Difference between Frying Pan and Sauté Pan

Key Difference: A Frying Pan is a pan that is optimized for frying, whereas a Sauté Pan is optimized for sautéing. A frying pan is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. A Sauté Pan or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for sautéing vegetables.

Frying Pan

Nearly every body cooks in their lifetime, whether it is to feed themselves, feed others, or even to impress someone. While some find the activity of cooking fun, easy and enjoyable, there are many people who are scared at the prospect of cooking. This is mainly because there are so many terms and techniques involved in cooking that it is enough to scare anyone.

First decision is to decide is what to cook, then comes the harder task of how to cook it. While there are many ways, frying and sautéing are two different ways. Frying is done in a frying pan, whereas sautéing is obviously done in a Sauté Pan. There many be some pans that can be used for both.

In order to understand the difference between Frying Pan and Sauté Pan, one must first understand the difference between frying and sautéing. Frying is the technique of cooking something in oil or another fat. This may include deep frying, shallow frying, pan frying or just searing. Sautéing, on the other hand, is the technique that uses a small amount of oil or fat in a shallow pan in which the food is stirred. This is mainly done of high heat.

Saute Pan Frying Pan and Sauté Pan are exactly what their names sound like. A Frying Pan is a pan that is optimized for frying, whereas a Sauté Pan is optimized for sautéing.

A frying pan is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods. It is usually 8 to 12 inches in diameter, with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid. Some larger pans may also come with a small grab handle on the opposite side.

A Sauté Pan is usually in a similar shape and size as a frying pan, but its sides flare less than a frying pan and it may include a lid. It is usually non stick.

Comparison between Frying Pan and Sauté Pan:

	Frying Pan	Sauté Pan
Description	A frying pan, frypan, or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for frying, searing, and browning foods.	A Sauté Pan or skillet is a flat-bottomed pan used for sautéing.
Also known as	Frypan or Skillet	Skillet
Used for	Frying, searing, and browning foods.	Sautéing
Design	Flat-bottomed, with relatively low sides that flare outwards, a long handle, and no lid.	Flat-bottomed, with relatively low sides that do not flare. May often include a lid. Large enough to hold all of the food in one layer.
Advantages	Made for high heat cooking Has sloping sides Made to handle oil and grease	Comes with a lid Designed for lower heat cooking methods Optimized for tossing vegetables