Article: HEAT PAN, ADD OIL _ BUT WHY?(Life-Food)

Most saute recipes, as well as cooking tips included with new pans, instruct you to heat a pan before adding oil or butter, then add food after the oil becomes hot. I understand not putting cold proteins in a cold, oiled pan and heating it up: Food sticks badly. But why the extra step - why not put cold oil in a cold pan, heat it up, then add food?

"Because adding the oil to a hot pan keeps the food from sticking to the pan better than if you did it the other way," everybody said.

Does it? And if so, why? There must be a scientific explanation. I asked around.

Food writer and biochemist Shirley Corriher, author of "CookWise: The Hows and Whys ...

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