One of the biggest mistakes individuals make in the kitchen is not choosing the proper utensil or cookware. Whether you are an experienced chef or just stepping into the culinary world, knowing the appropriate utensils can save time, make cooking easier, and improve food quality.
There are so many different cooking pots and pans available that it might be overwhelming to pick the right one. The list goes on: saute pan, skillet pan, fry pan, saucepan, and braiser.
Whether you want to upgrade your cookware or understand the different cookware you need daily, here is a list of the most common pans you need in your kitchen.
What are the Different Types of Cooking Pans?
The pans and utensils vary in design and function and the type of cooking you are doing. In an ideal world, individuals would pick different pans for different items. But cooks usually have their go-to utensils, like a medium-sized non-stick pan or a frying pan, to finish all their cooking.
Even if you are not buying different pans immediately, it can help later to have an idea about the different cookware available.
- Saute Pan
A saute pan is used to saute, stir-fry, sear, or deep-fry items. It is often used interchangeably with a skillet. It is one of the best pans and the most resourceful cookware in your kitchen. Although saute pans are versatile, some chefs prefer a skillet to saute items because of the slanted sides of the pan.
This pan is also used for cooking liquids like simmering, poaching, etc. Besides sauteing vegetables, this pan is used for thickening gravies, cooking risotto, and browning meat.
This pan has a large surface area, and it’s best to choose stainless steel pans.
- Stock Pot
This is one of the oldest utensils, which has been used since the earliest times to cook broth. The stock pot is your dish if you cook soup, pasta, or stews. Any item that requires simmering can be cooked in this pot.
This pot has a wide base and tall edges that allow slow evaporation of the item being cooked.
- Frying Pan
Another popular item in every kitchen, a frying pan is versatile. Do you want to make a sauce for your pasta? Take out the frying pan. Want to fry french fries or a quick egg? Get hold of the frying pan.
This pan has a long handle with wide edges. If you do not have a saute pan at home, use this pan to saute vegetables.
- Saucepan
This pan is essential in the kitchen. It’s like a smaller version of the stock pot, used to make soups, tea, broth, or to boil milk. It can also be used to cook rice.
This pan looks similar to the stock pot but with smaller walls and a more extended handle to hold the pot.
Pick Your Pan
Now that you know all the different types of pans and what they are used for, you can take your culinary skills to the next level with the right cookware. Remember, you only need some of the utensils mentioned in your everyday cooking. If you do not want to buy all the pans, buy a good saucepan, skillet, fry pan, and stock pot. These can be used for almost all types of cooking.
Invest in other kitchenware as you slowly expand your culinary skills. After all, it all comes down to personal preferences. So, pick the pan that seems right for you.