Tilt Skillets & Braising Pans

Common Questions About Braising Pans

What is a commercial tilt skillet?

Commercial tilt skillets are high-capacity, versatile pans with a tilting mechanism that aids in distributing cooked food and separating out liquids or different consistencies. When working with the large quantities these braising pans can handle, a tilting mechanism is necessary to efficiently serve the food once it has been cooked since spooning out forty gallons of stir fry might take a while. Tilting braisers have spouts that enable operators to remove liquid during or after the cooking process – one of the keys to the unit's versatility. Operators can adjust the level of liquid used in cooking, so the machine can cook in many different ways. The versatility of this equipment means operators can utilize a braising pan regardless of the day's menu. No unused equipment will take up valuable floor space, and whatever the chef wants to prepare can be made with the braising pan in large quantities.

Which establishments need a commercial braising pan?

Because these pans are so versatile, almost any commercial kitchen could use one. Institutional kitchens that prepare large quantities of set recipes, such as schools, hospitals, or correctional facilities, will receive the largest benefit from adding a tilting skillet. Smaller establishments that prepare each meal as it's ordered might not be able to take full advantage of the massive capacity offered by these pieces, but even smaller restaurants could use a tilting skillet to prepare popular, slow-cooking items such as stew or chili. Again, these units can be used to cook almost anything, so an enterprising chef will no doubt find the most effective way to implement them, whether in preparing a large batch of a key ingredient or in readying a particular customer favorite. This system frees up other cooking equipment that would have otherwise been used to prepare proteins or simmer stews.

What features should I look out for?

Pour spouts, drains, and tilting mechanism type should all be considered before purchasing a tilting skillet. Pour spouts enable operators to siphon off portions of the cooking food without ladling it out by hand. Many pour spouts include a strainer or filter that can draw off liquid, which is great for making stocks or soups and filtering out particular sizes of particles.

Drains in the center of the cooking pan perform a similar function to the spout but serve only to release cooking liquid rather than larger particles. Drains can be easier to use than a spout and filter, though, if you think you'll need that function frequently.

There are two types of tilting mechanism: manual or automatic. These two usually correlate with the pan capacity, as larger capacities utilize automatic tilting mechanisms and smaller capacities use manual tilting mechanisms. A manual tilting mechanism requires the operator to tilt the pan with a lever, though the operator's strength will be aided by the mechanism. Automatic tilting mechanisms are operated by pushing a button so that a motor can do the lifting.