Stainless Steel Frying Pans

    In addition to braising and baking, the dutch oven excels at deep frying. Its sturdy construction and generous capacity make it well-suited for frying everything from chicken to doughnuts. The high walls of the Dutch oven minimize oil splatter, while the heavy lid helps regulate temperature, ensuring golden, crispy results every time.

There is often confusion when comparing saute pans, fry pans, and French skillets. A French skillet can be described as a combination of a saute pan and a frying pan.

Tossing Ability

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. 

Size Matters

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.

In addition, skillets and pans are available in very similar sizes (typically 8-inch, 10-inch, or 12-inch diameters) and materials (stainless steel, aluminum, multi-ply, and nonstick coating).