Handles are another important part of cookware, particularly for long-handle skillets and sauté pans. Skillet dishes often need to be shaken and flipped, while sauté pan dishes tend to be used for a lot of liquid and ingredients. Because of this, both skillets and sauté pans require stay-cool handles that are securely riveted to the cookware base. 

Slightly sloped sides;Suitable for shallow frying only;Can be manufactured from different materials (carbon steel, cast iron, etc.);Can come with non-stick surfaces;Not complemented with lids.

    After enjoying a delicious meal cooked in a cast iron griddle, it's important to know how to clean it properly.  You need to be gentle when cleaning your cast iron griddle to avoid washing away the seasonings that give it its non-stick properties.  Use hot water and a stiff brush to gently scrub the cast iron griddle to remove food particles.  

Bare cast iron frying pans are uncoated and therefore prone to rust. To prevent this, they can be seasoned with oil, which closes up the pores and prevents contact with water. After seasoning, cast iron pans don't need to be washed with soap and water after every use. Simply wipe the pan down with a pot. If the pan is very dirty, it can be washed but it will have to be re-seasoned.

Saute pans have straight sides and usually come with lids. French skillets, on the other hand, have slightly sloped sides and are typically smaller in size. They also do not usually come with a lid, unlike saute pans.

When it comes down to it, as far as high-temperature searing (as for steaks) goes, the pans are equally efficient. A skillet offers advantages for sautéing, and a sauté pan offers advantages for shallow-frying, moderate-temperature searing (as for chicken pieces), or braising. In an ideal world, you'd have both, but if I had to pick one, I'd go with the skillet, as sautéing is a step in nearly every recipe I make.

A frying pan can be made of a variety of high-quality metalcore materials. It was originally constructed from heavy cast iron, which is incredibly solid and durable.

Cast iron is another material to consider because it retains heat extremely well, although it's not the best heat conductor. That means, cast iron takes a while to heat up. Cast iron is best for searing, sauteing, and baking.

From carbon steel to enameled cast iron, we think almost every single kind of pan has its merits. But if you’re just getting into the home cooking game, or you’re looking to expand your toolkit, the sheer variety of pans on the market can feel intimidating—especially if you’re just looking for a good all-purpose pan for weeknight dinners.