Summary
- Pans scratch when stacked directly on top of each other because the bottom of one pan drags across the cooking surface of the pan below.
- Place a liner between each pan, stand pans vertically on edge, or use an adjustable rack to separate surfaces.
- Felt, microfiber, and silicone liners all work, but felt grips better and microfiber cleans the surface as you lift.
- Non-stick coatings scratch more easily than stainless steel or cast iron, so protect those pans first.
On this page
Why Pans Scratch When Stacked
Pans scratch because the bottom of one pan slides across the cooking surface of the pan underneath when you pull the top pan out of the stack. The bottom of a pan is rougher than the cooking surface. Rivets, manufacturer stamps, and concentric rings from the factory all create raised points that act like sandpaper when dragged sideways across a smooth non-stick coating or a polished stainless interior. Weight makes this worse. A heavy cast iron skillet sitting on top of a non-stick pan presses those rough points into the softer coating below, and any sideways movement cuts a visible scratch. Stacking pans is not the problem. Stacking pans without separating the surfaces is.Liners Between Each Pan
Liners keep the bottom of one pan from touching the cooking surface of another. Place a liner on top of each pan before stacking the next one. When you lift a pan out, the liner lifts with the pan or stays with the pan below. Felt liners grip both surfaces and stay in place. A 12-inch felt circle costs about two dollars and lasts years. Felt absorbs moisture, so make sure pans are completely dry before stacking or the felt will hold water against the pan and cause rust on cast iron or carbon steel. Microfiber cloths work as liners and wipe the cooking surface clean as you lift the pan. Fold a standard microfiber cloth in half for a double layer. The cloth slides more easily than felt, so pans can shift if you stack too many. Silicone mats stay flat and rinse clean. A silicone mat does not absorb water, so a damp pan stacked on silicone will not rust. Silicone is slippery, though, and a tall stack of pans on silicone mats can slide sideways if bumped. Paper towels are free and disposable. Two sheets between each pan will stop scratches. Replace the paper towel when it gets damp or torn. A paper towel does not grip, so pans shift easily.Vertical Storage on Edge
Standing pans on edge keeps the cooking surfaces from touching each other at all. Pans nest together rim to rim, and the cooking surface of each pan faces outward instead of pressing against the pan next to it. Vertical storage works best inside a deep cabinet or a drawer where the pans can lean against a divider. A tension rod, a wire file organizer, or a purpose-built pan rack holds pans upright. Space dividers about two inches apart for most pans. Pull a pan straight up and out instead of sliding the pan sideways. Sliding a pan along the rim of the pan next to it will scratch the rim over time, but rim scratches do not affect cooking performance the way cooking surface scratches do. Vertical storage takes more cabinet width than stacking. Four pans stacked take up one footprint. Four pans stored vertically take up eight to ten inches of width.Adjustable Racks That Separate Tiers
An adjustable rack lifts each pan off the pan below so the surfaces never touch. The rack creates individual shelves inside a cabinet, and each pan sits on its own tier. The adjustable organizer holds pans from 8 to 14 inches across on five separate tiers, and the tiers adjust in half-inch increments to fit the height of each pan exactly. The top tier sits high enough to clear a 4-inch Dutch oven on the tier below. Lift a pan straight up without moving any other pan in the stack. Racks take up vertical space. A five-tier rack needs about 12 inches of cabinet height to hold five pans, where the same five pans stacked directly would take up about 8 inches. Trade height for protection. Fixed-height racks waste space when a short pan sits on a tier sized for a tall one. Adjustable tiers let you pack more pans into the same cabinet by fitting the rack to the pans instead of the other way around.What Not to Do
Do not stack pans while they are still wet. Water trapped between pans will rust cast iron and carbon steel overnight, and moisture sitting on a non-stick coating can break down the bond between the coating and the pan over time. Do not use cardboard as a liner. Cardboard absorbs moisture and falls apart. A damp piece of cardboard stuck to the bottom of a pan will leave a residue that has to be scrubbed off. Do not hang pans from a pot rack by their handles if the pans swing and hit each other. Pans clanging together will scratch rims and dent the pan body. If pans hang close enough to touch, space them farther apart or use a different storage method. Do not stack lids with pans. A lid stacked inside a pan will scratch the cooking surface when the lid shifts. Stack lids separately, or store lids upright in a file organizer.Questions
Can you stack non-stick pans without scratching them?
Yes, if you place a liner between each pan. Non-stick coatings scratch more easily than stainless steel or cast iron, so felt, microfiber, or silicone liners are necessary to protect the surface.
Do cast iron pans scratch each other when stacked?
Cast iron pans can scratch each other, but the scratches do not affect cooking performance. The seasoning layer will fill in minor scratches over time. Separate cast iron pans with liners to protect the seasoning.
What is the best liner to put between pans?
Felt liners grip both surfaces and stay in place better than other materials. Microfiber cloths work well and double as cleaning cloths. Silicone mats are easy to clean but slide more easily.
How do you store pans in a small cabinet?
Store pans vertically on edge using a tension rod or file organizer to save cabinet depth. Vertical storage uses more width but less depth than stacking, and keeps cooking surfaces separated.
Can you stack stainless steel pans without protection?
Stainless steel is harder than non-stick coatings, but the bottom of one pan will still scratch the cooking surface of another over time. Use liners or a rack to keep surfaces separated.
Do pan protectors really work?
Yes. A liner between pans prevents the bottom of one pan from dragging across the cooking surface of the pan below, which is what causes scratches. Any soft material thick enough to keep the surfaces apart will work.