enka drain mat

The simplest way to understand the difference between these types of pans is to look at the sides of the pan. If the sides are slanted, the pan is a skillet, which is also sometimes called a frying pan or fry pan. If the slides are straight, it’s a sauté pan.

A sauté pan on high heat with oil or fat is used to fling objects back and forth into the air. Food cooked in this pan should have a golden crust and not be soggy at the bottom. Frying pans have slanted edges that allow cooking in a “jump and flip” motion. Using this strategy, you can cook quickly and evenly. It is easier to add and shake things into frypans than saute pans.

Here’s a fun fact; did you know that there’s a frypan called the French skillet, only with much higher, sloped sides? It looks rather like a slight cross between the fry pan and skillet.

No, aluminum pans should be hand-washed only. Aluminum cannot withstand the high heat of the dishwasher or harsh dishwashing chemicals, which can tarnish or stain the surface.

Stainless steel is an alloy of multiple metals like iron, nickel, and chromium, all of which contribute different characteristics to create a stronger, higher-performance material. You can also find pans labeled “stainless clad,” which are made from several layers—or ply—of different metals and alloys bonded together for optimized heat conduction and distribution. Our 5-Ply Stainless Clad features five layers of four different metals, resulting in an incredibly durable, corrosion- and rust-resistant pan.

Sizzling Plate

The details: These pans solve the frustration of food sticking, and they require little oil for cooking. Plus they’re lightweight, easy to clean, and affordable. But they can’t take the high heat of a cast-iron or stainless steel frying pan. “You’re not going to get much of a sear in a nonstick pan,” says Cindy Fisher, who conducted Consumer Reports’ cookware tests.

And they don’t last as long as cast-iron, stainless, or copper frying pans. “Nonstick is going to wear out the fastest,” Nitahara says. “The nonstick coating is fragile, and once you scratch it, it’s hard to flip an egg.”

In our tests of nonstick pans, we cook four eggs in quick succession. An excellent rating means all four eggs easily slid out of the pan. A poor rating indicates that some egg residue was left behind. To test nonstick durability, we rub the pan with steel wool for 2,000 strokes or until the coating has worn through.

    For smaller cooking tasks or individual portions, a mini cast iron skillet is the perfect choice.  These cast iron skillets are perfect for cooking eggs, single servings of vegetables, and even single servings of desserts.  Mini Cast Iron Skillet's small size also makes them ideal for taking dishes straight from oven to table, adding a rustic yet charming feel to any meal.

The lower sides, which flare outwards, are another essential design component. The outward flare makes it easy to toss omelets, pancakes, and other dishes directly from the pan to a plate.