Biotan – Gastrolux

User Manual

WELCOME TO THE

GASTROLUX® FAMILY

Welcome to Gastrolux Biotan® Plus, the Gastrolux performance benchmark.

Biotan® Plus is the pan we make for cooks who want the easiest possible cooking experience. It delivers extreme food release, it does not require fats for food release in normal use, and it is the most forgiving surface in our range for eggs, pancakes, fish and other delicate foods.

Underneath the coating sits the Gastrolux construction platform: an 8 mm squeeze-cast aluminium base, an induction plate cast into the metal on induction items, and a lifetime warranty on the base staying warp free.

This manual explains how to get the most from your Biotan® Plus pots and pans and how to keep the coating performing for years. Read it once before your first cook. It will take five minutes.

UNBOXING YOUR

GASTROLUX® BIOTAN® PLUS COOKWARE

Carefully remove your cookware from its packaging. Take off any rim protections and peel the transparent film from the bottom of the pan.

Every piece is squeeze-cast, so the casting and finishing process gives each item its own surface character. Small visual variations between items are a normal result of that process and not a defect.

Before first use, wash the cookware in warm soapy water with a brush or sponge to remove dust and residues from manufacturing. Rinse with clean water and dry well.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW

GASTROLUX BIOTAN® PLUS AND GASTROLUX EVO PFAS-FREE

Gastrolux makes two premium ranges. They share the same construction platform and they are built for two different priorities. Neither range is a weaker version of the other, and the honest way to choose between them is to decide what matters most to you.

Choose Biotan® Plus if food release is your first priority

This is the range you are holding. Biotan® Plus is the Gastrolux performance-led non-stick system. It delivers extreme food release, it does not require fats for food release in normal use, and it is the easiest surface we make for eggs, pancakes, fish and other delicate foods. Biotan® Plus is used with silicone or wooden utensils, and it tolerates oven use up to 260°C with the detachable-handle removed and 180°C with the detachable-handle attached. If you have the Biotan® Plus series with fixed handles, the oven temperature tolerance is 260°C.

Choose EVO PFAS-FREE if PFAS-FREE coating chemistry is your priority

Gastrolux® EVO PFAS-FREE is PFAS-FREE from production and is supported by Eurofins specific PFAS migration testing on representative EVO cookware. It offers solid food release through a silicone-based PFAS-FREE coating system, it is more scratch resistant than Biotan® Plus, it can be used with metal utensils, and it tolerates oven use up to 300°C with the handle removed and 180°C with a handle attached. It does not release food as effortlessly as Biotan® Plus, and a small amount of cooking fat is recommended with it.

One thing we will not do

We will not tell you that Biotan® Plus is PFAS-FREE. It is not. Biotan® Plus is a PTFE-based non-stick system, and PTFE is precisely why it releases food better than anything else we make. If PFAS-FREE coating chemistry is what matters most to you, EVO PFAS-FREE is the range to look at, and we would rather you bought that one than be disappointed in this one.

PRODUCT

DESCRIPTION

Gastrolux® Biotan® Plus

PRODUCT LINE

Biotan® Plus is the range we build when the brief is simple: make cooking as easy as it can be. It is designed to bring out flavour and to take the friction out of everyday cooking, for home cooks and professionals alike.

Every Biotan® Plus item is built on the Gastrolux construction platform:

An 8 mm thick aluminium base for stability, controlled heating, heat retention and resistance to warping.
Squeeze-cast aluminium for highly even heat distribution, which in the kitchen means fewer hot spots and more predictable control.
On induction items, an induction plate cast within the molten aluminium. It is not glued on and it is not retrofitted, so there is no joint that can separate.
Detachable-handle options where applicable, for oven use, serving, storage and stacking.
A lifetime warranty on the base staying warp free, subject to correct use and the warranty terms in this manual.

On top of that platform sits the Biotan® Plus coating system. The construction is what makes the pan cook well. The coating is what makes it the easiest pan in the range.

Is a PTFE coating

Safe?

Customers ask, so here is the straight answer.

