La Ideal_Polished Steel Paella Pan, 100 cm

I am originally from Valencia Spain where paella originates. This is just like the pan my grandmother had. A real paella pan, such as this one, must be seasoned before using and after each time you use it, wash with a sponge and warm soapy water. You must hand dry it, not air dry it. Then add a little olive oil in the center and use a small piece of paper towel to cover the entire pan with a thin coat of olive oil to preserve it and keep it from rusting. I remember, this is exactly what my grandmother would do back in Spain. This is an authentic paella pan. One thing to remember about real cooks is that the utensils we use will never look like they did in a store window once we use them. If you buy a paella pan and it looks just like the way it was when you first bought it, you are not using it to cook, or you don’t have an authentic pan. When you make paella for 10 Spaniards they are not going to say”Gee, your pan looks brand new”; but rather “Qué paella deliciosa”. I have used it inside over 3 gas burners on my stove (I have a stove that has 5 burners , 2 on the right and 2 on the left and 1 in the center) and outside on a gas ring. I prefer to cook inside. Both inside and outside paella’s were just as good. Keep in mind to never heat your pan to high heat. I never go higher than Med high and most the time the heat is at medium or medium low. I love my new 22” pan. I was tired of making two paella’s using 2 - 14” pans. This pan feeds 6-8 people max. That is if your paella is good and everyone wants seconds.

Based on some of the negative reviews, I was worried about the burning of the pan and the rust. But I followed the instructions for seasoning the pan before use completely. There was no rust. The paella turned out great! There was some burning of the rice at the bottom but that came off easily as soon as I scrubbed it a little. Washing and drying the pan thoroughly is critical to avoid rust. Make sure to season it before storing away. Love this pan.

As a home cook who loves to explore making food from a variety of world cuisines, I have had my sights set on a paella pan for years. I have tried to make due with other skillets, but I could not achieve that signature texture that we love about paella. So when I saw this one we bought it. It's perfecto! The first time I used it, I was able to create a paella with the flavor and texture of Spain including the much-desired zocorat. It's the perfect size and thickness to achieve the perfect results. I am even planning to take it camping where I can use it (as originally intended) over live fire. Don't make do-this is a pan that will make paella a family favorite go-to dish on weeknights and weekends alike. It's stainless steel so it's easy to clean.

Great pan but ruined with a sticker right in the middle that leaves the residue that won’t come out

Bought this after getting tired of cooking paella in a stainless steel frying pan - could never create the "socarrat" aka crusty layer of rice at the bottom, and this pan really allows you to do so. Researched different materials and this one seemed to be the most recommended. It's quite wide - my first time using it I had leftover paella for days! So keep in mind that if you don't have large burners on your stove, you might be using two side-by-side to cook the paella. Because the pan spread across two burners on my stove, the key was to keep moving it so that no two spots became "hot spots" and to ensure the rice cooked evenly. I am hoping this is a pan I keep for years - so far it's seemed perfect. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the instructions it came with said to simmer the pan with a dash of white vinegar before the first use to get the film/coating off the surface. I did so then washed and dried it, and it left the pan looking dull and slightly worn - even though it was brand new. Not that it takes away from its functionality, it just won't look new and shiny any more.

I purchased the 24 inch model, and when it came I was a little surprised. It seems large, but once I put it on my burner and cooked a meal for my family, I appreciated that it gave me he space to cook on high heat in the middle, and then move items to the sides to stay warm or cook slowly. Four steaks and brussels with bacon turned out perfectly. The clean up was easy, I just washed with soap and water and scraped the stubborn spots with a flat edge, then used a wire cleaning pad. It took about 3 to 5 minutes, so its not like its a huge effort. I then put the pan back on the heat for about 30 seconds and wiped down with olive oil so it won't rust. I saw some reviews saying it got discolored after cooking, but it just shows normal wear and tear. If you don't take care of it, I'm sure it might rust, but just treat it like cast iron and make sure you don't put it away wet and I think you will be all good. This has replaced my grill.

Had purchased one prior and it worked so great I got another. They are large, and light. They brown evenly and the presentation is great when you put two large paella on the table.

I did not receive the pamphlets that were mentioned in the product description. Since this was a replacement for my old paella pan it was not essential. The pan arrived with two small rust spot near the handle.

Solidly built and great to cook in.

Una buena paellera

Schöne Pfanne

Excellent build quality. As with all.original designs the pan is not stainless steel but polished metal. This can turn dark in first use and is normal. Imparts a better flavor.

This pan came with pre-use (seasoning the pan), cleaning and preservation instructions which, if followed, works perfectly. (I prep my wok in the very same way so there is no rust). In terms of size, this pan fed 8 people easily and could take more in quantity so I would say for 10 people it is perfect.