A skillet is a shallow pan with a flat bottom, a long handle, and sloped sides. It is made for stovetop jobs where food needs easy turning, browning, or tossing, such as eggs, vegetables, chicken pieces, steak, pancakes, grilled cheese, and quick pan sauces.
Skillet vs Frying Pan vs Saute Pan
| Pan | Shape | Best uses |
|---|---|---|
| Skillet | Flat bottom with sloped sides | Searing, browning, frying, sauteing, tossing vegetables |
| Frying pan | Often very similar to a skillet | Eggs, pancakes, shallow frying, grilled sandwiches |
| Saute pan | Flat bottom with straighter sides | Pan sauces, shallow braises, saucy vegetables, larger batches |
Common Skillet Materials
- Cast iron: holds heat well and is useful for searing, cornbread, roasted vegetables, and oven finishing.
- Stainless steel: good for browning, fond, pan sauces, and high-heat cooking when preheated properly.
- Nonstick: convenient for eggs, pancakes, delicate fish, and low-fat cooking, but not ideal for very high heat.
- Carbon steel: lighter than cast iron and good for quick searing, eggs, and stir-fry-style cooking after seasoning.
What to Cook in a Skillet
Use a skillet when you want direct heat and quick contact with the pan surface. It is especially useful for eggs, bacon, burgers, chicken cutlets, fish fillets, quesadillas, fried rice, vegetables, potatoes, pancakes, and reheating leftovers without making them soggy.
FAQ
What is a skillet?
A skillet is a shallow pan with a flat bottom, a long handle, and sloped sides. It is used for searing, browning, sauteing, frying, and cooking foods that need easy turning.
Is a skillet the same as a frying pan?
In everyday cooking, skillet and frying pan often mean nearly the same thing. Some cookware makers use skillet for pans with sloped sides and frying pan for a similar shallow pan.
What is the difference between a skillet and a saute pan?
A skillet usually has sloped sides, which make tossing and turning easier. A saute pan has straighter sides and often more flat cooking area for sauces and shallow braises.
What can you cook in a skillet?
Use a skillet for eggs, vegetables, steak, chicken pieces, fish fillets, pancakes, grilled cheese, pan sauces, shallow frying, and reheating leftovers.
Which skillet material is best?
Cast iron holds heat well for searing, stainless steel is good for browning and pan sauces, and nonstick is convenient for eggs and delicate foods. The best choice depends on the job.