Saute pans have straight sides instead of slanted ones, so a higher volume of ingredients or liquid can fit inside, making this style pan ideal for making sauces. Because of the design, sauces don't splash or slosh around as much, making clean-up a lot easier. Another bonus of this pan style is that most saute pans have a fitted lid, which reduces evaporation. These pans are well-suited for cooking methods such as braising, searing, or shallow-frying. But saute pans are heavier due to a wider base, making skillets easier to lift and move.

Carbon steel cookware boasts the naturally non stick properties and great heat retention of cast iron, combined with the cooking speed and heat control of stainless steel. We’d recommend reaching for carbon steel when cooking steaks, cornbread, or anything else cooked over high heat—though it’s versatile enough to use for low-heat cooking as well.

You can’t go wrong with a frying pan in the kitchen because it can be used for various purposes. Because frying pans are smaller and thinner than skillets, they heat up faster. As a result, your food and pan will be evenly and rapidly heated.

Induction frying pans are designed specifically for use with induction cooktops. They have a magnetic base that heats up quickly and evenly, making them ideal for high-heat cooking and delicate dishes. However, they are limited in compatibility with cooktops and may not be suitable for all types of cooking.

 Dutch ovens are usually made of cast iron, aluminum, or ceramic.  Cast iron Dutch ovens are known for their excellent heat retention and distribution, making them ideal for slow cooking and braising.  Aluminum Dutch ovens are lightweight and perfect for camping or outdoor cooking.  Ceramic Dutch ovens are great for baking and roasting because Dutch ovens provide even heat distribution and are oven-safe.

Stainless steel frying pans are also great for high-heat cooking and ideal for searing and browning food. They are also safe for use on all stovetops, including induction.

Enamel Fondue Set

Aluminum pans tend to be more economical than other options. You can find skillets with anodized aluminum. With that, the metal has been bonded with oxygen to make a stronger surface. Most aluminum pans have a smoother surface than other types of materials, making them a good non-stick option. Aluminum pans are typically resistant to corrosion and abrasion

Cooking Surface Applications: The spacious cooking surface of big black cast iron skillets allows for the preparation of large quantities of food, making them suitable for family meals, entertaining, and batch cooking. They can handle everything from searing steaks to cooking pancakes and deep-dish pizzas.

The geometry of a pan can affect how easily moisture is driven off of food, and how rapidly a sauce will reduce. It's often claimed that the sloped sides of a skillet help moisture exuded by cooking meats evaporate more rapidly, allowing you to sear more efficiently. And this is true, but only given the same cooking area. In other words, a 12-inch skillet with a 10-inch cooking area will sear foods more efficiently than a 10-inch sauté pan. The corollary to this, of course, is that, given an equal amount of food that needs searing over super-high heat (some steaks, for example), the large surface area of a sauté pan does not offer any significant advantages over a skillet—you'll still have to cook in just as many batches.