After pots, spoons, and knives, a frying pan is the next commonly used kitchenware. Frying pans are versatile enough to cook almost all kinds of food. But each type of frying pan has its peculiarity that impacts its use.
If you’re unsure of what type of frying pan to get, knowing the usefulness of each type will help guide your decision. Depending on your cooker type and cooking goal, you can tell which suits your kitchen.
Cast iron skillet
This type of pan is heavy enough to stand durability tests and versatile enough to braise, fry, steam, and cook anything.
Whether or not the cast iron skillet distributes heat evenly, there is still some back and forth. But we know that it heats up slower than an aluminum pan would, making it perfect for a slow cook. It is also very resistant to high temperatures, making it a safe choice for baking.
Two types of this pan exist. It can be coated or uncoated. The uncoated cast iron skillets usually require seasoning, a process that coats the pan with oil, making it less prone to rust and damage. Coated versions of this pan do not require seasoning.
One of the best cast iron skillets can be found on Amazon. It is the Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, and it comes with a hot-handle holder. At least ten thousand of this brand have been sold in the past month.
Nonstick pan
If you’re a pancake lover, you need this pan. Using a stainless steel pan, for example, to make foods like pancakes will not give you the desired result.
A nonstick pan prevents your food from getting stuck in the pan. It is also ideal for cooking foods with little or no oil. People trying to reduce oil consumption will find it a useful buy.
Note that the inner coating responsible for the nonstick feature is easily scratched. Using a Metallic spoon could cause damage to this coating. So, it is important to use wooden or silicone spoons while cooking with this type of frying pan.
COPPER CHEF’s Nonstick Frying Pan is a pocket-friendly and easy-to-clean option.
Griddle pan
A griddle pan is the frying pan to use if you hope to achieve an all-over sear on the food you cook. They are flat with a wide surface area and are mostly non-stick.
This pan differs from a grill pan because it is completely flat and unlike grill pans, doesn’t have ridges. Making a pancake is much easier with this pan type.
Farberware High-Performance Nonstick Griddle Pan on Amazon is our pick. This brand is known to make durable pots and pans.
Stainless steel pan
A stainless steel frying pan is good for searing or browning foods. It is lightweight and easy to maneuver. This cookware retains heat and redistributes it evenly throughout the pan. Although it is not ideal for stir-frying, it is a good choice for prepping foods for baking or any other cooking process.
Unlike the carbon steel frying pan that is unsuitable for cooking acidic foods, the stainless steel pan is non-reactive and is a great choice for cooking slow-simmering foods like tomato sauce.
Although a little on the costly side, Amazon buyers love the ALL-CLAD D3 3-PLY Stainless Steel Fry Pan, citing it as “a joy to use”. In the past month, it has had over a thousand buys.
Carbon steel frying pan
If you often burn your food due to forgetfulness, a carbon frying pan might help you. As quickly as this pan gets heated up, it loses heat just as much. This means as soon as you take it off the heat source, it returns to a cool temperature soon enough.
Even though it is not very heat resistant, the carbon steel frying pan is a good conductor of heat. Sauteing and shallow frying are made seamless with this cookware.
But this pan should not be used to cook acidic foods as it can alter the taste of the food. The YOSUKATA Carbon Steel Wok Pan on Amazon is one of the best options for a carbon steel frying pan. It also makes stir-fry foods easier to make.
Aluminum pan
If there is one pan that conducts heat better than a stainless steel pan, it is the aluminum pan. It is light and sturdy, making cooking easy and next to perfect.
This pan is easily one of the cheapest types of frying pans. It is also very versatile and compatible with many ingredients. However, highly acidic foods are not recommended to be cooked in this pan.
Amazon’s number one best-seller aluminum pan is the TRAMONTINA 80114/ 535DS Aluminum Pan.
Copper frying pan
A copper frying pan is suitable for simple and short cooking procedures like frying an egg or plantains. Most of these pans are designed to allow an easy grip and even heat distribution while cooking.
Pro chefs appreciate its ability to get heated up fast. What’s better is that it is less likely to burn food. It is also rare to have food get stuck to it.
Because of the risk of copper leaching into your food from the pan, we recommend using copper frying pans of high quality. The MASTERPAN Copper Tone Fry Pan on Amazon is a highly recommended brand of this pan. Reviewers say it is of exceptional value.
Ceramic coated pan
Because of the lower risk of toxicity associated with the ceramic-coated pan, it has been cited as one of the healthiest pans to cook with.
The name of this cookware may give a wrong interpretation of what is made of. The ceramic-coated pan is not actually made of ceramic. It is only called that because of the ceramic appearance the coating gives it.
For low-fat cooking, you can use this pan. Its nonstick nature reduces the need to use oil as a lubricant. It is also safe for induction cooktops and useful for high-temperature cooking.
The SENSARTE Nonstick Ceramic Saute Pan is indeed a “pantastic” choice. Though it is slightly more costly, it is an investment that is worth its price tag.
Induction pan
Even though this cookware is not commonly seen in household kitchens, it has its role to play. Some induction stovetops do not heat regular pots and pans. An induction pan is a pan that can be used to cook safely and effectively on an induction stovetop.
You can cook on both the induction and the regular burners with an induction pan simultaneously. This reduces the duration of time spent cooking a single meal. It also increases efficiency as well.
If you’re looking to get your very first induction pan, KOCH SYSTEME CS’ Premium Nonstick Induction Frying Pan is a great option to start with. It comes with an ergonomic stainless steel handle, and the user experience is top-notch.
Grill pan
For food aesthetics and improving the overall appearance of your meal, a grill pan is your most reliable option. It is used preferably for making sandwiches and searing burgers.
Grill pans are safe for use on all cooktops, including induction. The charring effect of the grill lines also helps to enhance the flavor of the food in most cases.
Because it is often made of cast iron, the grill pan is resistant to high-heat cooking procedures, making it safe for oven cooking.
Even though it is a new arrival, Amazon’s choice grill pan is the GOTHAM STEEL Nonstick Grill Pan.
The cooking result of each pan type will help you choose which ones to get. But when it all comes down to it, having all these pan types for each procedure is recommended if possible. In a world where you can have all, why have only a few?
