One of the most popular types of Dutch ovens for outdoor cooking is the round cast iron Dutch oven.  This classic design features a deep round pot and tight-fitting lid, perfect for cooking stews, soups, and roasts over an open fire.  The Round Cast Iron Dutch Oven shape distributes heat evenly, ensuring food is cooked to perfection every time.

The benefit of a French skillet is that it is ideal for frying large quantities of food or making stews and sauces that require simmering. Its higher straight sides make it easier to cook with more liquid, while its broader base allows for even heat distribution. French skillets are versatile and can be used for various cooking tasks.

Sauté pans, in contrast, have sides that meet the bottom surface at a right angle. This defined edge leaves the entire bottom of the pan even and flat, making for a much larger surface area. As compared to skillets of the same diameter, a 12-inch sauté pan has 12 inches of usable cooking surface. The sauté pan’s tall sides allow it to hold a greater volume of liquid than a skillet and help prevent spillovers. 

Enamel Pots Size

Which leads us to a similarity they both have; a flat cooking surface.

Cast Iron Construction: Dutch ovens are crafted from heavy-duty cast iron, known for its excellent heat retention and distribution. This allows for even cooking and makes them suitable for a wide range of cooking methods, including braising, roasting, baking, and stewing.

While often overlooked, the handle of a frypan is one of its most crucial components. Once you’ve decided on the size and material of your frypan, make sure to take note of the handle on the products you’ve shortlisted. Look for a handle that’s strong and will remain cool when cooking on a stovetop. Wider handles are more beneficial for cooking since they allow for better control, especially when you’re preparing food that needs to be tossed. Lastly, stainless steel handles are ideal for low heat conductivity since they can tolerate higher temperatures than plastic or silicone handles.

However, non-stick frying pans have a limited lifespan, and the non-stick coating can wear off over time, leaving the pan prone to scratching and peeling. They also cannot be used with metal utensils, as the metal can scratch the non-stick coating.

Many cooks have a variety of skillet sizes to handle diverse dishes and portion sizes. If they buy just one French skillet, they generally choose a larger size to have additional cooking possibilities.