Saucepans – the funny side

I said in my previous post that I replaced my saucepans because of the wooden handles not being suitable for a dishwasher – it wasn't the only reason …

In the early 90ies I lived in Kent and commuted into The Temple in London for my then day job. H worked 5 minutes away from where we lived. He was asked to mentor an accountancy student. The student was living away from home for the first time and so to help her settle in we invited her to supper.

Midweek entertaining when I'd done a full days work - plus a minimum 2-3hr commute each day wasn't usually the norm but because of the circumstances I made an exception.

I caught an earlier train and arrived home in good time. I'd prepped what I could but had to zoom around the corner to the supermarket for an item I'd forgotten. I placed a pan of potatoes on the hob leaving strict instructions to keep an eye for them coming to the boil and then to turn down to a gentle simmer. At the same time a little pixie on my shoulder whispered in my ear “don't do this”.

Our guest arrived whilst I was out. I should just mention that our back door was on the side of the house. We had a stable door into the kitchen. When I pulled onto the drive I could smell the burning … whoever said that men can't multitask especially when it concerns the kitchen … were entirely correct.

The smell was horrible and I suppose I should be grateful I had a house left and a kitchen come to that. I have never seen a saucepan so burnt – you could actually see the imprint of each potato as it had welded itself and turned to carbon on the bottom of the pan. I could have wept, my beautiful copper bottom saucepan. All I can say is it's a good job we had a guest!

Fast forward to the next day. When I arrived home the following evening the saucepan was clean. I have to say it was a great effort, the saucepan was not the same again, it had lost its shine – still usable but sad somehow.

Which is why I bought another set of Prestige copper bottom pans. After service above and beyond what any normal saucepan should have to suffer, they deserved my dosh.

The moral of the story – a pot that's not watched boils dry and burns!