A Beginner’s Guide to Pan Searing (Stop Setting off Your Smoke Detectors)

Want a perfect steak crust without filling your kitchen with smoke? In this beginner-friendly guide to pan searing, I break down the biggest mistakes people make and explain what actually matters when trying to get a great sear. I cover everything from choosing the right pan and properly preheating it, to why your cooking oil’s smoke point matters more than people think. I also explain why you don’t need insanely high temperatures or a smoke-filled kitchen to get proper browning. 👉 In this video: -The best pans for pan searing -Common beginner mistakes -Proper pan preheating -Oil smoke points explained -Why smoke ≠ better searing -The truth about browning temperatures -Why 400–425°F is enough for a great crust If you’ve been struggling to get a good sear—or thought your pan had to be ripping hot—this video will completely change how you cook steak. 🛠️ Gear used: Buy The Larger Surface Thermometer Here: https://amzn.to/4veXNU8 Buy The Small Surface Thermometer Here: https://amzn.to/4vwOoYv Buy The Inferred Thermometer Here: https://amzn.to/4segdSt Buy The Thermo Imaging Camera Here: https://amzn.to/3PX8FG8 Buy Avacado Oil Here: https://amzn.to/4twVhHo Buy Olive Oil Here: https://amzn.to/4teEU2x Buy Grape Seed Oil Here: https://amzn.to/4sdPchP Buy Cast Iron Pan Here https://amzn.to/41RTZL4 Buy Carbon Steel Pan Here: https://amzn.to/3Q6Ord0 Buy Stainless Steel Pan Here: https://amzn.to/4c962Zo Other Videos: Choosing Your First Pan- https://youtu.be/vvlVKt-YjtA Preheating Video: https://youtu.be/MH7JMXWSgv4 Flipping a Steak Once Myth: https://youtu.be/LESXNpv-7EI 📌 Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - What This Video Will Cover 01:40 - Consider Your Pan 02:12 - Mistake #1- Preheating 05:43 - Mistake #2-Cooking Fats and Smoke Point 07:35 - My Favorite Oils 09:22 - Mistake #3- Not Controlling Your Temperatures 10:58 - Let’s Sear With What We Learned 12:03 - Final Thoughts 💬 Drop your questions in the comments – I love to respond to them! 👍 Like this video if it helped, and subscribe for more BBQ, Grilling, and Cooking content weekly! 📲 Follow me on Instagram: @tomwadek 🌐 Check out my website: www.moonlightsandcastle.com/tomskitchen 🛒 WHAT I USE: Check Out My Amazon Store For Products I Use in My Videos! https://www.amazon.com/shop/tomwade //Join Patreons for more perks and community fun: https://patreon.com/tomwadek //Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_O5QYdUD8RiVvtjjbU3_g/join //Buy My Merch! https://www.spreadshirt.com/shop/user/tom+wade+merch/?srEdit=pa#?affiliateId=11625 //Discounts: Try Amazon Prime for 30 days: https://amzn.to/387Yn0f Gift Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/38ei32M 🔉 Like my sound? Try them out with this link! Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/q7946b/ AUDIIO: www.audiio.com/tomwade As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.