The lower sloping sides of fry pans make them ideal for flipping food, while the higher straight sides of French skillets make them perfect for cooking large quantities of food or making stews and sauces that require simmering.

Hearty and Flavorful Meals: Dutch ovens are perfect for creating hearty and flavorful meals such as stews, soups, roasts, and casseroles. Their ability to maintain a consistent temperature and seal in moisture results in tender and succulent dishes.

 When caring for enameled cast iron cookware, it is important to avoid using metal utensils that can scratch the enamel surface.  Instead, choose wooden or silicone utensils to maintain the integrity of the coating.  Additionally, it's best to hand wash enamel-coated cast iron cookware to prevent the enamel from chipping or getting damaged.

SKILLET VS. FRY PAN: THE BOTTOM LINE

 Enameled cast iron cookware has become a popular choice for home cooks and professional chefs alike.  This type of cookware offers the durability and heat retention of traditional cast iron, while the enamel coating provides a nonstick surface that requires no seasoning.  Whether it's a pan, pot, or skillet, enamel-coated cast iron cookware is a versatile addition to any kitchen.

Fry pans are specifically designed for frying and can be used to fry almost anything with less oil than deep-frying. They can also be used for other cooking methods and are versatile enough to replace other pots.

Handles are another important part of cookware, particularly for long-handle skillets and sauté pans. Skillet dishes often need to be shaken and flipped, while sauté pan dishes tend to be used for a lot of liquid and ingredients. Because of this, both skillets and sauté pans require stay-cool handles that are securely riveted to the cookware base. 

Once you've decided which frying pan material you need, the next step is to figure out the pan size. Frying pans come in different sizes, with 8-, 10-, and 12-inch being the most popular sizes across the industry. The smaller the pan size is, the faster it heats up and evenly distributes the heat, but the faster it will lose its heat. While it may seem like a larger pan size is always better, some foods, such as eggs, benefit from cooking in a smaller, more contained space. We have listed the most common commercial frying pan sizes below and what they are best for:

Griddle and Grill Pan Applications: These cooking tools are versatile, allowing for the preparation of a wide range of dishes, including pancakes, eggs, grilled sandwiches, seared meats, and vegetables. The ridged surface of grill pans creates attractive grill marks and allows excess fat to drain away, while griddles provide a flat surface for even cooking.

*When in doubt, just remember this: you can often perform the same cooking tasks in either a skillet or a sauté pan, but keep in mind that the angle of the sidewalls of each pan differ, which means that one might be better suited than the other for certain cooking tasks.*

Yes. Cast iron is extremely durable and when properly seasoned can stand up to metal utensils without its surface getting damaged. Metal utensils are a great option to use with cast iron to ensure your utensils can withstand a cast iron's heat retention.