
Frypans and skillets have different shapes and intended uses, but both are incredibly versatile. It all comes down to the kind of versatility you want.
Yes, a cast iron skillet can be taken directly from the stovetop to the oven and vice versa. It can withstand high heat for an extended time and retain that heat for long periods, making it great for use as a serving vessel.
Kitchen Cookware Multifunction Rectangular Frying Pan Cast lron Wok

Enameled Cast Iron Cookware Preventive Measures:
Sauté pans are very versatile, as their shape allows them to hold liquids. This means they can be used for making sauces in addition to braising, poaching, shallow-frying, searing, and pan-frying (if the ingredients don’t often need to be flipped).
Recipes that you plan to grill up fast under high heat, meats that need to be seared, or foods that require constant flipping and stirring with a spatula are most conveniently prepared in a frying pan. The nicely sloped sides of a frying pan also make it possible to toss up a small portion of stir-fry. However, to achieve a perfect finish on this type of shallowly fried dish, a bowl-shaped Wok works best.
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.
While saute pans are designed to retain moisture and help steam vegetables, French skillets are better suited for frying and cooking dishes that require larger surface areas.
Enameled Cast Iron: Enameled cast iron Dutch ovens combine the benefits of cast iron with the convenience of an enamel coating. They are resistant to acidic foods, easy to clean, and come in a range of vibrant colors.
Size Matters


If you still can’t seem to pick, however, we’d suggest our Multi-Material Frying Pan Set. This three-piece collection includes a Stainless Clad, a Non Stick, and a Carbon Steel Frying Pan, so you’ll have all of your bases covered—with room to grow.
Aluminium frying pans are lightweight and easy to handle, making them a popular choice among home cooks. They are also affordable and widely available, making them an excellent option for those on a budget.
