You’ve probably heard at some point that this is not practical. rub a hot frying pan. But is this true or is it just another one of those kitchen myths that actually have no scientific basis?
Well, in this case it is not a myth. When cleaning a hot pan may get worse. Maybe if you do it once nothing will happen, but over time it will deteriorate, crack or lose shape, so It will not lie evenly on the stove.
After finishing use, it is advisable to let the pan cool to room temperature. Then we can clean it in the usual way. If we don’t do this, what will happen heatstroke nothing useful for the metals from which it is made. But let’s see what the reasons are by turning to the basics of physics.
The main thing is thermal expansion
The reason you should never clean a hot pan is because of a property of metals known as thermal expansion.
When a substance is heated, the particles of which it consists they mix quickly, producing different effects depending on the state of matter. In the case of gases, this mixing causes particles to move around the available space, compressing the walls of the container and, if it is flexible, increasing its size. This is, for example, the case when a balloon inflates when heated and eventually explodes if the heat is very high. Liquid particles do not move as freely as gas particles, but they also move.
On the other hand, the bodies of rigid bodies are ordered and practically fixed in a network that allows them only vibrate. In some materials, such as metals, this vibration may be accompanied by slight expansion, sometimes imperceptibly. Who hasn’t had problems closing metal gates that have been exposed to the sun? The metal has become so hot that it has expanded and no longer fits completely into the housing.
In the case of frying pans, when heated, the metal also expands. We cannot see this with the naked eye because it is a minimal extension. As he explained in statements Huffington mail Phylicia Frasson, All-Clad Product Manager, A 10-inch (25.4 cm) skillet exposed to 400 degrees F (204.4 °C) will expand to 10.05 inches (25.5 cm). This something minimal, which when cooking quickly will not damage the pan; Well, as it cools, it returns to its original size without straining the metal. The problem occurs when you quickly rinse it with cold water.
What happens if you clean a hot pan?
Just as metals expand when heated, they also contract when cooled.
When we wash a frying pan at room temperature there will be almost no temperature. However, when cleaning a hot pan whose metal has expanded, it quickly contracts, which can cause the material to tear due to the force.
It doesn’t matter that the water is room temperature rather than ice cold, given the very high temperature of the pan, this is an important factor. heatstroke.
Therefore, it is advisable to remove the pan from the heat, wait until it cools slowly and only then proceed rub it normally. Of course, you shouldn’t leave it soaking to soften the dirt. At most, if there is no other way out, it should be soaked in very hot water to avoid sudden temperature changes. But if you wait a little, nothing will happen. The integrity of the pan will thank you.
Source: Hiper Textual
