I can quite comfortably fit 12 pieces of chicken in a 12-inch sauté pan—a task that takes two batches with a skillet.

What Is a Skillet?

Versatile Applications: Sizzling steak plates and platters are suitable for serving a wide range of sizzling dishes, including steaks, fajitas, grilled seafood, and sizzling vegetables. They are equally popular in restaurants and home kitchens, adding flair to the presentation of hot meals.

A sauté pan is better suited than a stockpot for holding liquids, reducing splashing, and cooking many foods at once. The biggest disadvantage of the sauté pan is its size. You’ll notice this since the 12-inch sauté pan is significantly larger than the skillet.

Another reason chefs reach for our Non Stick is for quickly cooking pasta. They’re able to add the sauce into the pan, followed by the noodles, then emulsify it together for a glossy finish. The superior non stick surface of our pans means nothing sticks and all the sauce ends up on your plate, rather than in the pan.

While skillets and pans are easily mistaken for one another — and can be used interchangeably in a pinch — the actual cookware items do have their differences.

Invest in a high-quality frying pan if you want the most versatility when cooking. Get a skillet if you need a specialized strategy for a certain reason. If you want versatility and a pan that you can use on some special dishes you can get both.