Cast iron skillets are a versatile and essential tool for any kitchen.  Known for their durability, even heat distribution, and heat-holding capabilities, they're perfect for frying, baking, and more.  When choosing the right cast iron skillet, there are some key features to consider, including the presence of a lid and the type of handle.

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

 Dutch Oven Types:

Whereas kitchen enthusiasts and cooking professionals who chose the skillet will enjoy the versatility, near indestructible durability, and in turn the longevity offered by the skillet. Ultimately, one is only better than the other depending on the lifestyle you lead.

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.

    The 8-piece cast iron cookware set, on the other hand, is a more compact option but still provides the essential parts needed for most cooking tasks.  This 8-piece cast iron cookware set is perfect for those who have limited storage space or prefer a minimalist range of cookware.

Skillets and sauté pans are great for everyday cooking and are therefore best when made from durable and versatile material. While each type is available in an assortment of materials — stainless steel, nonstick surfaces, ceramic, cast iron, etc. — a single layer of material can’t provide all the functions needed for a variety of cooking. 

When it comes to the materials used in frying pan production, stainless steel is the most commonly used, although ceramic and aluminum pans are also available. Stainless steel is an excellent anti-corrosion metal that distributes heat well and is very durable.

The weight difference between frypans and skillets can vary depending on the size and material used to construct the cookware. As a general rule, frypans are the lighter option between the two.