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Shallow Pan of Food
SHAL-oh PAN uhv FOOD
Definitions
1
Food · Cuisine
Common
A shallow cooking pan containing prepared food, typically representing paella or similar one-pan dishes with visible ingredients. Used to indicate cooking, dining out, or sharing meals.
Often used when discussing food preparation, restaurant meals, or cultural cuisine. Frequently appears in food-related content.
Made my grandmother's special rice dish tonight 🥘 Everyone loved it!
Instagram caption
Found this amazing paella restaurant downtown 🥘 Definitely recommend!
WhatsApp message
While officially generic, this emoji is widely recognized as representing Spanish paella, though it's used for various shallow-pan dishes globally.
2
Food · Social
Common
Symbolizes shared meals, cooking for others, or communal dining experiences. Represents the social aspect of food preparation and consumption.
Used when highlighting cooking as a social activity or when sharing meals with family and friends.
Sunday family dinner tradition continues 🥘 Nothing brings people together like food!
Facebook post
One-pan dishes like paella traditionally serve as centerpieces for gatherings, making this emoji a symbol of communal dining.
Evolution Timeline
2016
Introduced in Unicode 9.0 as part of expanded food emoji set.
Growing interest in global cuisine representation in digital communication.
2018
Gained popularity with rise of food blogging and Instagram foodie culture.
Social media food photography trend and cooking content creators.
Cultural Context
Though officially generic, this emoji is predominantly associated with Spanish paella, causing occasional cultural debates about authentic representation.
Represents communal dining traditions where shared dishes bring people together, reflecting food's social importance across cultures.
Gained prominence with the rise of food photography on social media, where one-pan dishes are visually appealing and frequently shared.
Regional Variations
Spain
Strongly associated with paella, Spain's national dish. Used with particular pride and cultural significance.
Mexico
Often represents traditional Mexican rice dishes like arroz con pollo or seafood cazuelas.
Generational Usage
Gen_X: Used practically to indicate dinner plans, cooking activities, or restaurant recommendations in messaging.
Gen_Z: Used in food content creation, recipe sharing on TikTok, and to highlight aesthetic food experiences worth documenting.
Older: Less frequently used, but appears in family chat contexts about meals or dining experiences.
Millennials: Frequently used in Instagram food posts, recipe sharing, and to document cooking achievements or restaurant experiences.
Common Combinations
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Spanish paella or authentic Spanish cuisine
References Spain's most famous dish and culinary heritage
🥘👨🍳
Cooking a special dish or professional chef preparation
Indicates culinary skill or professional food preparation
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Fine dining experience or Mediterranean meal with wine
Represents complete dining experience, often Mediterranean
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Spicy dish or impressively good cooking
Can indicate either spicy food or exceptional cooking