Different types of pans and their uses

July 11, 2025 Jonathan White Mitchell & Cooper Insights Guides Views

There are many different types of pans out there, and whether you’re a home cook or a professional chef, each one has its place in the kitchen. From sizzling breakfasts to sautéed vegetables and perfectly seared steaks, the right pan can make all the difference. But with so many options available, how do you know which type of pan to use and when?

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the various types of pans, their best uses, and which ones are most suitable for different dishes and cooking methods. Here’s what we’ll cover:

What is a frying pan?

Different types of frying pans and their uses?
What is the best type of frying pan?
What’s the difference between a skillet and a frying pan?

What is a sauté pan?

What is a sauté pan used for?
What is the difference between a sauté pan and a fry pan?

What is a wok?

What is a wok used for?

What is a saucepan?

What is a crepe pan?

What is a blini pan?

What type of pans are best for induction hobs?

What is a frying pan?

A frying pan is one of the most frequently used pieces of cookware in both home and commercial kitchens. It features a wide, flat cooking surface with low, slightly sloped sides and a long handle. Frying pans are designed for cooking at high heat using little to no liquid, making them ideal for searing, browning, and, of course, frying.

Frying pans come in a variety of sizes and are available in several materials, each offering unique advantages depending on what’s being cooked.

Different types of frying pans and their uses

Understanding frying pan types means knowing which material best suits your needs. Here are the main types of frying pans and how they’re used:

Stainless steel: A stainless steel frying pan is durable and resistant to rust or corrosion. These types of pans are ideal for searing meat, making pan sauces, or cooking anything that requires a very high heat. They’re often oven-safe, too. They aren’t non-stick, however, and can require a lot of oil or butter.
Non-stick: Best for eggs, pancakes, fish, and other delicate foods that would otherwise stick to a pan’s surface. Often made from aluminium and with a PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) coating, a non-stick frying pan requires less oil and is easy to clean. Their non-stick coating can degrade over time and shouldn’t be used with metal utensils.
Ceramic: Ceramic-coated frying pans are an alternative to Teflon frying pans, offering a non-stick cooking experience. They’re great for low-fat cooking, though the coating can wear away faster than Teflon.
Cast iron frying pans: These pans offer excellent heat retention. They can be used both on the hob and in the oven, making them ideal for high-heat searing, roasting, and baking. They are heavy and can require special care to prevent rust.
Copper: Known for their precise heat control and rapid responsiveness, copper frying pans are often lined with stainless steel or tin to prevent the copper from reacting with acidic foods. Copper pans can be expensive and require special care to maintain.

What is the best type of frying pan?

So, what type of frying pan is best? It really depends on what you cook most often. If you want an all-purpose frying pan, a high-quality stainless steel pan is a solid choice. It’s durable, oven-safe, and versatile. For most people, having more than one type on hand is the best solution, especially in commercial kitchens where a variety of dishes will be cooked.

When it comes to the best type of frying pan material, non-stick excels in convenience and easy cleanup, while stainless steel is ideal for versatility and durability. Cast iron is superior for heat retention and searing, and copper wins for responsiveness and precise heat control.

If you want to dive deeper into the pros and cons of each of the different pan types, we’ve written a guide to choosing the best frying pan.

What’s the difference between a skillet and a frying pan?

The terms ‘skillet’ and ‘frying pan’ are often used interchangeably. However, there can be subtle distinctions. While a frying pan usually has lower, more flared sides, some manufacturers define a skillet as having curved sides that are slightly higher. A frying pan’s lower sides are designed for easy flipping and evaporation of moisture. The higher sides of a skillet retain moisture, which makes it better for shallow frying.

What is a sauté pan?

A sauté pan has a flat base like a frying pan, but with taller, straight sides, and it typically comes with a lid. The higher sides make it ideal for holding liquids and reducing splatter while cooking. A sauté pan is one of the most versatile pans in a kitchen. As well as sauteeing ingredients in a small amount of fat, they’re ideal for braising, deglazing, and making cooking sauces.

Saute pans are often made from stainless steel, though some are non-stick.

What is a sauté pan used for?

Thanks to its unique shape, a sauté pan can be used for recipes that involve:

Reducing sauces without them spilling over the sides
Browning ingredients with a relatively small amount of oil or butter
Simmering ingredients in liquid
Cooking large portions with even heat distribution — especially useful in catering settings where batch cooking is key.

What is the difference between a sauté pan and a frying pan?

Here’s a quick breakdown of the differences between a sauté pan and a frying pan:

	Saute pan	Frying pan
Sides	Straight and high	Flared/sloped and low
Volume	Holds more liquid	Less liquid capacity
Lid?	Usually	Rarely
Best for	Braising, sauces, and bulk cooking	Frying, searing, and flipping

What is a wok?

