WHY THE CONFUSING TERMINOLOGY?

Pans are measured according to the diameter of the lip, not the diameter of the cooking surface. Most home burners can only comfortably fit a pan of around 12 inches in diameter. Because of its straight sides, a 12-inch sauté pan will also have a large, 12-inch-wide cooking surface (about 113 square inches). A skillet, on the other hand, loses at least an inch on each side, making the effective cooking area only 10 inches wide (about 79 square inches). This means that, given a skillet and a sauté pan of equal diameter, the skillet will have 30% less cooking area than the sauté pan. That's not an insignificant amount.

Indoor and Outdoor Cooking: Griddles and grill pans made of black cast iron are suitable for use on stovetops, grills, and even campfires, providing flexibility for indoor and outdoor cooking. This versatility makes them ideal for a range of culinary settings.

Dutch Oven Function

Skillets on the other hand, have semi-vertical sides that flare outwards from the base. This is unlike the frying pan because it does not have curved edges. Again, do not confuse skillets with saute pans as the skillet widen outwards while saute pan does not.

The answer to whether French skillets and frying pans are interchangeable is not straightforward as it depends on what you’re cooking.

 Dutch ovens are extremely versatile and can be used for a variety of cooking methods.  Dutch ovens are perfect for stews, soups, chili, braised meats, and roasted vegetables.  A Dutch oven can also be used to bake bread, making the Dutch oven a must-have for home bakers.

 In addition to their beauty, enamel pots are also known for their durability.  The enamel coating not only prevents stains and scratches, it also helps distribute heat evenly for thorough, consistent cooking.  This makes enamel pots a reliable and long-lasting addition to your kitchen cookware collection.

Where to Buy Sizzling Plates:

Considerations: