While saute pans are designed to retain moisture and help steam vegetables, French skillets are better suited for frying and cooking dishes that require larger surface areas.

Aluminum is one of the most easily available natural elements, so aluminum frying pans are quite affordable. It is an excellent conductor of heat and heats up faster than stainless steel. In fact, aluminum is sometimes incorporated in stainless steel pans to improve their conductivity.

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.

Because of their shallowness, these pans are perfect for flipping and shaking objects. Because frying pans are often thinner than skillets, they heat up faster. This ensures that the pan and food are evenly and quickly heated. Furthermore, the flavor is retained because a frying pan heats up quickly.

Cast iron Dutch ovens are renowned for their versatility, durability, and ability to create flavorful and hearty meals. This article delves into the features, applications, and benefits of cast iron Dutch ovens for sale, highlighting their enduring appeal and culinary capabilities.

Cast iron is another material to consider because it retains heat extremely well, although it's not the best heat conductor. That means, cast iron takes a while to heat up. Cast iron is best for searing, sauteing, and baking.

Cast Iron Skillet Set With Lids

With their sizeable bottom and weight, however, sauté pans actually aren’t best for shaking and flipping food around. Instead, sauté pans are built for larger, longer cooking. If the dish requires a good amount of liquid and not much stirring, such as shallow-fried falafels or braised lamb shanks, a sauté pan is perfect for the job.

Non-stick frying pans are also easy to clean and maintain, as food and grease can be wiped away with ease. They are also safe for use on all stovetops, including induction.

Is a frying pan and a skillet the same?