Frying pan tapaka: history, description and features of choice

In order to cook the Georgian dish loved by many, namely tapak chicken, you need to use certain dishes. In this article, we will talk about what kind of frying pan is required to prepare such a dish, what are its main differences from standard models, and also find out what role the press plays on the dishes.

There is nothing supernatural about the Georgian chicken recipe: you need fresh poultry, a range of spices, some garlic and oil. However, in order to properly prepare a dish, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of oriental cooking. History suggests that previously for cooking chicken tapaka used an iron sheet with some kind of press, however, modern technology has discarded such a need. To enhance the taste of the dish, a special frying pan was created, which today is known as tapa.

Tapa is ideal for preparing a Georgian national dish for a number of reasons:

• during stewing, the bird should easily fit into the dishes;
• thanks to the smooth cast-iron surface of the pan, including the lid, maximum contact with the meat is achieved, which ultimately allows for a crispy crust;
• uniform heating occurs, which allows you to avoid cooking individual parts of the bird faster than the rest;
• the cover can be easily made heavier by placing a load on the surface;
• the pan prevents the meat from burning.

Thanks to the rapid development of modern technologies, it has been possible to introduce a number of changes to the previously familiar tapa pan. Today, a person has a choice of the main material of manufacture, direct design and construction.

The dishes can be round or square. These varieties have their own characteristics. For example, it is much easier to put chicken in a square one, while round dishes are warmed up more evenly on the stove, which ensures better roasting.

As a rule, manufacturers include special lids in the kit, some of them are prudently equipped with screw devices that eliminate the need for additional weight during the cooking process, which is much more convenient for modern housewives. For the most part, in addition to the dishes, there is a standard glass lid, so that you can use tapa for cooking other dishes.

The most popular material for making dishes today is still cast iron. However, in recent years, an increasing variety of pans made of various alloys, as well as with an additional non-stick coating, have begun to be produced all over the world. We propose to consider two main materials with their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

• the material allows you to evenly heat all the dishes;
• metal does not need an artificial non-stick surface coating;
• will maintain the temperature of the dish for a long time;
• will last a long time.

Disadvantages:

• may rust;
• it cannot be stored in it, as in a container, cooked dishes;
• pricks easily;
• the weight of the frying pan together with the lid sometimes reaches 10 kilograms.

Pros:

• the dishes are not heavy;
• you can store the prepared dish.

Minuses:

• there is a need for a non-stick surface coating;
• there is a great danger of damage to the frying pan, as a rule, the non-stick coating suffers, which is why it is undesirable to use metal devices in the cooking process;
• there is no uniform heating of the entire surface, including the lid.

If everything is clear with the material, it is worth figuring out which cover to choose. As mentioned earlier, there are two options, which should be considered in turn.

• Screw press lid. This is a kind of structure that is attached to the pan, then the meat is pressed using a screw. If you are using one of the alloys instead of a cast iron pan, a non-stick cover is required.

The only drawback of this device is the need to purchase it together with a frying pan. This is due to the difficult installation on other dishes or, in general, the impossibility of fastening. However, the difficulties are more than compensated for by the possibility of changing the pressure during the preparation of the tapac chicken.

• Cover press. The material of manufacture is preferably cast iron, with a cast iron or wooden cover for ease of use. A relatively heavy device, the average weight ranges from 3 to 5 kilograms. One of the advantages is versatility. In other words, the press can be used on any large-diameter frying pan, however, the given weight, as a rule, does not allow achieving the desired result, which in some cases can lead to flattening of the meat or to the complete absence of a crust.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with a number of simple tips from experienced chefs, so that you will not be mistaken when choosing a particular frying pan for cooking.

• The bottom thickness must be at least a centimeter.
• Preference should be given to dishes with a high-quality non-stick coating on the surface.
• A ribbed bottom will not work if you are going to cook a standard Georgian dish. The pan must be smooth so that the chicken has that very crispy crust.
• The dishes should be at least 30 cm in diameter, otherwise there is a high probability that the bird simply will not fit completely.
• Preference should be given to sets with a screw cap, which will simplify cooking.
• If you prefer a press, do not take a product weighing more than 3 kilograms - this will make the meat too dry, which will ruin the taste.
• The diameter of the lid should be a few centimeters smaller than that of the pan.
• The best chicken taste is obtained in a cast iron cookware.

Take your time to cook using new utensils, first of all, take some time to study the pan, find out its features immediately before the first use.

Choosing a frying pan for cooking a Georgian dish is not as easy as it might seem. With a little attention to studying all the nuances, you will be able to choose the right dishes for the tobacco chicken.

For information on how to cook tapaka chicken in a special frying pan, see the next video.