Yes, when used correctly and according to this manual. PTFE is a well-established non-stick coating technology, used because it gives excellent food release, easy cleaning and low-fat cooking. Independent risk assessment guidance from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) states that under intended use, adverse health effects from PTFE-coated cookware are not expected.

The rule that matters is heat. Do not severely overheat an empty pan. PTFE coatings should not be exposed to extreme overheating, particularly around 360°C and above, where coating decomposition can occur. In normal cooking, with food or liquid in the pan, that is not the situation you are in. The 90 second empty-preheat limit and the low to medium heat guidance in this manual exist to keep you comfortably clear of it.

Scratches do not make the pan unsafe. According to the BfR, accidental ingestion of tiny detached PTFE particles from a scratched coating is not expected to negatively affect consumer health, because PTFE is inert and passes through the body unchanged. What scratches affect over time is performance, which is why we recommend silicone or wooden utensils.

Gastrolux® EVO PFAS-FREE exists because some customers prefer PFAS-FREE coating chemistry and want independent migration testing behind it. It does not exist because Biotan® Plus is unsafe

Ergonomic

HANDLES

Handles are designed to stay cool during normal stovetop use and to give a secure, comfortable grip. Oven use follows one rule, and it is worth learning it properly.

Oven rule: With the detachable handle removed, Biotan® Plus cookware tolerates oven temperatures up to 260°C. With the detachable handle attached, do not exceed 180°C. Cookware with a fixed handle tolerates up to 260°C.

Always use an oven mitt or potholder when handling hot cookware.

Biotan® Plus

NON-STICK COATING

Biotan® Plus uses a Weilburger GREBLON C3 Plus coating system, a three-layer PTFE-based build applied to the squeeze-cast aluminium body. Each layer does a different job.

The basecoat anchors the system to the metal. This is what holds the coating in place over years of heating and cooling.
The midcoat adds reinforcement and functional depth. This is where durability comes from.
The topcoat is the cooking surface itself. This is what delivers the food release, the easy cleaning and the feel that Biotan® Plus is known for.

Three layers is the reason Biotan® Plus releases food the way it does. It is the strongest non-stick performance in the Gastrolux portfolio, which is why this is the pan we recommend for eggs, pancakes, fish, delicate foods, low-fat cooking and anyone who simply wants cooking to be easy.

The coating is free of PFOA and PFOS and meets applicable food contact safety standards. It is not PFAS-FREE. If PFAS-FREE coating chemistry is your priority, see Gastrolux® EVO PFAS-FREE.

Energy

Sources

Gastrolux® Biotan® Plus cookware is compatible with all stove types, including induction, gas, electric and ceramic cooktops.

On induction items the induction plate is cast within the molten aluminium during production rather than attached to a finished base. It is a structural part of the pan, not a disc fixed to the underside, which is why it will not loosen or separate in normal use.

Detachable

HANDLE

If your Gastrolux® product has a detachable handle, remove the handle before placing the pan in the oven. When you take the pan out, reattach the cool handle so you can carry it safely.

A detachable handle is also the best option on gas, where the flame can reach around the pan and heat a fixed handle, and it is what allows Biotan® Plus to be used at the full 260°C in the oven.

Individual

PRODUCTION CODE

Each Gastrolux® Biotan® Plus item carries a unique code. After the final quality check this code is laser-etched onto the pan before it is packed and shipped. It identifies your exact item for warranty, service and spare-part requests, so keep it legible and quote it when you contact us.

Useful

COUNTERHANDLE

The counterhandle lets you lift a heavy pan with two hands. Always use an oven mitt or potholder to protect your hand from heat when holding it.

Using your

Biotan® Plus Cookware

Preheat

Gently

Start by heating your Gastrolux® cookware over low to medium heat, then increase gradually to your cooking temperature. Pour a few tiny drops of water into the pan. If they dance across the surface, the pan is ready. Reduce the heat slightly and start cooking.

Maximal

Versatility

Biotan® Plus handles frying, sautéing, simmering, boiling, roasting and baking. From soups and stews to stir-fries and sauces, you can count on even heat distribution and consistent results. For oven work, follow the oven rule above: up to 260°C with the detachable handle removed, no more than 180°C with the detachable handle attached, and up to 260°C with a fixed handle.

