Jamie Oliver Cast Aluminium Range Grill Pan by Tefal - Review

Tefal Jamie Oliver Cast Aluminium Range Grill Pan
measures 29cm x 25cm

I've just had an induction hob fitted in my kitchen and this grill pan is perfect, although the pan can be used on all other heat sources too.  My old pan can't be used on induction and I've been looking round for some time now to get a replacement.  The options are either cast iron which are very heavy, or a few others which were lighter to handle but I wasn't convinced they would last or cook very evenly. This pan is more lightweight than cast iron and very strong and sturdy. Tefal is a trusted name and a brand I have used before and I knew I was going to be in for a treat when I was offered the pan to review.

Grilled salmon, crushed peas with mint and potatoes boulangere

Grill pans encourage me to cook healthier food, I came back from my annual holiday a couple of weeks ago and now thinking ahead to all the Christmas food I'm about to consume, I'm going to try and plan my meals carefully.

The pan is very roomy and you can easily cook four to six salmon steaks or chicken breast fillets at the same time.  Salmon takes about 3 or 4 minutes each side to cook.  I always oil the food and not the pan and this pan only requires a minimum of oil because it is non-stick. The underside of the handle is silicone for a non-slip grip and it stays cool too.

The pan has the patented Thermospot which is a great feature, simply put the pan on the heat and wait until the red pattern on the spot in the middle of the pan disappears and becomes a solid red spot. The pan will be at the optimum heat to sear and cook.

Parmesan chicken with griddled sweetcorn

Delicious grilled pineapple - simply baste the pineapple with honey 

Chicken marinated in soy sauce, Worcester sauce and brown sugar

The pan is really easy to clean. I cooked the pineapple in the pan first, let the pan cool a little and then gave it a quick wash in soapy water. Afterwards I cooked the chicken - any debris in the pan comes off easily with soapy water.

The base of the pan 

Oven safe to 260ºC - meat can be seared on the pan and then finished cooking in the oven.
Pro-metal hard non-stick interior.
Metal utensils can be safely used, excluding whisks and knives.
Heats quickly.
Even heat distribution.
Food stays beautifully moist.
Hand washing recommended - not a chore though because debris comes off easily.

Available from Debenhams - Price £70

Thank you to Tefal for the grill pan.

Review: Tefal Sensorielle Cookware

I have been asked to test the Tefal Sensorielle 26cm Frying Pan and 16cm Saucepan with a steam vent knob on the lid. The pan comes with a new patented non-scratch coating and is more durable than any pan Tefal have produced. The non-stick coating is guaranteed for the life of the pan against blistering or peeling. and most metal utensils can be used with the exception of whisks and knives. The base is anti-warp and the copper particles in the base help with even heat distribution and the prevention of hot spots.


The Frying Pan and Saucepan are very light, and this was immediately noticeable, especially as all my other pans are fairly heavy. When the pan is full and you need to transfer from the hob to the work surface it saves the two handed struggle. The handle is much higher than I am used to but makes the pan easier to pick up. The handle is described by Tefal as a Curved Comfort Handle.


As with all new pans it is essential to coat the non-stick coating with oil before using for the first time. If you either wish, or need, to follow a low fat diet then a thin coating of oil will cook an egg (although I would put a lid on the frying pan for best results) and for the majority of other foods no fat is required or simply coat the pan with oil.

In the past I have always been very cautious about bakeware and pans that are light to hold because we have all come across the warping problems. The frying pan and saucepan didn't show any signs of warping even on a high heat.

Another test was to see if food stuck to the pan and how easy it was to remove. I have cooked pasta, rice, curry, gravy, bolognese and omelette. A good test for any pan is to make scrambled egg which can be one of the worst offenders for sticking and I can safely say nothing at all sticks to the pan. Although these pans are dishwasher safe, they hand wash so quickly and easily I wouldn't take up valuable dishwasher space. They clean so well you can take a paper towel and wipe around the inside to remove any debris before washing.


The pans are oven safe up to 180C which is really useful, and also come with Tefal's Thermospot indicator - the spot turns solid red when the pan is perfectly preheated and then simply turn down the heat to maintain the temperature.

Thank you Catherine.

Fruit Slab Cake and Tefal AirBake 23cm Baking Pan Review

I just can't resist baking tins and this 23cm Tefal AirBake (and there are others in the range) is no exception, I've got so many in my collection I now need to find some more space.


The baking tin consists of two aluminium layers separated by an insulated layer of air that prevents the baking surface from overheating which ensures moister cakes. The tin is made from a 100% aluminium construction providing excellent heat distribution for even baking and won't rust. AirBake bakes 15% faster than regular insulated bakeware. It can also be put in the dishwasher.

The lightness of the tin took me by surprise and it didn't warp whilst in the hot oven. Two aluminium layers with air between means water gets between the layers when washing the baking tin. The only downside with the tin is the positioning of the drainage holes. If they had been placed on the corners of the underneath of the tin, the water would drain out much more easily.

