skillet vs fry pan

French Skillet vs. Fry Pan: A Detailed Comparison

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Wondering if a French Skillet and a frying pan are the same or if they serve the same function? You don’t need to look too far because we are here to clarify the differences and similarities between these two beautiful pans in this post. So, read on to get some good insight on French Skillets and Fry pans.

There’s no denying that pans are one of the most essential kitchen items you can have, and it’s important to recognize the different cookware you have in your kitchen to know the appropriate utensil in any given situation.

It can be confusing when differentiating between a French skillet and a frying pan if you don’t know enough about these pieces of cookware. The good news is that you can find the answers to many of your questions here.

So, continue reading for more insight on French skillets and fry pans.

Frying Pans – A Quick Look

Frying pans are highly diverse cooking utensils that come in different sizes averaging around 12 inches. But they can also range anywhere from about 6 to 16 inches.

Now, the size of the frying pan usually determines its function. For instance, you can fry one egg in a 6-inch pan, but you’ll need a bigger pan to fry more eggs at once. Also, larger pans are great for stir-fry or shallow-fry foods.

Most frying pans have a flat bottom, distributing the heat evenly and effectively. Frying pans usually have low sides, which act as a barrier preventing spills and splashes. They often come with one long handle (plus a helper handle) for easy maneuvering.

Carbon Steel Frying Pan

Note that frying pans typically don’t come with lids. A pan with a lid is another type of pan, like a sauté pan or a universal non-stick pan. Most frying pans are made from primarily stainless steel; however, some can be made from aluminum or ceramic. Some are made of a combination of materials. But note not to confuse a frying pan with a cast iron skillet.

However, frying pans are changing because of the high demand for non-stick and PTFE-coated products. It’s easy to find and buy a non-stick-coated stainless steel frying pan.

Frying pans are used for frying virtually any food. You can also use a frying pan to toast nuts and seeds, make pancakes, melt chocolate, and more.

French Skillets – At A Glance

French skillets and frying pans may appear visually similar but have distinct differences. Usually, French skillets are thought of as a combination of a sauté pan and a frying pan. But a sauté pan has straight sides and usually comes with a lid to minimize evaporation.

Apart from frying pans, other great pans can make cooking easy. Sauté pans and frying pans are two versatile pans you can also have in your kitchen.

Ideally, a French skillet comes in different sizes that usually range from 8 to 12 inches. They have a flat bottom shape that accommodates more food at a time, and the flat bottom helps with effective heat conduction.

Non-stick French Skillet

French skillets have higher sides as compared to a regular frying pan. The design of this pan enables it to accommodate more food and liquid. French skillets also feature a long handle and may come with a grab handle on the other side.

Even with the name “skillet,” the vessels are rarely made of cast iron. Stainless steel is standard. Just like frying pans, French skillets can also have non-stick coatings. However, because of their straight sides, this is less likely.

Now, let’s properly look into the key differences between a French skillet and a frying pan below.

The Main Differences: French Skillet vs. Fry Pan

French skillets and frying pans look similar and have similar functions in the kitchen, which is why people often use these two kitchen utensils interchangeably.

When it comes to the differences between a French skillet and a frying pan, there aren’t many, though they are designed for different purposes. Below is a side-by-side comparison of these two pieces of cookware.

Shape

French skillets typically have straight and high sides, while Frying pans have low-sloping edges. But both are flat-bottomed. However, you may find some French skillets with slightly round edges and a gentle slope.

But generally, you should be able to differentiate a frying pan from a French skillet by observing their sides.

Size

French skillet pans usually come in sizes ranging from 8 to 12 inches, and fry pans range from 6 to 16 inches.

Material

Stainless steel is the most common material used by French skillets and frying pans. This is because stainless steel produces remarkable heat distribution and is an excellent anti-corrosive material.

French skillets are made of stainless steel, but you might find some made of cast iron. The material used for frying pans is primarily stainless steel. But you can also find them made of aluminum or ceramic.

Coating

French skillet pans are less likely to have a non-stick coating. However, frying pans are more likely to have a non-stick coating.

Therefore, frying pans are a better choice for egg dishes and soufflés, and their ingredients will quickly release from the frying pan. However, the non-stick coating on the pan won’t do an excellent job if you want to make that perfect sear on a steak.

Uses

French skillet pans are made to hold more significant food portions. But a frying pan, on the other hand, is better at cooking a small amount of food. Frying pans are usually available in a broader range of sizes, making them a more versatile option.

Using a frying pan to fry or sauté small food portions is easy. The shape of the pan makes it easier to flip and toss the ingredients to enable even cooking. It’s also possible to hold a small amount of liquid in the pan.