A wok is a large, deep, bowl-shaped cooking vessel traditionally used in Chinese cooking. It typically has a rounded bottom and high, sloping sides, making it perfect for quick, high-heat cooking techniques.

However, it is possible to find woks that are flat-bottomed, which work better on electric and induction hobs than traditional ones.

What is a wok used for?

A wok’s shape allows for extremely versatile cooking. Here’s what a wok is used for:

Stir-frying: One of a wok’s most common uses, stir-frying allows food to cook quickly while requiring minimal oil.
Deep-frying: The deep sides of a wok reduce oil splatter.
Steaming: When used with a lid and steamer insert, woks can easily steam vegetables or meats.
Braising: A wok’s sides help it retain liquid, making it ideal for braising or stewing ingredients.

What is a saucepan?

Most commonly used by a sauce chef, a saucepan is a deep, round pan with tall, straight sides, designed for cooking with liquids. Smaller saucepans typically have a single long handle, while larger or heavier models often feature two side handles for easier lifting. Most come with a fitted lid to help retain heat and moisture.

Common uses for a saucepan include:

Boiling water
Making sauces and gravies
Cooking pasta, grains, and legumes
Simmering soups or stews

Larger saucepans, such as this stockpot, have very tall sides and work well for making stocks and soups in bulk.

What is a crêpe pan?

A crêpe pan is a lightweight, flat-bottomed pan with very low or no sides, designed specifically for making ultra-thin pancakes or crêpes. Its low profile makes it easy to spread batter thinly and flip crêpes without tearing them. Most crêpe pans feature a non-stick surface and are lightweight for easy handling, which is perfect when flipping.

As well as crêpes, these pans can be used for tortillas, pizzas, flatbreads, and omelettes. So, if your catering menu includes breakfast, brunch, or dessert, a crêpe pan is a versatile tool worth having in your kitchen arsenal.

What is a blini pan?

A blini pan is a small, round pan, typically measuring around 10–12cm in diameter. It’s traditionally used to make blinis — bite-sized pancakes popular in Eastern European cuisine.

However, this little pan is far more versatile than its name suggests. Thanks to its compact size and quick, even heating, it’s ideal for cooking frittatas, single fried or poached eggs, as well as anything requiring smaller portions, such as canapés and hors d’oeuvres.

Blini pans are usually non-stick, though cast iron versions are also available.

What types of pans work for induction hobs?

If you cook on an induction hob, not all types of pans will work. Only those made from magnetic materials are compatible. This is because induction hobs heat the pan using electromagnetic energy.

Stainless steel pans are often induction compatible — just look for magnetic grade stainless steel. Cast iron is naturally magnetic and therefore perfect for induction, as is carbon steel. Many modern non-stick pans have a stainless steel base to work with induction hobs, too.

Avoid aluminium, copper, and glass pans unless specifically designed for induction hobs with a magnetic base.

The different types of pans at a glance

Still deciding which type of pan is best for your needs? Here are the different types of pans we’ve discussed, as well as their uses, at a glance:

Pan type	Uses	Materials	Advantages	Disadvantages
Frying pan	Frying, searing, browning	Stainless steel, non-stick, cast iron	Versatile, cooks quickly	Some types aren’t compatible with induction hobs
Saute pan	Searing, braising, sauces	Stainless steel, non-stick	Hold more liquid, less splatter	Can be heavy
Wok	Stir-frying, deep frying, braising, steaming	Cast iron, stainless steel	Quick cooking, high-heat, holds volume	Not compatible with all hobs
Saucepan	Boiling, simmering, sauces	Stainless steel, aluminium	Retains heat and moisture well	Not for dry heat cooking
Crépe pan	Crepes, flatbreads, omelettes	Non-stick, stainless steel, cast iron	Easy to flip, low edges	Has specific uses
Blini pan	Small pancakes, eggs, mini dishes	Non-stick, stainless steel, cast iron	Perfect for cooking smaller portions	Has specific uses

Whether you’re starting a catering business, running a commercial kitchen, or simply looking to upgrade your home cookware, the right types of pans are foundational to cooking success. From the high-heat power of a wok to the versatility of a sauté pan, each piece has a role to play. Now that you know the different pan types available and their best uses, you’ll be cooking smarter, faster, and more efficiently in no time.

Ready to upgrade your kitchen setup? Explore our full range of professional cookware today, including kitchen appliances, baking tools, utensils, portioners, and commercial can openers, as well as storage and handling equipment. Or, check out more of our guides for inspiration, industry news, and top tips.