Oven

Safe

Gastrolux pots and pans move from stovetop to oven for baking, roasting or finishing a dish. With the detachable handle removed, Biotan® Plus tolerates oven temperatures up to 260°C. With the detachable handle attached, do not exceed 180°C. Cookware with a fixed handle tolerates up to 260°C. For your safety, ALWAYS use oven mitts or other protective gear when handling hot Gastrolux® cookware. If your product has a detachable handle, remove it before the pan goes into the oven and use the cool handle to take the pan out.

Choose

Adapted Oils

For your safety, ALWAYS use oven mitts or other protective gear when handling hot Gastrolux® cookware. If your product has a detachable handle, remove it before the pan goes into the oven and use the cool handle to take the pan out.

Cooking without

Added Fat

Biotan® Plus does not require fats for food release in normal use. You can fry an egg in a dry Biotan® Plus pan and it will come away clean. That is a performance statement, not a dietary one. Use oil or butter whenever you want it for taste, for browning or because the recipe calls for it. Biotan® Plus simply does not need it in order to release food, and that gives you the choice. When you do want fat, a thin layer is enough.

Induction

Cooking

On induction cooktops, match the cookware to the size of the induction zone for the best heat transfer. Because the induction plate is cast into the base rather than fixed to it, energy passes into the full thickness of the aluminium instead of stopping at a joint.

Use Adapted

Kitchen Tools

Use silicone or wooden utensils with Biotan® Plus. Plastic and nylon tools are also fine, provided they are rated for the heat you are cooking at.

Do not use metal utensils on Biotan® Plus. The topcoat that gives this range its food release is exactly what a metal edge scrapes, and that release performance is the whole reason to own this pan. Never use knives in the cookware, as they damage both the coating and the knife.

If you want a Gastrolux range that tolerates metal utensils, that is EVO PFAS-FREE, which is more scratch resistant than Biotan® Plus.

Work on Clean Ceramic or

Induction Hob

Salt is a hard ingredient and it ends up on hobs every day. Always lift your pan to move it and never slide it across the hob, as this scratches both the hob and the base.

Whenever possible, cook with a Gastrolux® glass lid. It is a small habit that can save up to 60 percent of the energy used. Gastrolux® glass lids are oven-proof up to 260°C.

Special Security Recommendation

When Deep-frying

When deep-frying in a Gastrolux® pan, do not fill more oil than one third of the pan’s capacity. Match the diameter of the pan base to the hotplate. Monitor the pan constantly and follow the heat recommendations for the oil you are using.

Caution: Overheated oil can ignite quickly. Be ready to extinguish a fire with an extinguisher, a lid, a cloth or a similar item. Never use water to extinguish burning oil. Take care with what you fry, as wet or improperly prepared food causes dangerous splashes.

CARE &

Maintenance

How to Clean Your

Gastrolux® Biotan® Plus Cookware

Use hot water, a cleaning brush or sponge and standard dish detergent. A hot pan can be cleaned straight away, as the residual heat warms the water instantly. Rinse with clean water and dry well.

Stubborn

Stains

If food residue is stuck, soak the cookware in warm soapy water for a few minutes, then scrub gently with a soft sponge.

For burnt oil, heat the pan, place it in an empty sink, pour in 1 cm of water and a drop of detergent, then scrub in circular motions with the rough side of your sponge. Avoid stainless steel cleaning pads and abrasive sponges. Rinse with clean water and dry well.

After

Each Use

If food residue is stuck, soak the cookware in warm soapy water for a few minutes, then scrub gently with a soft sponge.

Dishwasher

Use

Gastrolux® cookware is easy to clean by hand. Because dishwashers and harsh detergents shorten the life of any non-stick coating, we do not recommend putting it in the dishwasher.

Storage

Stacking

When stacking, place a Gastrolux® pan separator, a cloth or a paper towel between items to protect the surfaces. This matters more with Biotan® Plus than with EVO PFAS-FREE, because the Biotan® Plus topcoat is the more scratch-sensitive of the two.

