They have a single, long handle, like fry pans, but also usually feature a smaller side handle to help the cook lift the added weight of more food. Saute Pans also usually come with a lid designed to hold in moisture. This makes them much more useful for slow cooking with sauces.

With their flared rims, skillets provide a wide, open view and convenient access to stir, move, or flip ingredients around. The smooth, curved sides also help you quickly slide a finished dish from fry pan to plate. 

There are various hypotheses as to how this cookware got the name “French Skillet”:

If you were to buy only one of these skillets, it should be stainless steel. Stainless steel is your everyday hero. There's a reason why stainless steel cookware sets are so coveted. It can cook everything and doesn't need any special treatment. No time to wash? It's ok to leave stainless steel soaking in water.

    Additionally, adding cast iron skillets  to your cast iron cookware collection can complement other cast iron pieces, such as square cast iron frying pan, oval cast iron skillets, and cast iron round skillet.     Frying pans can be combined with these other pieces to expand your cooking capabilities.  For example, you can use a frying pan to cook bacon and eggs, while using a cast iron round skillet to make a savory sauce or a square skillet to sear a steak.

This pan has a flat bottom and flared edges that may be slightly curved. It is often used for cooking. Some skillets, such as copper, cast iron, or aluminum, are coated with a nonstick coating to make cleanup easier.