DE202021002660U1 - Low-abrasion frying pan with honeycomb coating without perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) - Google Patents

Abstract

Pan for cooking food on a heat source, in domestic kitchens and in the catering sector, characterized in that the non-stick coating on the inner surface of the pan is made of a special fluoropolymer, free from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and having a honeycomb pattern, whereby it This honeycombed pattern allows a film of moisture to form in the spaces between the (honeycomb-like) elevations of the coating, which prevents the food from sticking and is also easy to clean.

Description

The invention relates to a pan for cooking food on a heat source, in household kitchens and in the catering sector. The outermost coating of the inner surface is designed in such a way that - even when using metal utensils - there is no abrasion, it has a honeycomb structure.

• Es besteht ein steigendes Bedürfnis nach Nachhaltigkeit - auch was das Haushaltswaren oder Gebrauchsgegenstände des Alltags betrifft. Auch im Bereich Lebensmittel-Konsum. Pfannen und Bratpfannen sind im privaten und gewerblichen Betrieb von Küchen ein zentrales Hilfsmittel für die Zubereitung von Speisen. Bekannt sind einen Vielzahl von Pfannenausbildungen. Ziel von guten Pfannen ist es von jeher, Speisen nicht anbrennen zu lassen. Daher werden unterschiedliche Beschichtungen verwendet, umgangsprachlich werden diese häufig als Teflon-Pfannen bezeichnet. Teflon ist ein Handelsname für den Kunststoff PTFE (Polytetrafluorethylen). Wegen seiner Antihaft-Eigenschaften sind viele Bratpfannen mit diesem Kunststoff beschichtet. Zur Herstellung von PTFE wurden lange Zeit Organofluorverbindungen wie PFOA (Perfluoroktansäure) verwendet. PTFE bereitet weniger in seiner Nutzungsphase - z. B. als Bratpfanne - Probleme, sondern schon vorher bei der Herstellung dieses Kunststoffes. Es werden dazu perfluorierte Hilfsstoffe wie PFOA eingesetzt, die in der Nähe von Fertigungsstandorten zu Belastungen von Wasser und Böden führen können. Diese Chemikalie ist extrem langlebig und wird deswegen auch als „Forever Chemical“ bezeichnet und kann beispielsweise über die Nahrungskette wieder in den menschlichen Körper gelangen. PFOA kann vermutlich Krebs verursachen und das ungeborene Kind schädigen und steht daher auf der Liste der besonders besorgniserregenden Stoffe. Ein weiterer Nachteil der PTFE-Beschichtung ist, dass die Anti-Haftwirkung mit der Zeit nachlässt und viele Bratpfannen deswegen im Müll landen.

The invention is based on the following finding:

• There is an increasing need for sustainability - also when it comes to household goods or everyday items. Also in the area of food consumption. Pans and frying pans are a key tool for preparing food in private and commercial kitchens. A variety of socket designs are known. The aim of good pans has always been to prevent food from burning. Therefore, different coatings are used, colloquially these are often referred to as Teflon pans. Teflon is a trade name for the plastic PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). Many frying pans are coated with this plastic because of its non-stick properties. Organofluorine compounds such as PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) have long been used to produce PTFE. PTFE prepares less in its use phase - e.g. B. as a frying pan - problems, but before in the production of this plastic. Perfluorinated additives such as PFOA are used for this purpose, which can lead to water and soil pollution in the vicinity of production sites. This chemical is extremely long-lived and is therefore also referred to as "forever chemical" and can, for example, get back into the human body via the food chain. PFOA is suspected of causing cancer and harm to the unborn child and is therefore on the list of substances of very high concern. Another disadvantage of the PTFE coating is that the non-stick effect decreases over time and many frying pans end up in the garbage because of this.

A large number of socket designs are known. These differ in terms of material and shape. The usual pans have a flat, circular bottom and a lateral, circumferential wall that is about 50 ° to almost perpendicular to this. Turning and removing food by moving/holding the pan at an angle often leads to impairments for inexperienced people, e.g. the food breaking, stains in the area, etc., since the side wall is a hindrance. A food lifter is therefore predominantly used to remove food. When pushing under and lifting, however, damage also occurs, e.g. protruding edge pieces on the omelet breaking off. Fat and pieces of food can drip off or fall off the food server and cause stains on the cooker, table and clothing. The food lifter also affects the bottom of the pan by scratching it and must be put down and cleaned as an additional tool.

Another problem is the different cooking times of the components, so that some of them have to be removed or loaded separately at different times. However, a timely loading is only possible for people with experience. In the DE OS 4402 747 a pan with a constantly concave inner wall is proposed, which should make it easier to turn the food. According to the DE OS 3101 091 the frying pan has a raised base with a lower temperature on the side. This raised area is used to store food and keep it warm. Finally, through the DE OS 274 6508 known to arrange a section in the wall of a pan down to the bottom of the pan through which burnt parts of food or fat can be removed. For this purpose, a collection container is arranged under the area of the cutout. For the usual use of pans on a heating surface, this solution is therefore not applicable.

The object of the present invention is to create a pan that has a flat base and a lateral, circumferential wall that is coated on the inside so that food does not burn even at high frying temperatures; but they are protected from burning by means of a surface texture that is designed in such a way that a layer of moisture forms between the individual structural elements, which heats up the surface of the respective food but prevents a direct heat exchange between the surface of the food and the surface of the pan takes place, which is regularly the cause of the burning. In addition, the aim of the invention is that the outermost coating of the inner surface of the pan is such that - even when using metal utensils - there is no abrasion and the pans are not damaged. Also, the pan coating should not have any - in part - toxic plastic elements of the PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) previously used because of its non-stick properties, since the production or processing of this substance is particularly environmentally unfriendly.

