In presentation, the magician demonstrates that the pan is empty and then puts cooking ingredients into the pan – often adding milk or cracking an egg into it or putting a small quantity of a volatile liquid into it and igniting it.
To extinguish the fire or "cook" the ingredients, the magician covers the pan with a lid.
When the magician removes the lid, a dove flies from the pan which is then shown to be otherwise empty.
The liner, when fitted into the lid, may be loaded with birds (or anything else the magician wishes to produce) before the trick begins.
The magician must avoid showing the underside of the lid to the audience while performing the trick.