Paella – paella pans, paella burners and paella rice

Here you will find what you need to make paella at home and outdoors: enamelled and polished steel paella pans, paella burners for bottled gas, a tripod, wind shield and leg extensions, as well as a gas regulator, gas hose and paella rice from Calasparra. The pans, burners and accessories come from El Cid, a manufacturer in Valencia that has made paella pans since 1954. The pans range from 26 to 55 cm, so you can make paella for anything from a small dinner to a large party.

Which paella pan should you choose?

The most important choice is material and size.

Enamelled steel: The enamel prevents rust, so the pan is easy to wash and does not need oiling after use. The enamelled pans from El Cid can be used on gas hobs, paella burners, open fire and in the oven. Sizes: 28 cm, 32 cm, 36 cm, 40 cm and 55 cm.
Polished steel: The traditional paella pan with red handles. The steel conducts heat quickly and evenly, but it is not stainless, so the pan must be dried and rubbed with a little oil after use. Sizes: 26 cm, 30 cm, 36 cm and 42 cm.

Both types are made of thick steel that warps less, with a slightly domed base that collects the oil in the centre when you fry the ingredients and make the sofrito. For smaller paellas we also have a 30 cm paella pan from Hot Wok.

Paella burner – even heat under the whole pan

An ordinary hob only heats the centre of the pan. A paella burner spreads the flame under the whole base, so the rice cooks evenly even in large pans. Choose a burner to match the size of the pan:

Paella Burner L-20 – for pans of 30–40 cm
Paella Burner L-30 – for pans of 40–55 cm
Paella Burner L-40 – for pans of 55–70 cm

The burners connect to a gas bottle with a 30 mbar gas regulator and a 1.5 m propane hose, sold separately. Paella burners are for outdoor use.

Stand and accessories for the paella burner

Tripod: Adjustable tripod for the burner to stand on, so burner and pan stay steady.
Wind shield: Stainless steel wind shield for burners with two rings. It keeps the flames under the pan when it is windy.
Leg extensions: Three leg extensions that fit on the burner legs to raise it.

Paella rice – Bomba and BXS from Calasparra

Paella is made with short-grain rice that absorbs the stock without turning mushy. Both our varieties come from Calasparra in Spain, which has protected designation of origin (Denominación de Origen).

Bomba, 1 kg – the classic paella rice, which absorbs a lot of stock and keeps its shape.
BXS, 1 kg – short-grain paella rice and a more affordable everyday option.

Frequently asked questions about paella

What size paella pan do I need?

El Cid states about 4 servings in a 30 cm pan and about 14 servings in a 50 cm pan. A 28–32 cm pan suits a family, while 40 cm and larger suits a party.

What is the difference between enamelled and polished paella pans?

Enamelled steel does not rust and does not need oiling. Polished steel is the traditional pan, but it must be dried well and rubbed with a little oil after use.