While it is also rare for skillets to come with a lid, you’ll certainly see it more often than you would on a frypan. The lid is also typically fully opaque so you won’t be able to monitor your cooking as easily. But it sure helps with slow-cooking and braising dishes.

Lightweight Enameled Cast Iron Cookware

Q: What is the best type of frying pan for reducing the amount of oil needed for cooking?
A: The best type of frying pan for reducing the amount of oil needed for cooking is one that has non-stick properties, such as ceramic, titanium, and granite or stone frying pans.

Lid Availability

The French skillet is frequently less expensive than a frying pan, but this can vary widely depending on the brand and materials used.

If you were to buy only one of these skillets, it should be stainless steel. Stainless steel is your everyday hero. There's a reason why stainless steel cookware sets are so coveted. It can cook everything and doesn't need any special treatment. No time to wash? It's ok to leave stainless steel soaking in water.

Stainless steel frying pans are light but durable. By itself, stainless steel is not a particularly good conductor of heat, so some pans have a better heat conductor such as aluminum sandwiched between two layers of stainless steel. For example, the Carl Schmidt Pro-X 3 Pc Set Frying Pan Stainless Steel Cookware Non-Stick, which also has a non-stick coating. It's heavier than a single layer pan, but it cooks the food more evenly.

Handles

Aside from their looks, one of the distinct characteristics of copper pans is the fact that they cool rapidly once removed from the heat. Copper is strong and notoriously conductive, so it makes for long-lasting, high-performance, and incredibly responsive cookware—perfect for jam, caramel, and other delicate sauces, as well as searing and sautéing, as well.

How to Choose the Best Frying Pan for You