Types of frying pans: the art of choosing the right cookware

When it comes to organizing a restaurant kitchen, choosing the right utensils plays a crucial role. Different types of frying pans can make your daily cooking feats much easier and more efficient. In this article, we'll look at the different types of these stovetop cookware and show you how to choose the one that will best suit your needs.

Types of frying pans

Frying pan

Stir frying pans are an essential tool in any chef's arsenal. They usually have a round shape with moderately high, slightly sloping sides, which makes it easier to toss food and heat it evenly.

Curved side walls facilitate the process of mixing ingredients during cooking. And the long handle allows you to operate the frying pan without the risk of getting burned. Ideal for frying, scrambling or braising.

Saucepan

The saucepan has a wide flat bottom and high vertical sides. Straight sides increase the cooking surface area, allowing you to hold large volumes of liquid.

Sauté pans are the best choice for preparing different types of sauces and can also serve as a pan for boiling and cooking liquids. Choose from straight sides and a wide bottom for maximum heat transfer, or a conical shape with a small bottom and flared sides for less heat and easier stirring.

Ideal for cooking at low temperatures for long periods of time.

Cast-iron pan

Cast iron skillets can be used to cook a wide variety of foods, from steaks to baked goods. The benefit of cast iron cookware is that it can be easily transferred from stovetop to oven to tabletop, making it a versatile item in any kitchen.

Cast iron heats evenly and consistently, so food cooks better and is less likely to burn. With proper cleaning and care, cast iron can last a very long time. Ideal for stewing, frying and even baking.

Wok

A wok is an Asian utensil with a deep bowl and high sides that allow you to cook food from all sides. Woks distribute heat evenly, allowing food to cook quickly.

Wok pans can have either a round or flat bottom. Deep curved sides make tossing and mixing food easy. Ideal for stir frying.

Paella pan

The paella pan has a shallow depth, which allows you to see all the ingredients of the dish and stir them often. The shallow design and sloping sides help the paella cook evenly and help the rice brown on the bottom of the pan.

Double side handles make it easy to maneuver in the kitchen.

Pancake pan

A pancake maker or simply a pancake frying pan is a separate type of frying pan designed specifically for cooking pancakes. Its main difference from other frying pans is the low sides, about 1 cm. Their main task is to prevent the dough from spreading, and the small size of the product is due to the convenience of flipping pancakes.

Regardless of your culinary specialization, choosing the right kitchen utensils makes cooking more convenient and the results tastier. Remember that each cookware has its own unique features and combining them in your kitchen will help you achieve better results.