Family Skillet Troubleshooting: Why is the Oil Going to the Side of the Pan?

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Discussion Overview

The thread discusses issues related to oil pooling in the Family Skillet, with participants sharing their experiences and troubleshooting ideas. Various factors affecting the skillet's performance are explored, including pan heating and stove levelness.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, mentions a customer complaint about oil running to the side of the pan.
  • Another participant suggests that heating the pan first may help, as the bottoms are concave and flatten when heated.
  • One user speculates that an unlevel stove could cause the oil to pool on one side.
  • Another participant shares their experience of checking their pans for flatness using a ruler, noting that some pans were not flat and needed replacement.
  • Several users express confusion about the term "concave" and whether preheating the pan is necessary.
  • One participant mentions a personal experience with a warped pan that did not flatten when heated, leading to a replacement from the company.
  • Another participant notes that the oil is not just running to one side but rather pooling around the outside of the pan, leaving the center dry.
  • One user questions whether the pan might be defective and asks about the possibility of a replacement or refund.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on whether preheating the pan is necessary and whether the oil pooling issue is due to the pan design or an unlevel stove. No clear consensus emerges regarding the best approach to resolve the issue.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal experiences and observations regarding the Family Skillet, with a focus on troubleshooting oil pooling issues during cooking.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants and users of the Family Skillet may find the shared experiences and troubleshooting discussions relevant to their own cooking practices.

C
ChefJeniLobdell
Messages
396
I have a customer who purchased the family skillet. She returned it to me complaining that when she pours oil into the pan and uses it to fry the oil goes to the side of the pan.

Has anyone else had a problem with this? If so, why does it happen?

I am not quite sure what to tell her.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Jeni
 
She needs to heat the pan first. All pans (except our executive) have concave bottoms that flatten when heated.
 
This sounds silly but if its only going to one side of the pan I'm guessing her stove or cooktop isn't level. Mine does the same thing.
 
Turn the skillet over, and place a steel ruler across the mid point of the center of the pan. See if it sets in contact with the entire 10 or 12" of the bottom of the pan's surface. I have a glass top stove, and that is very import to the success of what I am preparing. Last week, I was wondering about my Professional Family Skillet and my husband came up with his Engineer's steel ruler and guage. Well, by the time we finished, I had taken
out all my PC Cookware to check on whether the pan bottom was FLAT, as we advertise.

Several are being replaced. I have three items that I have not even used yet but have had them past the 30 days, so it will be my expense on the return shipping. However, when I am showing our products, I don't want
anyone to spot those flaws that to someone with an untrained eye, might be
just fine.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #5
Concave? I feel kind of silly, but not quite sure what this means. Should she heat the pan up and then add the oil?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #6
The oil is running to the outside of the pan, not staying across the entire bottom of the pan when being used.
 
The professional pans do not have flat bottoms and are not supposed to!

If the oil is running to one side, my guess is her stove is not level (mine isn't).
 
  • Thread starter
  • #8
The oil isn't running to one side. It is running to the outside of the pan and leaving the middle with no oil.
 
Defective pan
ChefJeniLobdell said:
The oil isn't running to one side. It is running to the outside of the pan and leaving the middle with no oil.
Click to expand...

Maybe she has a defective pan. It could be that this pan has something wrong with it. Is she getting a replacement or a refund?

Debbie :D
 
  • Thread starter
  • #10
She sent the pan with a friend to a show I was doing. Unfortunately I have the pan now.
 
ChefJeniLobdell said:
The oil isn't running to one side. It is running to the outside of the pan and leaving the middle with no oil.
Click to expand...

So the oil is in a big circle on the outside of the pan?

She needs to preheat her pan, then. The bottoms are not flat until they are heated.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #12
Thanks so much for your help. I will try it with her pan before I give it back. Then I will return it to her and tell her to preheat it.
 
ChefJeniLobdell said:
Thanks so much for your help. I will try it with her pan before I give it back. Then I will return it to her and tell her to preheat it.
Click to expand...

Jeni,
Where in Florida are you?
 
  • Thread starter
  • #14
Naples, Florida.
 
Did you try preheating the pan yet, and then adding the oil? Hoping that will "fix" the problem!
 
There's no real need to preheat the pan. If she puts the oil in, then heats it, the pan should flatten out just fine.

That said, I have an aunt whose pan was warped. It did not flatten as it heated. HO replaced it.
 
  • Thread starter
  • #17
Haven't had a chance yet. Today has been CRAZY!

I plan on trying it this weekend with my skillet and hers and comparing the two.

Thanks.
 
I did an adjustment for someone a couple months ago on the professional 12" pan. It WAS totally flat when she bought it, she has a glass top cookstove, and with use... the bottom raised and it never flattened out when preheated. I called HO and they had no problem replacing it and told me the bottom should be flat. Now I'm curious with the info here that says they aren't flat. Is that in the PIG information?
 
That question is in not way intended to be snotty... althought it could read that way now as I look at it... Its just so interesting to me to hear all the different info that everyone has... please forgive me if that wasn't phrased very well....
 
quiverfull7 said:
That question is in not way intended to be snotty... althought it could read that way now as I look at it... Its just so interesting to me to hear all the different info that everyone has... please forgive me if that wasn't phrased very well....
Click to expand...
Didn't sound snotty at all! Sounded like you wanted to know what we are supposed to tell our customers! :)
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the oil going to the side of the pan when using the Family Skillet?

The oil may be pooling to the side of the pan due to uneven heating or the skillet not being level on the cooking surface. Ensure that your stovetop is flat and that the skillet is placed evenly on the burner.

How can I prevent oil from running to the side of the Family Skillet?

To prevent oil from running to the side, make sure to preheat the skillet evenly before adding oil. Additionally, using a moderate heat setting can help maintain an even temperature across the cooking surface.

Is it normal for oil to move to one side of the Family Skillet?

While some movement of oil can occur due to the design of the skillet or the cooking technique, excessive pooling may indicate that the skillet is not level or that the heat is not distributed evenly.

What should I do if my Family Skillet is warped and causing oil to pool?

If your skillet is warped, it may not sit flat on the stovetop, leading to uneven cooking and oil pooling. Consider replacing the skillet if it is under warranty or try to adjust the heat settings to mitigate the issue.

Can I use the Family Skillet on an induction cooktop?

Yes, the Family Skillet is compatible with induction cooktops as long as it has a magnetic base. Ensure that the skillet is properly centered on the induction burner for even heating and to prevent oil from pooling to one side.

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