calphalon cleaner? Comes in a tub (please do wear gloves) and it comes with a scruber (green one). It is REALLY good. Removes stains from beans (bottom of stock pot) and removes build up etc. I believe its $11.00 and you must rinse your pan well after. You can buy it at any store that sells calphalon.I think this cleaner will "restore" your Calphalon. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Vanessa (edited 05-23-2001).]