This task is solved with a pan coating with the characteristics of Schutzan claim 1. Advantageous developments of such a vessel are specified in the dependent claims 2 to 5. What is special about the pan coating is that it has a honeycomb pattern on the one hand, which allows a film of moisture (from roast juice or frying fat, for example) to form in the spaces between the (honeycomb-like) elevations of the coating, which prevents the food from sticking and is also light is to be cleaned. On the other hand, although the non-stick coating has first-class non-stick properties, it consists of a special fluoropolymer and not PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) - the coating does not contain any parts of PTFE either. This coating is also suitable for preventing abrasion typically caused by the use of metal-tipped kitchen utensils in the pan.

The structure of the pan layers is designed in such a way - stainless steel on the outside, aluminum in the middle and stainless steel on top, on which the pan coating is attached - that it can be used on all common types of stoves: gas stoves and electric stoves; Induction cooker or ceramic hob. Since the pan has no plastic parts, it can also be used in the oven.

According to this, the invention consists in a pan that is provided with a non-stick coating that is made of a special fluoropolymer and has a honeycomb structure that prevents food from sticking in the pan (even at high temperatures) and possibly burning and so is such that abrasion by (metallic) kitchen tools is avoided.

A pan coating designed in this way is already more sustainable during production than conventional pans. The omission of PTFE already ensures a smaller environmental footprint at the place of manufacture - because the sometimes toxic residues in the processing of PTFE are not to be expected. The pan is also more sustainable in the production method presented here because the coating is less vulnerable and lasts longer. The product presented here also ensures less environmental pollution when it comes to disposal due to the absence of PTFE.

Thanks to a non-stick coating with a honeycomb structure, it is possible to cook food at high temperatures without fear of sticking or burning. The layer of moisture between the honeycomb elevations ensures that the food is cooked evenly and gently. The liquid - be it fat or juice - is evenly distributed between the honeycomb patterns and thus reaches every part of the food being prepared.

According to the invention, the pan coating is sustainable and more environmentally friendly to produce than conventional pan coatings. The special consistency and the structuring of the coating in the pan ensure universal application possibilities - be it in canteen kitchens, for professional use or in the private hobby cooking area. In terms of care, the pan coating is no more demanding than conventional pans. A damp cloth is usually sufficient without the addition of washing-up liquid. But the coating also easily withstands professional cleaning with commercial kitchen dishwashers. Ideal care products are not required, it is sufficient if the pan is always lightly greased when not in use - commercial fats or care products are sufficient.

An advantageous embodiment is that the pan coating continues in the upper part of the inside of the pan and also has a flame-like structure at the top edge of the pan, which also has the non-stick properties and - because it is made of a coherent material - just like the "lower" honeycomb areas has excellent heat-conducting properties and also heats the food in this area - without it being able to burn.

A further advantageous embodiment is that the handle of the pan is made of stainless steel and the pan contains no plastic parts at all, so that the pan can also be used at high temperatures in an oven or on an open flame.

Another advantageous feature is that the bottom of the pan is made of stainless steel and has an aluminum core, which together have excellent heat-conducting properties and the pan can therefore be used on any type of stove/oven: ceramic fields, electric stove , induction cooker or gas cooker.

• 1 recognizable in a diagrammatic view: the side view of the diagrammatically cut open pans - with pan coating. The exemplary embodiment is an enlarged representation of a cross section that does not reflect the true proportions. The pan body 1 consists of a total of three layers: A layer of stainless steel 2 in the outermost area. An aluminum core 6 in the middle of the pan wall, and another stainless steel layer 5, which honeycomb the coating with shaped fluoropolymer (elevations) 3 and has a thin and flat fluoropolymer coating 4 in between.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 4402747 [0004]
• DE 3101091 [0004]
• DE 2746508 [0004]

Claims (5)

Pan for cooking food on a heat source, in domestic kitchens and in the catering sector, characterized in that the non-stick coating on the inner surface of the pan is made of a special fluoropolymer, free from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and having a honeycomb pattern, whereby it This honeycombed pattern allows a film of moisture to form in the spaces between the (honeycomb-like) elevations of the coating, which prevents the food from sticking and is also easy to clean. Pan for cooking food after claim 1 , characterized in that the special pan coating has a particularly firm consistency and, together with the honeycomb arrangement, means that abrasion of the coating layer is reduced to a minimum and no fluoropolymer parts are removed even with the addition of great heat and the use of hard kitchen utensils could become. Pan for cooking food after claim 1 and 2 characterized in that the pan coating continues in the upper part of the inside of the pan and has a flame-like structure at the top of the pan which has non-stick properties, the upper part of the inside of the pan having heat-conducting qualities and heating up in the same way as the central pan coating. Pan for cooking food according to the claims 1 - 3 , characterized in that the handle of the pan is made of stainless steel and the pan contains no plastic parts overall, so that you can use the pan even at high temperatures in an oven or on an open fire. Pan for cooking food according to the claims 1 - 4 , characterized in that the base of the pan is made of stainless steel and has an aluminum core, enabling the pan to be used on any type of stove/oven: ceramic hob, electric stove, induction stove or gas stove.

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