Even big manufacturers such as Cuisinart have shifted much of their skillet production to China. One approach to finding out where a skillet came from is to look underneath.

Sizzle Pan Measure

In a restaurant, you will notice a variety of different pans, including stainless steel pans, cast iron pans, aluminium pans and more. However, most chefs prefer to use stainless steel pans when preparing food. The Indus Valley offers a range of Tri-ply Stainless Steel Pans, ideal for cooking chef-like meals at home.

A French skillet is a heavy and thick saucepan usually larger, flatter, and deeper than a regular frying pan. Its size ranges from 9-11 inches, but some come in 8 or 12 inches.

A frying pan's thickness is measured in either gauge or mils. -1 mil is equal to 1/1000, so the higher the mil, the thicker the metal. The gauge works oppositely - the higher the gauge, the thinner the metal. A thick pan is more durable than a thin pan but may not conduct heat as quickly. Most commercial frying pans will fall between a thick 10-gauge construction and a thinner 22-gauge construction.

Skillets have less cooking area which may be a drawback, depending on what you're cooking. That said, skillets have the advantage of making it easy to toss or shake ingredients so that they cook evenly, thanks to the pans’ slanted sides. (You know, the professional chef move, when instead of using a wooden spoon to stir or mix the ingredients, with a quick jerk of the wrist, the ingredients are tossed and quickly caught back in the pan.) Skillets are great pans for sauteing foods and stir-frys because of how easy the pan is to move with agility. 

Considerations:

Bacon Press: A cast iron bacon press is a heavy, flat weight with a handle, designed to be placed on top of bacon strips or other meats as they cook. It helps to prevent curling and ensures even cooking by applying consistent pressure to the meat.