Warped pans: Why they occur and how to fix them?

If you’ve ever been frying eggs or cooking pancakes and noticed they tend to run to one edge of the pan, cooking unevenly, you probably have a warped pan.

Why do pans warp?

Almost all types of pans can and will warp over time, mainly due to strong fluctuations in temperature. Some pans slope outward, creating a wobbly bottom, and others slope inward, making it difficult to cook evenly in the center of the pan.

This article explains why pans warp, how to fix them, and how to prevent warping from ruining your future pans.

Why do pans warp?

Most frying pans are made of various materials. Some have multiple layers of metal on the base, or a combination of the base, handles, rivets, and enamel or nonstick coating, all of a slightly different material.

Different materials expand and contract at different rates when heated and cooled. If the temperature changes occur gradually, your pans will be fine.

However, if there is a drastic change in temperature, such as putting a cold pan in a hot oven or a hot pan in cold water, you can start to see thermal break.

Even something as seemingly minor as a difference between the size of your pan and the size of the burner you cook on can cause warping over time.

Thermal breakage occurs when the various materials in the pan pull on themselves and damage the pan. You may notice cracks or chips in the coating, handles that move, and of course, warping.

It is also possible that your pan will warp quickly because it is not of the best quality. For more high-quality nonstick pans, check out our Ballarini cookware review.

Why do pans warp in the oven?

Pans and saucepans aren’t the only cookware that warps. Baking sheets are even more prone to warping.

If you’ve ever put dinner or dessert in the oven to start baking and heard a popping or popping noise seconds later, the pan has warped.

The same often happens when you take it out of the oven to let it cool on the counter or stove.

Like kitchen pans, warping of baking sheets is often caused by a large fluctuation in temperature.

Metal baking sheets are usually very large and thin and are often made of lightweight metal, which is more susceptible to warping.

Rimless baking sheets warp very easily because they don’t have any side support to help keep them flat.

How to fix warpage

If you find yourself with a warped mold that you’d rather fix, rather than replace, there are a few solutions that may work, depending on the condition of your mold and the material it’s made from.

How to undo warped pans

It’s relatively easy to fix a warped nonstick or stainless steel pan, but you’ll need a few pieces of equipment to make sure the end result is level.

Equipment

This is what you need

• A light mallet (wooden or rubber)
• A piece of wood the same diameter as your pan
  • If your pan is tilted inward, the wood will have to fit inside your pan.
  • If the pan is tilted out, the wood should be slightly larger than the pan.
• A level

Instructions

Here’s how to unzip the pan:

1. Heat the pan over low heat for 5-10 minutes.
2. Place the hot pan on a stable, flat, heat-resistant surface; if your pan is tilted out, place it upside down.
3. Lay the wood along the sloping side of the pan, being careful not to touch the hot pan.
4. Use the mallet to hit the wood where the pan is bowed.
5. Keep hitting with the mallet until the wood is flat against the surface of the pan.
6. Use a level to make sure the pan is flat on a surface.

Return to heat and repeat the operation if necessary until you have eliminated the arching of the mold.

How to undo the curvature of the baking pans

Baking pans and cooking sheets can be re-flattened using the same technique as for fixing a warped pan, as detailed above.

Since baking sheets are often larger than skillets, you may find it easier to have the pan upside down on a flat surface, with the strip of wood running through the short length of the pan.

You will need to move the wood across the pan, hitting it with the mallet, until you have flattened the entire pan.

How to avoid deformation

In a perfect world, we’d keep our pans from warping in the first place, so they wouldn’t need to be fixed. For your future pans, try to follow these simple recommendations.

• Humidity is one of the main causes of rapid temperature changes. If you place a hot pan in a sink that has some water in it, even a few drops, it can sizzle and cause damage to your pan. This is true not only for metal pans, but for glass and stoneware pans as well. You’ll also need to be careful when pouring cold water or liquids into a hot pan, even while cooking.
• Once you’ve finished cooking, allow the pan or cookware to cool gradually. Let it sit on the fire or in a heatproof clover until it’s cool enough to touch, then wash it.
• In the case of pans or trays that go in the oven, try not to put cold pans in a preheated oven. Let them warm up in the oven, or make sure they are at least room temperature before you put them in the oven.

Following these tips will help you extend the life of your cookware and save you time and money trying to fix it or buying a new one.

warp resistant pans

An even easier way to prevent pans from warping is to buy one that isn’t susceptible to warping in the first place. But are there pans that do not warp?

Carbon steel and cast iron pans are more durable than other materials, such as aluminum, and are much more resistant to warping.

If you are tired of changing pans due to deformation, investing in a pan made of one of these two materials is your best option. This pre-seasoned 10.5” cast iron skillet from Lodge can tackle almost any culinary task with ease.

Just remember that you’ll need to properly season a cast iron skillet to keep it protected and performing to its full potential.

If you prefer stainless steel, look for a fully coated skillet, like this Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Skillet from All-Clad.

Fully clad pans are made by stamping multiple layers of metal together, making them resistant to warping because nothing is stuck to it.

In contrast, disc bottom pans have the bottom of the pan flush to the body, making them more susceptible to warping and other types of thermal damage.

Lastly, if you’re shopping for nonstick pans, try to find one that’s PTFE-coated, which is more resistant to thermal damage and warping than non-PTFE pans, and will need to be replaced less frequently.

The softer the pan material, the faster it will warp.

If wobbly pans are the bane of your existence, stay away from lightweight metals like aluminum or copper, or at least go for a hard-anodized aluminum pan.

Warp resistant baking dishes

Most baking sheets are made of light metal, usually aluminum, which is easy to warp. Investing in a “double thickness” or “commercial” mold strengthens the metal to resist warping.

Finding a baking sheet that provides support for the pan via a rolled edge can help keep your pan flat, heating evenly to reduce large temperature fluctuations. Stainless steel edges are even more effective.

Related questions

What is All-Clad cookware?

All-Clad is a premium cookware brand. Their pots and pans are made using the highest quality materials and bonding processes, guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Stainless steel pots are highly resistant to warping because they have a heat-conducting core that is not only in the bottom disc of the pot, but runs along the thick side walls as well.

This provides more even heating, better for cooking and regulating the temperature, as well as protecting the pot.

Do carbon steel pans warp?

Yes, carbon steel pans can warp like any other type of pan, but since they’re made of a heavy, durable metal, they’re less likely to warp easily.

If you invest in a carbon steel pan, you’ll need to take care of it to prevent it from warping, because it’s much more difficult to re-flatten than thinner pans.

The same goes for cast iron.

Do warped pans work with induction?

Induction cooktops work with warped pans, yes, as long as they’re made of the right metal.

It is best to use a flat pan, but the cooktop will recognize the magnetic bottom even if it is a bit wobbly.

Induction cooktops can also help reduce warpage because they help heat the pan more evenly, even if it doesn’t quite touch the surface.