Can You Fix a Warped Pan?

Whether from years of use or a few care mistakes, pans warp. The bottoms bend, and they stop conducting heat evenly making cooking a pain.

But can you fix a warped pan? The good news is that yes, it might be possible to hammer the bulge back into place. However, the process comes with a few caveats.

If your pan is non-stick, attempting this method could damage the non-stick coating, and it might not be worth trying. After all, if your non-stick pan is no longer non-stick, you should probably buy a new one (and we’ve got suggestions).

If, however, you’re attempting to repair a warped pan that doesn’t have a non-stick coating, this trick is certainly worth a shot to get a few more months of use.

First, you’ll lay a rag or towel down on a sturdy, hard surface. Then, if your pan’s warp is convex, place it open side up. If concave, place it open side down. To protect the pan, add a second towel or rag over the area you’ll be hammering.

Now, it’s time to get to work. Use gentle taps on the bulge and increase your pressure if the warp doesn’t move. Once it looks even, flip the pan over and repeat these steps if there’s an additional bulge.

Remove the rag or towel and set the pan down to test for evenness. If it wobbles, try again. If it’s fine, wash your pan, and you’re ready to use it again.

Of course, the best way to fix a warped pan is to, well, not let it get warped at all. Wondering how it happens? This common mistake might just be the reason.

If your pan is too far gone, you can always invest in new cookware, but you might want to hold off on a full set.