Please wait

Contact

37-39 rue Boissière
75016 Paris
France

Phone : 01 41 40 99 80

GaultMillau © 2025 All rights reserved

Do you know who invented the removable pan handle?

Do you know who invented the removable pan handle?

Florine Amenta | 2/24/25, 3:59 PM

Now a fixture in our kitchens, the removable handle was invented years ago by a French company. Here's the story..

It's practical and saves a lot of space. Who hasn't been pleased to be able to stack pots and pans without their handles getting in the way? The removable handle is a major space-saver. Now sold by many brands, it was created in 1986 by a well-known French company.

Heading for the Doubs. That's where, in 1983, workers from the former Japy factory, a major 19th-century French industrial enterprise that went bankrupt in 1979, created a Scop, a workers' cooperative, with the determination not to see their company disappear. They called it Cristel.

at the time, employees were still making kitchen utensils. But their factory was too old: it was an industrial wasteland that didn't allow them to continue their mass production, "without added value", explains Damien Dodane, today Cristel's General Manager. "With this production, they couldn't reinvest in production tools or imagine a future for this company."

Top-of-the-range salvation

Paul Dodane, who took over the Scop with his wife Bernadette in 1987, encouraged the employees to come up with a different product, "something the others didn't have", says his son, Damien Dodane. The cooperative began producing higher-quality utensils and decorated accessories. In 1985, the first collection named "Diamant" attracted attention, "but my father said that wasn't good enough, that we had to bring something fundamentally different to the market."

So he came up with an idea: remove the handle, the accessory to the saucepan and sauté pan, so that the utensil becomes a serving dish that retains heat during serving. The concept of a removable handle, called "cooking-service", was born.

From kitchen to table: a modern concept

"The aim was that, by removing the handle from the body of the sauté pan or saucepan, the product would remain attractive and presentable on the table," explains Damien Dodane. "Detachable handles existed, but a mechanical part remained on the body of the pan. The product was therefore not presentable for serving."

Today, this Cristel creation is still the brand's identity worldwide. The company also sells fixed handles, popular with chefs for their practicality. "But some also see an advantage in detaching the handles: they can start cooking on a griddle and then finish it in the oven."

In the 1990s, this invention quickly met with success in Japan. Cristel's General Manager explains: "Over there, kitchens are small and space is a luxury. It's very interesting to be able to store a complete set of saucepans in a cupboard. It's the third biggest market after France and the United States."

Today, xxx removable handles are sold each year by the brand. Now available in wood, stainless steel and thermoset. Seeing this product used by numerous brands, "is proof that we've imported something really interesting to the market!" smiles Damien Dodane.

These news might interest you

Gault&Millau, le magazine: issue 7 on newsstands News & Events

Gault&Millau, le magazine: issue 7 on newsstands

Issue 7 of Gault&Millau hits newsstands this Thursday, November 21. Immerse yourself in the world of gastronomy, with never-before-seen trends, captivating interviews with chefs and gourmet addresses that are a must-discover.
World Butchery Cup 2025: total victory for France Craftsmen & Know-How

World Butchery Cup 2025: total victory for France

Organized for the first time in France, the Coupe du Monde de la Boucherie was held in Paris on March 30 and 31, 2025. France triumphed in all categories.
Scène des Chefs Valrhona 2025: A plunge into the heart of haute pâtisserie News & Events

Scène des Chefs Valrhona 2025: A plunge into the heart of haute pâtisserie

La Scène des Chefs Valrhona reopens its doors for a new 2025 edition. Discover the first part of this chocolate-filled program.
Le Voyage des Mangeurs: an itinerant culinary adventure in Auvergne News & Events

Le Voyage des Mangeurs: an itinerant culinary adventure in Auvergne

Jean Covillaut and Pierre Reure, both of whom made their name on Top Chef, will be presenting their traveling restaurant in Auvergne in April. Beware, there won't be room for everyone!
A new Mama Shelter in Toulon planned for 2027 Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

A new Mama Shelter in Toulon planned for 2027

Following openings in Nice and Marseille, Mama Shelter is continuing its expansion in the Mediterranean region with a new address planned for late 2027 in the former Évêché building, right in the heart of the Cours Lafayette.
Fanny Rey in 5 dishes News & Events

Fanny Rey in 5 dishes

Fanny Rey, chef at the Auberge de Saint-Rémy, talks to us about the dishes that have marked her career. A dive into the chef's world that should make you want to take a trip to Provence.

Food products, kitchen equipment, tableware, service solutions...

See the full list of partners who place their trust in Gault&Millau

All our partners
Become a Partner
LEARN MORE