Picture a piece of cookware with a large flat bottom — one with short sides, a long handle, and the perfect shape for cooking up a tasty seared steak. What comes to mind? 

Cast-Iron Frying Pans

Enamel Cookware Maintenance

But to keen observers and cookware enthusiasts (that’s us!), there are some key differences. This article compares and contrasts skillets and pans and shares the best cooking techniques and dishes to use each one.

Cast iron has been used for cookware from as way back as the 7th Century. It is thick and heavy and very versatile. It can be used for cooking eggs, pan-frying chicken, stir-frying, long-cooking, braising, and baking.

However, they also burn food quickly. So, do not use a French skillet for food requiring low heat, such as sauce or creamy cheese.

In the United Kingdom, skillets can also refer to larger, deeper, lidded pots or pans with long handles and legs. In the United States,  the term refers to a dish constructed from a shallow skillet-shaped metal or ceramic pan and includes cooked diced veggies and meats.

    All in all, an enamel pot with lid is a valuable addition to any kitchen.  Whether you choose a large enameled pot with lid, a small enameled pot with lid, or an enameled cast iron pot with lid, you'll find these versatile cookware indispensable for everyday cooking tasks.   Enamel Pots' durability, heat retention, and ease of use make them a practical choice for home cooks of all levels.

    On the other hand, cast iron skillets with wooden handles offer a traditional and rustic aesthetic.  The wooden handle is cool to the touch and provides a comfortable grip while cooking.  Cast Iron Skillet With Wooden Handle also adds a touch of elegance to the frying pan, making it a stylish addition to any kitchen.

Made from electrochemically treated aluminium, the surfaces of hard anodised aluminium frypans are twice as rigid as stainless steel and stick-resistant. They heat up evenly and quickly and are the pan of choice for many professional chefs and cooking enthusiasts. Because of their durability, you can use metal utensils without worrying about scratching or chipping the surface of your pan. They’re also incredibly easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

    Enameled cast iron cookware sets offer a myriad of benefits, chief among them being their ability to distribute heat evenly, ensuring consistent cooking results. Moreover, the enamel coating provides a non-stick surface, making cleanup a breeze – a feature highly coveted by busy chefs and culinary enthusiasts.

With tall sides and a wide base, sauté pans pack more weight. Larger sauté pans may even come with a secondary helper handle, which is a small loop handle attached opposite the main long handle as well as a cover or lid. This is helpful, as the weight of larger sauté pans is difficult to move around, especially since they can hold plenty of food. 

As long as it is labeled oven-safe, aluminum pans are safe to use in the oven. Aluminum has a high melting point of 1,221 degrees Fahrenheit so it can handle high cooking and baking temperatures.

Enamel-coated Cast Iron Cookware Care

enameled cast iron cookware safe

While there are instances where you can interchange these two pans, for more specific tasks, there aren’t any.