One of the most obvious differences between skillets and frypans is its shape. But it is also a factor that often confuses people, simply because they’re both flat-bottomed rounded pans with a handle. Here’s how they differ in regards to shape.

From carbon steel to enameled cast iron, we think almost every single kind of pan has its merits. But if you’re just getting into the home cooking game, or you’re looking to expand your toolkit, the sheer variety of pans on the market can feel intimidating—especially if you’re just looking for a good all-purpose pan for weeknight dinners.

 Cleaning Griddle On The Stove

When to Cook With a Skillet

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.

Advantages:

Best for: cooking fragile foods such as eggs, fish filets, breaded cutlets, pancakes, and crepes

History Of The French Skillet