What Size Frying Pans Do I Need

When information technology comes to ownership

pots and pans

, it isn't enough to just know which specific products you lot want — y'all likewise must know the specific sizes you lot want. We find this fact to band especially truthful for frying pans.

Why? Because

frying pans

(also called skillets) are a kitchen product for which in that location are many different sizes to choose from, and the differences betwixt these sizes aren't as apparent as they are with book-based cookware like saucepans.

While it's truthful that our 10" Stainless Steel Pans can exercise many of the same tasks equally our 12" Stainless Steel Pan, they are not always interchangeable. In this guide, we'll showtime talk over cookware materials and how they chronicle to frying pan sizes, then go into how frying pan sizes are measured, and finally, we'll run through the three about common sizes. Once yous master this, you'll be able to tell what separates

high quality cookware

from cookware that won't be able to produce restaurant-quality nutrient.

How are Frying Pan Sizes Measured?

Frying pan sizes are determined by a pan'south overall diameter (wall top to wall superlative), non the bore of its cooking surface (base of operations edge to base edge).

Due to design differences with regard to how steeply their walls ascent, it's very common to have two 12 inch pans that accept dissimilar cooking surface measurements. For example, the cooking surface of Made In's 12" Stainless Steel Frying Pan is 9.5 inches whereas the cooking surface of Made In's 12"

Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan

is ix.25 inches.

Furthermore, cookware size categorization often includes rounding down to the nearest inch (but never upwardly). It'southward very mutual for a frying pan to mensurate in at slightly above its marketed length — a 12 inch designation simply means the pan measures in between 12 and xiii inches. This elongated window allows for more freedom of design.

For the sake of consistency in this article, when referencing general frying pan sizes we'll be using the measurements of

Made In's Stainless Steel Frying Pans.

8" Frying Pan

Benefits of this size

: A smaller pan means more evenly distributed rut and the power to reach loftier temperatures due to collateral heat exposure from the pan's sloped sides.

Commonly used for

: One fried egg, steak, or chicken breast,

making thick, fluffy omelettes

(the eggs are forced upwards due to the smaller cooking surface), sauteing vegetables for a side dish.

Example

: Made In's Stainless Steel

viii Inch Frying Pan

Diameter

: viii.v inches.

Cooking surface diameter

: five inches.

Height

: 2.75 inches.

Length

: xv.25 inches.

Depth

: 1.75 inches.

Weight

: 1.75 lbs.

Real customer review

: "

Recently purchased an eight" frying pan and I'm very happy with it. It's well made at a reasonable price.

" - L.S.

x" Frying Pan

Benefits of this size

: A medium pan means a eye ground where more can fit in the pan without overcrowding with a minimal sacrifice of heat retention.

Unremarkably used for

: Frying 3 eggs or 2 chicken breasts, frying latkes, reheating leftovers, sautéing a large amount of vegetables.

Example

: Made In's Stainless Steel

ten Inch Frying Pan

(included in Made In's

#1 overall stainless steel cookware set

for 2020 according to Consumer Reports)

Diameter

: 10.5 inches.

Cooking surface diameter

: 7.5 inches.

Height

: three.v inches.

Length

: 18.5 inches.

Depth

: i.75 inches.

Weight

: 2.25 lbs.

Real customer review

: "

I opened the package and my first thought was, if this pan (10.five" fryer), cooks as well every bit it feels, you may never have to buy another pan the residuum of my life. It merely simply exceeded my expectations, very happy with my buy.

" - R.T.

12" Frying Pan

Benefits of this size

: A large pan patently means a large corporeality of food can be cooked in information technology at one time without overcrowding the pan. It also means greater heat retention, every bit at that place is more material available to concord oestrus.

Usually used for

: Frying four eggs or three chicken breasts, frying bacon strips without having to trim the ends, making a pan pizza, galette, or Dutch baby (12 inches is the ideal size for baking pans).

Instance

: Fabricated In's Stainless Steel

12 Inch Frying Pan

Diameter

: 12.v inches.

Cooking surface diameter

: 9.v inches.

Height

: 3.5 inches.

Length

: 20.v inches.

Depth

: 1.75 inches.

Weight

: three pounds.

Real customer review

: "

The pan co-ordinate to my son is absolutely great! He even sent me a picture show of chicken he made browning on the stove and finishing in the oven. He said it was the all-time chicken he e'er fabricated. Definitely a 5 star product!!

" - C.

What Frying Pan Size is Best For Me?

Oftentimes the only thing you demand to consider when deciding between frying pan sizes is, "What'southward the smallest possible pan I can use without risking overcrowding?" The prevention of overcrowding should be the offset order of business when it comes to deciding between sizes.

However, there are some cases in which having a larger or smaller sized pan matters for more than only the book of what's being cooked. Nosotros discuss a few of those cases in the frying pan size breakdown after in this article.

What Matters More, the Textile or Size?

What your frying pan is made of and how big your frying pan is are the ii near important qualities when it comes to selecting the skillet for you. Typically, the selection process starts with textile then gets more specific with size. This is considering the divergence material makes is larger than the difference fabricated by size.

Below is a cursory snapshot of the differences betwixt the nigh common frying pan materials.

Stainless steel: The classic all-around pan that can accomplish a wide variety of kitchen tasks like sautéing and pan frying.

Not stick fry pan: Due to their nonstick blanket, nonstick pans are ideal for cooking frail foods with a tendency to stick such as fish and fried eggs.

Carbon steel frying pan: Heavy duty and perfect for accomplishing stovetop and grill sears, chars, and crispy textures.

Bandage iron skillet: Similar to a carbon steel frying pan except it seasons in slower, doesn't bear heat as well, and is less reactive to changes in temperature.

Whichever fabric you lot select, be certain it has standard features such as being oven safe, a stay absurd handle, and a lifetime warranty that covers defects. And if you want a hat, bank check out this

universal lid, that will fit all of Fabricated In's frying pans

For a more in-depth expect at the unique characteristics of each material, cheque out our blog

comparison and contrasting cookware materials