French skillets are better at holding more significant portions, particularly for saucy foods. For instance, if you plan on cooking pasta, you should use a French skillet rather than a frying pan.

Lids & Handles

Both pieces of kitchen cookware should have long and functional handles, and this handle makes them perfect for flipping and manipulating ingredients while cooking.

Sometimes, you may encounter a shorter utility handle attached to the opposite side of the pan. Depending on the model type, you can see this in both fry pans and French skillets.

Neither tends to come with a lid or cover. If it had a lid, we’d be talking about different types of pans, such as a sauté pan.

Durability

Both French skillets and fry pans can be durable, depending on their materials. For instance, their durability should be the same if they’re made from stainless steel. With adequate care, quality stainless steel can last a lifetime.

However, if the French skillet is made from cast iron and your fry pan is made from aluminum, the frying pan has a better chance of lasting longer.  

Affordability

The more affordable of the two tends to be a French skillet, though the ultimate price is determined by several factors, such as brand name and quality. Therefore, you may find a frying pan that is more affordable than a French skillet of comparable size.

Can A Fry Pan Be Used As A French Skillet?

Even though these two pans are similar, using them interchangeably may not be ideal. The differences we’ve listed above show that they have unique purposes, and using them accordingly is best.

A Fry pan is a piece of cookware ideal for flipping and tossing ingredients. The French skillet is perfect for saucy dishes that need simmering.

However, it’s still possible to get away with using a frying pan instead of a French skillet or vice versa. And this will depend on what you have in mind. For this reason, it’s possible to use a French skillet to fry eggs or toast nuts, just like you can with fry pans.

Read more: Air Fryer Review and Best Toaster Oven Pans

French Skillets And Fry Pans: Cooking Recommendations

Now that we’ve compared the differences between French skillets and fry pans, do you know the appropriate cooking applications for each pan?

You should know that a frying pan can be used for more than just frying. Below are other uses:

  • Pancakes
  • Scrambled Eggs
  • Sautéing Veggies
  • Melting Chocolates
  • Caramelizing Foods
  • Toasting Nuts or Seeds
  • Bread Toasting

On the other hand, a French skillet can be used for some of the applications listed above. However, you should reserve them for dishes that need a period of simmering. Due to the low, sloping edges, frying pans are not so great for those types of steaming plates.

French Skillet vs. Fry Pan: Pros & Cons

The French Skillet

PRO: French skillets can accommodate more food at once and is typically more affordable.

CON: It can be hard to flip and toss ingredients due to their high sides, and it can be challenging to clean.

The Fry Pan

PRO: Fry pans are versatile, durable, and easy to clean. You can also get fry pans in different sizes and materials.

CON: Fry pans may not be ideal for saucy dishes and can be expensive.

Stove Compatibility

Both fry pans and French skillets work great on most stovetops. However, if you’re using an induction cooktop, you should ensure the material is compatible.

It is induction compatible if made of cast iron or stainless steel. Make sure to read the manufacturer label for a pan containing any other materials (non-stick, ceramic, etc.)

Oven Safety

Ideally, stainless steel pans are oven safe and can quickly go from stovetop to oven. The same goes for cast iron.

If you want to put your pan in the oven, you must ensure it has no non-stick coating material. Also, you should know that lower-quality stainless steel might warp at very high temperatures.

Cleaning Suggestions

Whether you’re using a frying pan or a French skillet, we recommend you clean the pan immediately (or as soon as possible) after use. If not, the food cooked in these pans can form a crust on the bottom of the pan, which can prove challenging to remove and clean.

For fry pans, we recommend using warm or hot water. So, once you’ve soaked the pan in warm soapy water, use a nylon brush or scouring pad to scrape any debris found at the bottom of the pan.

Stubborn ingredients on the frying pan may require soaking in vinegar or baking soda. Then rinse the pan thoroughly under hot water once you’re done soaking.

The cleaning method for a French skillet will mainly depend on what you’ve cooked or where you store it. Use warm water and mild soap to wash your French skillet if it was used for shallow frying foods. If the French skillet was used for deep frying, use hot water and mildly abrasive cleaner like a stiff sponge to wash the pan.

French Skillets vs. Fry Pans: Conclusion

French skillets and fry pans look similar, but their purposes differ slightly. Both are great, and you can’t go wrong with having either in your kitchen. However, if you really must decide between these two excellent pans, the frying pan might be best because it will offer more versatility in the kitchen.

Which do you have, and how do you use it? We’d love to hear about your experience and preference!