How do you flatten a frying pan?

Hazel Carestia
by Hazel Carestia

I guess from the heat, the pan has a point in middle, the pan does not sit on burner right. I have flat top stove. Do I have to throw it out?

  7 answers
  • Oliva Oliva on Mar 11, 2019

    I'd say get rid of it, buy a new one, and monitor closely when in use. If your stove top is electric, note that they tend to heat to higher temps, and require time to adjust to, when in use. They do not cool down as rapidly as gas. Lower temps may be warranted.

  • Leah Leah on Mar 11, 2019

    You might try reheating it to hot. Put on a board and hammer from bottom. Is it a costed pan. If so, it will need to break thrown away.

  • Maynard Maynard on Mar 11, 2019

    Try putting it on a flat surface that does not involve the handle, so that the rim is in contact with the surface all the way around. Perhaps on a porch with the handle hanging off the edge. Then step on the middle of the pan with one foot and flex your body weight down. You should feel and possibly hear the pan shift. The problem inherent with doing this is you will probably end up with a pan that sits flat on the cooktop, but has a high spot in the center. If that happens, place it back down on the flat surface, right side up and repeat the flexion trick to flatten the pan. Or you could get a good cast Iron skillet, (Lodge is the brand to get) and never have to deal with this problem again. Around $35 for a 12".

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Mar 11, 2019

    put it on burner on high get it really hot put something really really heavy on it(wood cutting board with 2 bricks) 'til it's flat turn burner off then leave it til it cools it should flatten back out itself. don't put cool/cold water in hot pan after cooking or remove from hot burner and put/set on anything cool the fast shift in temp. will warp it.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Jan 11, 2021

    If you super heat a coated aluminum pan try to "fix" the warpage, you'll further ruin the plasticized coating. Ingesting tiny flakes of that coating is a no-no.

    Your health is worth buying a new one.

    I hate to recommend Walmart, but they've got a lot of coated aluminum pans for cheap.

  • Deb K Deb K on Sep 12, 2021

    Hello Hazel, hope this helps you out,

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvz5iKJ7_zc