One popular option among discerning cooks is the enameled cast iron pots and pans set, which typically includes an assortment of skillets, Dutch ovens, and saucepans – all designed to elevate culinary creations to new heights. Furthermore, for those with an eye for design, enameled cast iron cookware sets are available in an array of vibrant colors, adding a touch of sophistication to any kitchen aesthetic. Whether opting for a classic black or embracing bold hues, such as cobalt blue or cherry red, these sets serve as both functional cooking vessels and statement pieces.

It depends. Some manufacturers will label their pans dishwasher-safe, but for the longevity of your pans, it is best to hand-wash stainless steel pans. Dishwasher detergents can be harsh on the stainless steel and may lead to corrosion, and in general, regularly dishwashing your pans will dull and spot them over time.

Both pans are typically made of stainless steel, but fry pans often come with non-stick coatings, while French skillets do not.

Best for: Almost any food that needs frying, browning, or searing. Because it’s ovenproof, stainless is also a good choice for foods that you start on the stovetop and then move to the oven to finish, like thick pork chops.

The details: Nitahara says that 95 percent of the pans used in the CIA’s teaching kitchens are stainless steel because they can take a lot of punishment. “The only time we don’t use them is on egg day, when we use nonstick,” he says. He adds that the shiny surface of a stainless pan makes it easy to see whether your food is browning.

In CR’s tests of stainless steel pans, we measure heating evenness by cooking pancakes, and we gauge how evenly a pan sautés by cooking potatoes until they’re tender. We also conduct a cleaning test to see how easy it is to remove cooked-on food. You’d think that all stainless pans would be about the same to clean, but our tests show that some require a lot more scrubbing than others.

Here are two recommended stainless steel pans from CR’s tests.

Enameled cast iron pans offer all the benefits of unfinished cast iron, with the touch of added convenience usually associated with non stick.

Uses Of The French Skillet

Believe it or not, the only difference between a skillet and a Frying Pan is in the name. Pan is a general term used to refer to a variety of different cooking vessels. A frying pan (made distinct by the adjective frying) is a shallow cooking vessel with sloped sides that can be used for frying food. 

So we know that the frypan is generally smaller than the skillet, but does that also mean it has a smaller cooking surface? It sure does. Its overall smaller build gives it a smaller cooking surface, while its shallower depth also reduces the amount you can cook on it. But its compact size certainly gives you an easier time when it comes to cooking smaller portions.

A frypan can be used to cook frittatas, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, omelettes, stir-fries, and fish. Certain oven-safe frypans have the versatility to be served from oven to table for a stunning affair. Modern frypans are also now available in beautiful designs and colours, especially ceramic frypans.