What's the Difference Between a Skillet and a Frying Pan?

At first glance, a skillet and a frying pan may seem interchangeable, but there are subtle differences. In this guide, ChopChop USA will break down exactly what sets them apart, explore their unique features, and help you decide which one belongs in your kitchen—or if you really need both.

Whether you're a casual cook or a culinary enthusiast, understanding these tools can elevate your everyday cooking. This is your go-to resource for understanding skillet vs frying pan.

What is a Skillet?

A skillet is a flat-bottomed pan with slightly sloped sides and typically comes with a lid. It’s designed for a wide variety of cooking techniques, including frying, sautéing, searing, and braising.

A skillet and a frying pan are often used for similar tasks, but the skillet’s deeper sides make it better suited for certain dishes. Skillets are most commonly made from cast iron, stainless steel, or nonstick materials. They often come with a helper handle, especially when made of heavier materials like cast iron, to make lifting easier.

Key Features of a Skillet

The Best Skillets are prized for their versatility and durability. Here are some of their standout features:

• Sloped Sides: The gently curved edges of a skillet allow for easy stirring and flipping of food. These sloped sides also help reduce sauces evenly.
• Depth: Skillets are deeper than most frying pans, allowing them to handle larger volumes of food and liquids. This is one key difference between a skillet and a frying pan.
• Material: Cast iron skillets are known for excellent heat retention. Stainless steel and nonstick options are better for lighter, quick-cook meals.
• Handles: Skillets typically include a main handle and a helper handle to assist with heavy lifting—especially useful in oven-to-table dishes.
• Oven-Safe: Most skillets (especially cast iron and stainless steel) are oven-safe, giving you more flexibility.
• Lid Compatibility: Skillets often come with lids or can be paired with universal lids, unlike most frying pans.

A key takeaway when considering skillet vs frying pan is the skillet’s ability to perform a broader range of cooking techniques thanks to its depth, weight, and heat endurance.

What is a Frying pan?

What Is a Frying Pan? A frying pan—or frying pan—is a shallow, flat-bottomed cooking vessel with flared, low sides. It’s perfect for frying, searing, browning, and sautéing at high heat.

While a skillet and a frying pan may look similar, frying pans are generally lighter, thinner, and better suited for fast cooking. Frying pans are ideal for dishes like pancakes, scrambled eggs, or quick vegetable stir-fries. They typically don't come with lids and are often coated in nonstick materials for easy cleanup.

You may want to read: How to Clean a Frying Pan? - A Complete Guide

Key Features of a Frying pan 

Frying pans are designed with quick meals and convenience in mind. Here’s what makes them unique:

• Shallow Depth: The low sides of a frying pan allow for quick flipping and stirring—making it easier to handle food quickly.
• Flared Edges: These promote fast evaporation, which is great for achieving crispy textures.
• Lightweight Design: Easier to maneuver with one hand than a skillet, making it perfect for quick, everyday meals.
• Nonstick Surface: Many frying pans feature nonstick coatings, making them ideal for delicate foods that are prone to sticking.
• No Lid (Usually): Most frying pans don’t include lids, limiting their use for slow-cooked or braised recipes.
• Material Variety: Commonly made of aluminum, stainless steel, or coated with ceramic or Teflon for nonstick properties.
• Quick Heat Distribution: Their thinner build allows them to heat up rapidly, perfect for frying and searing.

In the debate of skillet vs frying pan, frying pans win on speed and simplicity—but lose out when it comes to depth and oven versatility.

Is a Fry Pan the Same as a Skillet?

The short answer? Mostly. Both a skillet and a frying pan are flat-bottomed pans used for sautéing and frying, and many home cooks treat them as the same thing. However, chefs and manufacturers draw a distinction between the two.

A skillet is generally deeper, sometimes comes with a lid, and is more versatile—especially when oven use is needed. A frying pan is shallower, lighter, and typically nonstick, making it better for fast stovetop cooking. When comparing a skillet and a frying pan, think about how much depth and heat flexibility your recipe requires.

So, Why All the Confusion?

The ongoing confusion comes from regional language and marketing practices. In American kitchens, the word “skillet” is widely used—especially when referring to cast iron cookware. In British and Australian English, “frying pan” is more common.

Even retailers and cookware brands blur the lines, often labeling the same product with both names. This inconsistency has led people to think a skillet and a frying pan are entirely the same.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, subtle design differences do exist. Recognizing these helps clarify the skillet vs frying pan debate once and for all.

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Skillet vs Fry Pan: The Bottom Line

While a skillet and a frying pan look similar, their design and functionality differ in small but meaningful ways. Skillets are deeper and more oven-friendly, often coming with lids. Frying pans are shallower and optimized for speed, particularly on the stovetop. In many recipes, you can use them interchangeably, but for best results, match the pan to the cooking task. Understanding the skillet vs frying pan distinction helps you cook smarter—not just harder.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use a skillet instead of a frying pan?

Yes, skillets can often substitute for frying pans, especially for sautéing or searing.

2. Can I Put a Pan in the Oven?

Not all—cast iron and stainless steel pans usually are, but nonstick versions may not be oven-safe due to coating or handle materials.

3. Do skillets always come with lids?

No, but many do. Lids are more commonly found with skillets than with frying pans.

4. What’s better for eggs: skillet or frying pan?

A nonstick frying pan is usually better for eggs due to its easy flipping and stick-resistant surface. 

See more: How to Cook Eggs on Stainless Steel

5. What’s the best material for a skillet?

Cast iron is excellent for heat retention and durability, though stainless steel and nonstick skillets are great for quicker cooking and lighter handling.