Fruit Slab Cake is a very old recipe and never lets me down, so I set to work using my new baking tin. This non stick baking tin doesn't need to be base lined and so it was with baited breath I dolloped the cake batter in and then off into the oven to bake. All the time hoping the cake wasn't going to stick and stay in the tin forever and a day. I cooled the cake, and yes, the cake came out effortlessly.

Fruit Slab Cake

You will need: 23cm Square Cake Tin

225g self raising flour, 175g caster sugar, 175g softened butter, 3 eggs, 110g dried fruit, 25g glace cherries (chopped, washed and dried), 1 tsp almond essence (the good stuff).
Topping: 25g almond flakes and 1 tbs granulated sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan. Into a bowl add the softened butter and caster sugar, beat until fluffy and pale, add the eggs gradually, beat in the almond essence and then fold in the flour, cherries and dried fruit.
2. Dollop into the baking tin and scatter over the granulated sugar and flaked almonds. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until cooked and golden.
3. Cool in the tin, remove and slice into squares.

RRP £16.28

Thank you Catherine.

Review: Tefal Preference Non-Stick Frying Pan With Lid

The frying pan is from the Preference - Tefal's induction compatible cookware range. The 26cm pan has a glass lid and the knob on the lid has a very useful steam vent which can be turned either on or off.


Tefal's renowned Thermospot is a very useful way of ensuring the pan is at the right temperature, to ensure food is cooked perfectly. This is a built in heat indicator which tells you when the pan is at the perfect cooking temperature. Cold: The Thermo-Spot pattern is visible in the dark red spot. The spot turns solid red when the pan is perfectly preheated and ready to cook. Now the heat can be reduced to maintain the temperature which then prevents overheating of the pan.

Tefal's Preference range offers even heat distribution without hotspots. Also, this range has a new Pro-metal Pro non-stick coating with a lifetime guarantee and metal utensils can be used.


In the pan I cooked: Penne with Spinach, Creme Fraiche, Smoked Salmon and Tomatoes and a Pesto Pan Chicken. Both of the recipes cooked superbly, neither stuck to the pan and only a minimum of oil needs to be used. The pan is also deep enough to comfortably hold enough Bolognese Sauce to feed a family of four.

A hard wearing enamel exterior, Bakelite Stay Cool Handle and the pan can be put in the oven up to 180c. It's always useful to start dishes off on the hob and then use the same pan for oven cooking to save using even more pans.

Thank you Tefal and Catherine.

Jamie Oliver Tefal Hand Blender

Click on the photograph for a better view.

Following the success of the Jamie Oliver for Tefal Electrics Range, I recently received a Tefal by Jamie Oliver Stainless Steel Hand Blender which has been added to the range. This black and stainless hand blender has a removable stainless steel foot which can be cleaned in the dishwasher, it comes with a 500ml mini chopper, whisk, 800ml beaker and wall mount. The product is sturdy and well built and none of the accessories are flimsy, they are all very easy to assemble. The hand blender has a powerful 700w motor and a soft touch grip, making it comfortable to use.

I thought I would put the hand blender through it's paces with a couple of Jamie's recipes.

Jamie Oliver's King of Puddings

Whisk - this fits onto the top part of the hand blender. It takes a little time to get used to, mainly because the hand blender is quite heavy. I managed to splatter egg white but that said once I was in control again, it made a very good meringue mix.

Breadcrumbs

Mini Chopper - comes with a removable non-slip base, bowl, a chopping blade and a lid which is a breeze to assemble and makes light work of chopping breadcrumbs. The bowl can be filled to three quarters full and has a calibrated measurement on the bowl.

Jamie Oliver's Tomato and Basil Soup

Hand Blender - The hand blender comes in two parts and is quickly assembled by pushing the two components together. There is a start button and a variable speed control, or a start fast speed button. It coped easily with the task of blending vegetables to produce a smooth soup. I found the hand blender a little heavy to use and I managed to create some splattering, which was unfortunate, especially as it was tomato soup. I think I was possibly over ambitious and should have used the hand blender at slow speed to reduce splattering.

Mango and Orange Smoothie

Beaker - useful measurements on the side, non slip base which can then be used for a lid. The jug is 21cm high with a maximum capacity of 800ml. I found using the hand blender much easier when it was used alongside the beaker. It produced a great smoothie.

Overall Summary: Will suit budding chefs and all Jamie Oliver fans. Looks both stylish and professional, the hand blender motor body weighs (approx 720g), is powerful, will look good in any kitchen, easy to assemble, performs well but be careful not to splatter and read the instruction book more closely. The mini chopper made easy, efficient work of chopping herbs, the stick blender made light work of pureeing vegetables and tomatoes for my silky tomato soup, the height of the beaker has been well thought out to use with the stick blender and a non-slip base that can also be used as a lid is very useful. The instruction book is fairly basic and does not come supplied with any recipes.

RRP £54.99

Thank you Catherine.