The main difference between fry pans and French skillets lies in their sides. Fry pans have low-sloping sides, allowing you to flip and toss food items but limiting their capacity for holding more liquid or food.

WHAT IS A SAUTE PAN (AND WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT IT?)

However, cast iron frying pans require special care and maintenance, including seasoning and proper storage. They are also not dishwasher safe and can be challenging to clean if not cared for properly.

   For small chips, epoxy repair kits designed for enamel and porcelain surfaces can be used. Clean the chipped area thoroughly, apply the epoxy according to the manufacturer's instructions, and carefully smooth the surface. Once the epoxy has dried, the repaired area should be sanded and polished to blend with the surrounding enamel.

Stainless steel frying pans are light but durable. By itself, stainless steel is not a particularly good conductor of heat, so some pans have a better heat conductor such as aluminum sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel. For example, the Carl Schmidt Pro-X 3 Pc Set Frying Pan Stainless Steel Cookware Non-Stick, which also has a non-stick coating. It's heavier than a single layer pan, but it cooks the food more evenly.

    In addition to using repair tools, there are some DIY methods for repairing enamel cookware.  For small chips or cracks, some home cooks have success using clear nail polish to seal the damaged area and prevent further chipping.

Copper is a great heat conductor, so copper frying pans heat up pretty quickly, but they lose heat just as fast. This prevents food from continuing to heat and burning up even after removing the source of heat. They're the exact opposite of cast iron. They're also not as resistant to high temperatures as cast iron and stainless steel. Anything above 450 degrees is a no-no.

The following is a side-by-side comparison highlighting the differences and similarities between the two pans.