T-fal and the Hot Spot

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You’d think that I knew how to cook with all my posts on recipes and food. Small things like having a professional cook for a father, growing up working in restaurant kitchens and working as a camp cook at 15 would lead you to believe I know my way around cookware.  And yet the T-fal Sensorielle pan  had me completely confuddled.

As part of the Canadian Beef Brand Ambassadorship, each of the Ambassadors received a wonderful non-stick T-fal pan with Thermo-spot Technology, and a batch of Hamburger Helpers.  This was to be a part of our Big Batch Beef experimentation and I was eager to get started.  (Since between you and me, I’m a little behind on my beef posts.)

t-fal thermo-spot & hamburger helper

I washed my pan in warm soapy water, reviewed the directions on how this cool Thermo-spot worked, and followed them to the letter waiting for the pattern on the bottom of the pan to disappear and show me it was ready to cook.
T-fal Sensorielle - t-fal thermo-spot

I waited. I waited some more. I turned up the heat. I waited. I smelled smells. I heard noises. The pattern was still there, clear as day. I waited.
T-fal Sensorielle - t-fal thermo-spot

Let me share with you the exchange I had with some of my Beef Buddies when I attempted to use this new pan for the first time.

Publicly I said

Privately I asked

—- Christine says publicly —-

—- Christine says privately  —-

—- Lex says privately  —-

—- Christine says privately —-

—- Lex says privately —-

Then things get public and kind of meta (a very very shallow definition of meta, but meta non the less)

(this is the part where I desperately try and justify my technical pan-ineptitude through deflection. )

note: these DMs shared with permission, and a lot of giggling on the part of my Canadian Beef Ambassador co-horts.

For your reference:

no giggling!

NOT HOT T-Fal Thermo-Spot looks like this:

t-fal thermo-spot - cold

HOT T-Fal Thermo-Spot looks like this:

t-fal thermo-spot - hot

Note: only the dot in the middle has lost it’s pattern! And it should not take 40 minutes unless your stove is a dud.

Another useful tip:

  • You shouldn’t use these pans over high heat because it can damage the non-stick coating. Oh and using high heat for, say, 20-30 minutes can cause some meltiness in the handle.

Note: this post is part of my Canadian Beef Brand Ambassador series. For more information on my relationship with Canada Beef Inc read about my Foodie Adventure: I’m a Canadian Beef Brand Ambassador. #LoveCdnBeef and my disclosure statement

 

Alexa Clark

Alexa is a digital marketer and author with over 20 years in digital & interactive communications in the food and tech industries. Alexa's CheapEats Restaurant Guides, for both Toronto & Ottawa, were Canadian best sellers. She is a recognized authority on social media and has been named one of Canada's 20 Leading Women in Social Media.

16 thoughts on “T-fal and the Hot Spot

  • March 13, 2013 at 4:45 pm
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    Bwahahahahaha! Ohhh! I LOVE this post! I remember when you tweeted us! I was dying of laughter 🙂 BEST Twitter convo ever! 
    Signed, 
    A fellow #loveCDNbeef ambassador xo

    Reply
    • March 13, 2013 at 5:11 pm
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      chancesmommy I was just very happy you guys were there with me.  Gerry just stared and wondered why exactly lunch was taking so long.

      Reply
    • March 13, 2013 at 5:21 pm
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      chancesmommy so very glad you like it… especially since you wrote a chunk of it. You and kitchenfrolic cc HeatherTravis Tfal_Canada

      Reply
    • March 13, 2013 at 5:21 pm
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      chancesmommy kitchenfrolic and thanks again for letting me make all that silliness public!

      Reply
      • March 13, 2013 at 5:48 pm
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        alexaclark kitchenfrolic HAHA! I’m happy to be silly with you in public. See you at #FBC2013!!!

        Reply
  • March 13, 2013 at 5:27 pm
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    Thought some of you professionals might get a giggle out of this Diane McConnell, Matt Kantor, Chef Ilona Daniel, Jason Bangerter.

    Reply
  • March 13, 2013 at 7:14 pm
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    I know I had a good laugh! You’d better STICK to the old cast iron. Even those shouldn’t be turned up too high.

    Reply
  • March 13, 2013 at 7:22 pm
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    Oh Lex, to have been there.

    Reply
  • March 13, 2013 at 7:58 pm
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    You know Lex, I would’ve probably done the same thing as I’ve never cooked with one of these pans, I have my trusty omellette pan, then my cast iron, then my paderno..I know it’s rough right.

    Reply
  • March 13, 2013 at 8:26 pm
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    I thought you guys might get a kick out of that, and possibly relate. I appreciate the validation Di!

    Reply
  • March 13, 2013 at 11:02 pm
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    And overheated nonstick ware gives off toxic gases… Signe L. accidentally killed her two budgies (in the next room) by doing that. Can be dangerous to people, too.

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    • March 14, 2013 at 9:12 am
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      PatAndersonI had read that but hadn’t confirmed the new nonstick used in these pans had the same off gassing. (I had some troubles getting onto the t-fal website yesterday — http://www.t-fal.ca/Enviro.htm)

      Reply
      • March 14, 2013 at 9:16 am
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        AlexaClark PatAnderson That’s great to read! Glad to see it. Thanks for the link, Alexa!

        Reply
  • March 14, 2013 at 9:35 am
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    not to mention Lex, I’m honored to be included in the same sentence as those inspiring chefs…thank you

    Reply
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