I am also an iron - whether the frying pan can replace the traditional household tool?

Product test

Using a pan to combat creases - better than an iron?

11.10.2018

Translation: machine translated

David versus Goliath, or how a frying pan compares with an ironing station. I grabbed three different ironing tools and pitted them against each other. You can find out how it all turned out here.

It's probably one of the most annoying household chores for many people. Personally, I have no problem with it. On the contrary: smoothing a few shirts, trousers and shirts in front of the TV can have an extremely calming effect. Is it worth investing in an ironing station or using a simpler iron? And: How does a simple frying pan perform as a replacement for an iron?

David versus Goliath

What can an ironing station do that an iron can't? Is the price difference justified or are both appliances roughly equally good? Or can a frying pan even replace both ironing tools? I asked myself these questions after the last cash fall test on steam irons. Now I want to know and am doing the practical test.

But first I had to ask my friends, family, relatives and work colleagues to donate old clothes. Because I'm about to move house and have already mucked out at home and put the clothes in the collection. Not thinking far enough ahead, Raphael. Well, it can happen. Fortunately, my neighbours are extremely generous and have enough to wear. Thank you very much for your generous gifts.

The frying pan

A classic frying pan from Tefal enters the race as David. The Tefal Talent Pro normally fries rösti, bacon and fried eggs. In this test, however, it has to prove itself without contents for once and only impress with its heat storage capacity and weight. During the clothes collection campaign, I told my helpers that they probably wouldn't be able to get the items back as they might break when tested with the frying pan. I've never ironed with a frying pan before and I'm still not sure whether and, if so, how it should work.

Pots + Pans

Tefal talent pro

28 cm, Frying pan

The iron

The big brother of David, I would say. Because it would be an exaggeration to call it a Goliath. After all, there are almost 200 francs and a large water tank between this iron and the ironing station. You fill the water for the steam function directly into the iron. A few years ago, irons looked similar, but it was not yet possible to iron with steam. Nevertheless, shirts already existed and they were already crease-free back then. It works or worked without steam. So the pan should be able to keep up with the Tefal Smart Protect FV4970. We'll see...

Clothes irons

Tefal Smart Protect FV4970

2400 W, 150 g/min

The ironing station

Faster, bigger, better: Goliath wants to run the two Davids into the ground. Will it succeed? The Pro Express GV7830 steam station irons efficiently, gently and yet quickly. It heats up very quickly and offers extra space for plenty of water in the large tank. You'll be whistling more than a steam engine and your clothes will only know creases by reputation. With this household tool, you should be able to iron your clothes perfectly in no time at all.

Clothes irons

Tefal Pro Express GV7830

450 g/min

Pan versus iron

My first problem: How do I iron with a pan without burning a hole in my clothes as soon as I put it on? The solution: YouTube. This likeable gentleman here shows how it's done. Looks like he's just had his shirt on. What could be more attractive than ironing topless with a pan? Or this professional stirring with a big ladle and an even bigger pan... To melt away. And wrinkle-free. Then there's my personal favourite - I've rarely seen such dedication and love for ironing.

A frying pan and a bowl of water should do the trick. The frying pan doesn't seem to be the first choice, because in all three videos the guys use a saucepan. But I'm convinced it should still work. I make my first attempt, splash some water on the shirt and run the hot pan over the garment, applying plenty of pressure. And, lo and behold, something really does happen: the creases disappear. I'm thrilled, although after watching the video I actually expected it to work. Of course, a few small creases remain. These are probably easier to remove with the iron. Nevertheless, I am amazed at how well it works with the frying pan.

Top the result with the pan, below the result of the iron.

Now the iron with steam function has to show what it has to offer. I have an ironing station at home and I'm not satisfied with normal irons. So it doesn't surprise me how much more difficult it is to get the creases out with the simple iron. Thanks to the tip, I can get into the corners better than with the pan, but even here the nasty little creases remain visible in the garment. With the pan just now, I thought I could definitely get them out with the standard iron - that was probably nothing.

There is no clear winner for me here: pan 1:1 iron.

Pan versus ironing station

In the second duel, I pitted the pan against the ironing station. In the comparison with the iron, it performed valiantly and made the iron sweat. However, the ironing station is a completely different calibre. Again, I start with the pan, wet the blouse with a few drops of water and start ironing. The blouse is even smoother than the shirt before. This is probably due to the texture of the garment. The hot pan glides over the fabric and hardly leaves any creases. Again, I can't get into the corners and small creases remain in certain places.

It's easier to iron with the pan than I initially thought.

Now the ironing station is ready for its first use. It's ready in about two minutes and steam shoots through the nozzles. The blouse is smooth in no time, not a crease remains. Wow, this is how ironing works. The iron sits perfectly in the hand, glides smoothly over the clothes, exerts plenty of pressure thanks to its own weight and the steam does the rest. There's nothing to complain about here. Apart from the price, because the ironing station is the most expensive product in the comparison.

At the top the result with the pan, below the result with the ironing station.

The ironing station is clearly ahead in the second duel: pan 0:1 ironing station.

Iron versus ironing station

The iron had to fight against the pan, and I expect the same in the duel with the ironing station. This time I start with the iron. Instead of steam, water comes out at the first press of the button - not too bad, but not ideal either. The iron doesn't manage to get all the creases out of the trousers either. I can get into every corner, but I'm still not really convinced by the result.

Combined power: The ironing station impresses across the board

The ironing station is a dream even on the second attempt. The iron seems to glide over the trouser legs as light as a feather and does its job more than conscientiously. No creases, no unevenness, everything fits perfectly. What's more, I'm finished much quicker than with the iron and previously with the pan. I also don't have to exert any pressure at all, whereas I have to press relatively hard on the ironing board, especially with the pan. Even with the standard iron, I have to use more of my own energy than I would like.

The second landslide victory in the second comparison of the ironing station: iron 0:1 ironing station.

Conclusion

The winner is quickly determined: The ironing station won both duels, while the pan and the iron performed more or less equally in a direct comparison. If I had to choose one of the two products, it would be the pan. Why? In addition to the ironing function, you can also use it as a pan. And: its primary purpose - compared to the iron - is not ironing.

The ironing station heats up very quickly, while the iron only takes a little longer. The pan lags far behind here, taking more than 5 minutes until it is hot enough to iron with. The ironing station is also ahead in terms of power. It shoots noticeably more steam out of the iron than the simple version. The pan has nothing to offer in terms of steam, which is why it doesn't score any points.

The three competitors and the referee took a group photo together

To my great surprise, the pan can keep up extremely well with the normal iron. However, it is not a complete replacement if you want to get the creases out of your clothes. If you never iron, you don't need an iron or ironing station. If you still want to smooth an item of clothing once a year or get a deep crease out, heat up a pan and use water to get your favourite shirt more or less smooth.

However, if you iron regularly, you can't avoid an ironing station. This miracle device not only makes the most tedious of all household chores child's play, but also carries out the tasks assigned to it extremely efficiently. With a little practice and a few simple steps, even inexperienced users will quickly make friends with the ironing station. If you are looking for an ironing utensil, I warmly recommend an ironing station.

Header image: I am also an iron - whether the frying pan can replace the traditional household tool?

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Raphael Knecht

Senior Editor

raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.ch

When I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.

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