Mastering Your Pans: A Guide to the Most Common Types of Pans and Their Uses
Cookware is essential to any kitchen, and pans are the most commonly used pieces. However, not all pans are created equal. Each pan type has unique features and uses, making choosing the right pan for the job important. This article will explore some of the most common cookware, such as the frying pan and saute pan, and their uses.
Saute Pan
A saute pan is versatile for various cooking tasks, such as sauteing, searing, and browning. It has a flat bottom, and straight sides make it easy to stir food and prevent spills. Saute pans come in various sizes, with larger pans ideal for cooking larger food portions. Saute pans can be used on the stovetop or in the oven, making them a great choice for many cooking tasks.
Fry Pan
A frying pan, also known as a skillet, is a shallow pan with slightly sloping sides perfect for cooking foods that require frequent stirring or flipping, such as pancakes, eggs, and burgers. Fry pans are typically made of stainless steel, aluminium, or cast iron and come in various sizes to suit different needs.
Saucepan
A saucepan is a small, deep pan with a flat bottom and straight sides that are ideal for making sauces, heating liquids, and cooking small portions of food. They come in various sizes, with larger saucepans ideal for cooking soups and stews.
Stockpot
A stockpot is a large, deep pot with a flat bottom and straight sides used for making stocks, soups, and stews in large quantities. It is typically made of stainless steel, aluminium, or cast iron and comes in various sizes. The large size of a stockpot allows for the cooking of large cuts of meat, bones, and vegetables to create a flavourful broth or stock. It is also commonly used for boiling pasta and making chilli.
Dutch Oven
A Dutch oven is a heavy, deep pot with a lid commonly used for slow cooking and braising. It is typically cast iron and has a thick bottom that evenly distributes heat. Dutch ovens are ideal for cooking dishes that require a long cooking time, such as stews, soups, and pot roasts.
Grill Pan
A grill pan is a pan with ridges that mimic the grates of a grill, allowing for the cooking of meats and vegetables with a charred, grilled flavour. It is typically made of cast iron, and the ridges help to drain fat away from the food, resulting in a healthier dish. Grill pans can be used on the stovetop or in the oven and are ideal for cooking steaks, burgers, and vegetables.
Wok
A wok is a versatile pan with a rounded bottom and sloping sides commonly used in Asian cooking. It is typically made of carbon steel or cast iron and is perfect for stir-frying, deep-frying, and steaming. The sloping sides of the wok allow easy stirring and flipping of food, while the rounded bottom allows even heating. Woks come in various sizes, with larger works ideal for cooking larger food portions.
Crepe Pan
A crepe pan is a shallow, flat pan with a very low edge, typically made of stainless steel, aluminium, or cast iron. It’s specifically designed for making crepes, which are thin French pancakes often filled with sweet or savoury ingredients. The flat surface of the pan allows the batter to spread evenly and thinly, while the low edge makes it easy to flip and turn the crepe.
In summary, choosing the right pan for the job is crucial for achieving the best cooking results. Each type of pan has unique features and uses, so it’s important to have a variety of pans in your kitchen to handle all your cooking needs.
