Whereas skillets are commonly made from cast iron or stainless steel, giving it its rugged and robust nature. You’ll also be hard-pressed to find a “cast iron frypan”, but you’ll often find “cast iron skillets”. Even though stainless steel is one of the common materials used to make skillets, cast iron is the more popular option. 

The two can be used interchangeably for grilling, roasting, stewing, and frying. There is no distinction between the two when it comes to cooking. A frying pan, for example, can be used in place of a skillet and vice versa.

While a lid isn’t customary on a French skillet, it shares several characteristics with a sauté pan, so it’s possible to get one with one if you like to preserve the ingredients while cooking.

Both pans are typically made of stainless steel, but fry pans often come with non-stick coatings, while French skillets do not.

Aluminum: Aluminum Dutch ovens are lightweight and offer superior heat conduction. They are often used for camping and outdoor cooking due to their portability and durability.

 There are various types of cast iron cookware available in the market, including griddles, Dutch ovens, griddles, and more.  Each type serves a specific purpose, so it's important to evaluate your cooking needs before purchasing.  Griddles are great for frying, frying, and baking, while Dutch ovens are great for slow-cooking stews, soups, and roasts.  Frying pans are great for making pancakes, grilled sandwiches, and even pizza.  By understanding the different types of cast iron cookware, you can choose the one that best suits your cooking style.

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). 

Once the pan has cooled, handwash the pan in warm water with mild dish detergent and a sponge. For stuck-on foods, use the rough side of the sponge or wooden spatula to scrape off food bits. Never use steel wool or other abrasive scrubbers to clean stainless steel pans as this can scratch the metal. If your stainless steel pans are labeled as dishwasher-safe, make sure to use a metal-safe detergent to protect the pans' surface.

Another notion is that they were created during World War II when steel was short. Cast iron skillets with enamel were produced as an alternative, making them weigh less than typical pans and pots during those days.

If you're an avid cook and the budget permits, ideally you have both a saute pan and a skillet. However, if you only have one and typically make dishes that require sauteing, you're best bet is to own a skillet.

Lightweight and easy to clean, non stick frying pans are all about convenience.

However, as cookware diameters are measured at the opening (i.e., from side to side of the top), a 12-inch skillet means roughly 10-inches of real cooking surface. Any food that leans on the curved edges is not in direct contact with the heat and won’t cook as quickly as food on the bottom surface. However, the wide opening and relatively light weight of skillets makes them very easy to maneuver so food can be quickly shifted inside. 

Cast Iron Shrimp Grill Pan