Why do chefs flip food with the pan instead of just stirring with a spoon?

Question

Are they just trying to be fancy or is there a reason they dont just stir the food around with a spoon?

Answer 1

Flipping the food saves time...by lighty tossing the food in the pan, you can better control which parts of the foods you want cooked. It takes lots of practice to do this but once achieved, you actually end up with a better looking product. The less you handle the product the better. The practice of constantly shifting and stirring food with a spoon makes for a sloppy and unattractive plate.

Answer 2

it saves dirty spoons - they'd have to use a new one every time they stirred almost - and also eliminates forgetting which has been stirred with what spoon. You can't use the same spoon to stir something raw meat has been put into once it is cooked. Most entrees with sauces and such cook fast and don't need a lot of stirring. They use spoons in deep pots and for serving and portion control when necessary.

Answer 3

In sauteing, if done well, flipping is much faster. Also, when you stir with a spoon or spatula there is a greater chance of mashing or otherwise deforming the food.

Answer 4

its all apart of style. Plus its easier then stirring with a spoon. Just shake up the pan, less dishes to wash.

Answer 5

Flipping food in a pan is part for show, but some foods can't be turned without breaking, so you flip it. An example is a large omlette.

Answer 6

Chefs have to crank out lots of orders and spooning wastes time .
Flipping is fast and efficient . . . also
Stirring eggs and such scrambles them ,
Eyuckkkk, make mine over easy !

Answer 7

Flipping is flat- out much faster and actually distributes the food better But more importantly it doesn't bruise or damage the food. Pro's are not allowed to serve ugly food-ever

Answer 8

Working in a restaurant is fast paced and hectic. It's sometimes easier to flip it in the pan than to try to find your spoon that you misplaced, or someone jacked. Flipping is a very efficient way of saving time in a crunch.

Answer 9

I heard one say about the dish they were making that if you use a spoon on gnocci? it would squish it or something, that flipping it in the skillet would keep it more intact. It was an Italian show..I forget the lady's name..older woman.

Answer 10

Sirring sometimes breaks up food, or crushes stuff. By shaking the pan, they can move everything at once, with less breakage. That, and it looks cool.