Safety

Precautions

Avoid

Overheating

Do not preheat empty cookware for more than 90 seconds. Modern and older cooktops alike can drive an empty pan far past its intended working temperature very quickly.

Biotan® Plus should never exceed 300°C. Cook at low to medium heat, and once the pan reaches the temperature you want, reduce the heat. Sustained overheating damages the non-stick properties of any coating system and it is the most common cause of coating complaints we see.

This 300°C limit is set with margin. The section “Is a PTFE coating safe?” above explains what sits behind it.

Handle With Care

On Gas Stoves

On a gas stove the flame can reach around the pan and heat the handle. The detachable handle is the best option for gas.

Never Leave

Unattended

Always stay nearby while cooking, especially at high heat.

NO

Worries

Broken

Handle

No problem at all. We need to know the exact item you have, and you can find the reference on any Gastrolux® webstore or on the laser-etched production code on your pan. We will send you a new handle that you can fit yourself.

Overheated

Coating

If the coating has turned matte black or deep brown, particularly from the centre outwards, that is a sign of overheating. Prolonged exposure to high temperature damages the surface and reduces its performance and durability.

Prevent further damage by using low to medium heat and preheating gradually. The original release properties may not be fully recoverable, but careful cleaning and maintenance will extend the usable life of the pan.

Silvered Stains

Appeared on Stove

This can happen with aluminium dust on new cookware. The marks are not scratches and they come off. Apply a ceramic cleaner or oven cleaning spray, leave it for 10 minutes, then scrub gently in circular motions with the rough side of your sponge. Do not use stainless steel cleaning pads or abrasive sponges. These marks disappear over time.

Sticky Residual Oil or

Improper Cleaning

Careful daily cleaning prevents this. To restore release, heat the pan, place it in an empty sink, pour in 1 cm of water and a drop of detergent and scrub in circular motions with the rough side of your sponge. Avoid stainless steel cleaning pads and abrasive sponges. Rinse with clean water and dry well.

Minor

Scratches

Normal superficial scratches do not automatically diminish the non-stick ability of Biotan® Plus. The coating is free of PFOA and PFOS, it meets applicable food contact safety standards, and a scratched coating does not make the pan unsafe to use. The section “Is a PTFE coating safe?” above sets out the reasoning.

That is not the same as saying every mark is irrelevant. If you see peeling, flaking, blistering, exposed aluminium beneath the coating, or signs of severe overheating, stop using the pan for non-stick cooking and contact customer service so we can assess it. A photograph helps us answer you faster.

Biotan® Plus is the more scratch-sensitive of our two ranges. Silicone or wooden utensils, and a separator between stacked pans, are the two habits that make the most difference to how long the coating performs.

Discoloration

Of the Pan

Some discolouration can occur from high heat. It is purely aesthetic and does not affect performance.

Gastrolux® Biotan® Plus

WARRANTY

Gastrolux® offers a limited 3-year warranty on the non-stick functionality of the coating and a lifetime warp-free warranty on the base, against defects in materials or workmanship, when the product is used according to this manual.

The warranty does not cover damage caused by misuse, improper handling or failure to follow the care instructions in this manual. Natural wear, damage caused by overheating, and burnt fats or other foods are not covered.

Warranty claims are valid only when the item is accompanied by the original warranty, an invoice or another proof of purchase. Replacement items carry the remaining duration of the original warranty.

Statutory warranty provisions remain applicable. In some countries a distributor may offer regional warranty conditions that do not bind the manufacturer. In that case, please contact your local sales point.

For warranty claims or any question, contact our customer service team:

email

RMA@gastrolux.com

Phone

+45 86 39 55 44

Thank you for choosing

Gastrolux Biotan® Plus

You have chosen the easiest pan we make, on a Danish construction platform built to outlast the coating on top of it. Follow the guidelines in this manual, keep metal off the surface and keep the heat sensible, and your Biotan® Plus cookware will give you many years of the food release it was built for.