The Flare Pan

Created by a rocket scientist, this innovative pan heats food consistently.

Science is the cause of many innovations. And there's one scientist at Oxford University who has used his skills to make life a lot more efficient for everyone in the kitchen. 

Dr. Tim Povey, a rocket scientist, developed a set of pans that are said to save energy and cook food faster. As an expert in thermo-dynamics for advanced jet engines, Povey has taken these principles to the kitchen and created the Flare Pan. 

So, here's how it works: when these pans are placed on a gas stove (not electric) the flares on the side of the pan create channels that direct heat from the bottom of the pan up the sides. This increases the amount of the pan's surface area getting heat, which means that everything cooks faster.

Dr. Povey told us; ‘The flare pan is a blend of science and design. It uses the same heat transfer principles as used for heat management in jet engines, to improve the efficiency of heat transfer from a flame to a pan, leading to a pan which saves 30%  gas and boils 30% faster than a conventional pan.”

The idea for a more efficient pan came to the scientist during a mountaineering excursion. Trying to heat water in higher, chillier altitudes takes a pretty long time.  So Povey set about applying his knowledge of dissipation and how heat is carried into designing a pan that makes the best use of gas. Povey, along with his students, spent the last three years trying out various configurations, running simulations and testing prototypes…until they settled on the flare pan!

The Flare Pan is the latest in lab-engineered cookware sold through UK-based  company, Lakeland. Buying Director Matthew Canwell, is always on the lookout for innovative new products. He told us:  ‘….we’re always looking for new innovations that will save our customers both time and money. Flare does just that, and we’re extremely excited to be able to bring this incredible new technology to our customers.”

So for consumers, what's not to love about cooking something faster and using less energy? Well, its not exactly cheap…a set of three will set you back somewhere around the $250 mark. But with all that energy and time you're saving, these pans might just pay for themselves.