Everyone who cooks knows the dilemma: you want to prepare a meal, but you're not sure which pan is the best choice. Is a frying pan deep enough for sauce? Can a sauté pan replace a casserole? And what exactly is a casserole used for?
Although these pans may look similar at first glance, they each have unique properties. In this article, we clearly explain the differences, when to use which pan, and how to choose the right pans from our range at TEKZEN.
1. The Frying Pan: For Quick, High-Temperature Cooking
The frying pan is the most common pan in the household. A frying pan is characterized by its low, sloped sides and long handle.
- Key features: Low sides, quick heat distribution, often without a lid.
- Best for: Pancakes, eggs, searing meat, baking fish, and frying potatoes.
- Why the low sides? The low sides allow moisture to evaporate quickly, creating a crispy crust on your ingredients.
2. The Sauté Pan: The Versatile All-Rounder
A sauté pan looks like a frying pan, but has **high, straight sides** and almost always comes with a lid.
- Key features: High straight sides, larger capacity, includes a lid.
- Best for: One-pot meals, pasta sauces, curries, reheating meals, and browning and simmering vegetables and meat.
- Why the high sides? If you add sauces or larger quantities of ingredients, they won't splash over the edge or boil over.
3. The Casserole: For Slow Stewing and Braising
The casserole (or stewing pan) is thicker, heavier, and usually has two handles on the sides instead of a long handle.
- Key features: Heavy-duty construction, thick base and walls, excellent heat retention, and a tight-fitting lid.
- Best for: Beef stew, ragout, soups, large cuts of meat, and dishes that need to cook slowly for hours on low heat or in the oven.
- Why heavy-duty materials? The thick base ensures that heat is distributed very gradually and retained for a long time without burning quickly.
Overview: Which Pan Do You Use For What?
To make it easy for you, here is a handy comparison:
- Crispy steak or fried egg? Use a frying pan.
- Pasta Bolognese, risotto, or a quick curry? Use a sauté pan.
- Pulled beef or a rich casserole? Use a casserole.
For example, check out the Cheffinger 28 cm frying pan and the Cheffinger 28 cm casserole with lid. For preparations with more sauce, you will find additional models in the sauté pans.
Find Your Ideal Pans at TEKZEN
At TEKZEN, you will find the right quality pans for every cooking style and heat source. Whether you choose our robust stainless steel honeycomb pans or a complete induction pan set, we make sure your kitchen is optimally equipped.
View all our quality pans directly in the TEKZEN webshop!
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