How to make a pan non-stick with salt? (3 ways)

In this brief guide, we will answer the question ‘How to make a pan non-stick with salt?’. To make a pan non-stick we could use salt only. We can also use oil in combination with salt to make a pan non-stick.

How to make a pan non-stick with salt?

Non- stick pan is an important kitchen utensil in almost every household. However, they do not tend to last very long. 

Non-stick pans make the frying process simple by not letting your food stick to the bottom.

It is not an easy task to cook on a pan that is not non-stick. Food sticking to the pan is a real hassle because it ruins both your meal and your pan. You don’t need to worry if your non-stick pan is sitting dirty in the sink or if you don’t own one. You could try using any of the following ways to turn your regular pan into non-stick.  

The polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE is a plastic that is layered on the pan while manufacturing. The PTFE plastic has very few cohesive forces, so anything that comes in contact has very little friction. The pan becomes slippery, which makes food not stick to the pan base. The low coefficient of friction of PTFE makes it a sought-after cooking utensil at home. 

With time, the Teflon layer on a non-stick pan gets peeled off, making the pan scratched. The loss in slipperiness happens because of leftover food debris and abrasive scouring pads. The smooth surface of the pan deteriorates with use.

Besides salt to turn a regular pan into non-stick, coconut oil or ghee also can be used. In this guide, we will look at ‘How to make a pan non-stick with the salt?’ and then ‘How to make a pan non-stick with salt?’

Method 1

This process is quick and easy. Follow these steps to make a pan non-stick with salt.

  1. Take your pan and season it with a cup filled with table salt.
  2. Spread the salt even onto the pan, including the sides.
  3.  Heat it at a high flame until it turns brown.
  4. Remove the salt by wiping or rinsing the pan. Take a look to ensure that your pan is shiny and smooth.
  5. Your pan is ready to be used as a non-stick frying pan. 

The two processes below make use of salt along with oil.

Method 2

  1. Add a fine thick layer of salt onto the pan. You will need around two tablespoons of salt.
  2. Light up your stove to medium heat, and let your pan sit for a few minutes until it gets quite hot.
  3. You need to distribute the salt around the pan. Move the salt carefully using towels. Be cautious enough so that you do not not burn yourself. Give the center and the sides of the pan a nice rub.
  4. Once the salt has heated enough and been moved thoroughly around the pan, get rid of the salt.
  5. After you have wiped off the salt, pour in some frying oil. You need a thin layer of oil enough to coat the surface of the pan evenly. Use an oil that has a higher smoke point, such as sunflower oil.
  6. Proceed by putting your pan back up on the stove. Heat until the smoke point of the oil is attained.
  7. Let the pan cool and wipe away some of the oil that you don’t need.

Method 3

  1. Here you heat your pan first at medium to high heat.
  2. Then put a tablespoon of coconut on the pan.
  3. Swirl it around and ensure uniform layering.
  4. Pour half to one cup of salt into the pan.
  5. Get a paper towel or cloth to rub the salt and oil on the pan. Do it evenly in a circular motion.
  6. You can now get rid of extra oil and salt from your pan and proceed to the cooking process.

To make your pan non-stick, you will need to follow the methods every time you cook. Unless you wash your pan lightly, you can reuse it again. When you use your self-made non-stick pan, be sure to heat it at medium flame instead of high.

When you season the pan with salt, it seals the imperfection or pits in an old frying pan. A rough frying pan becomes smoother. 

The salt also gets rids of oil seasonings that were left behind, making it polished. By forming a layer on the surface of the frying pan, it makes its surface uniform. After it is seasoned with salt and greased with oil, a higher and more uniform temperature is attained. The heat is spread more quickly through the pan as the salt gets etched on the surface. Hence, the oil to be adsorped onto the surface. When you pour the oil in, it forms a thin uniform fil that makes the pan act as a non-stick pan.

In this brief guide, we answered the question ‘How to make a pan non-stick with salt?’. To make a pan non-stick we can either use salt alone or together with oil.

Other FAQs about Salt that you may be interested in.

How to salt unsalted nuts?

How much is 5 grams of salt?

Can too much salt kill you?

https://www.kitcheniest.com/how-to-make-a-pan-non-stick/#:~:text=Put%20a%20cup%20of%20table,non%20sticky%20for%20your%20use.

https://www.tips-and-tricks.co/lifehacks/frying-pan-salt/

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=46053.0

https://www.explainthatstuff.com/nonstickpans.html

https://home.howstuffworks.com/nonstick-cookware2.htm